Rob Bell. Love Wins: A Book about Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. New York: HarperCollins, 2011.
Chapter 4: Does God Get What God Wants? (pages 95-119)
1. God’s Sovereignty
“I point out these parallel claims: that God is mighty, powerful, and ‘in control’ and that billions of people will spend forever apart from this God, who is their creator, even though it’s written in the Bible that ‘God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth’ (1 Tim. 2). So does God get what God wants?” (p. 97)
Observation: It is not a valid argument to suggest that people refusing to trust in Christ means that God does not get what He wants. Once more, God cannot be held responsible for the actions of those who reject Him. People are responsible for their rejection of God.
2. Family
“The writers of the scriptures consistently affirm that we’re all part of the same family.” (p. 99)
Observation: Although God is the Creator of all human beings, He is not the Father of every person in a relational since. Jesus told the Pharisees: You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).
3. Reconciliation
“This insistence that God will be united and reconciled with all people is a theme the writers and prophets return to again and again.” (p. 100)
Observation: This statement ignores the teaching of Scripture: And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Revelation 20:10). Verse 15 explains: And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15). Hence, all people will not be reconciled to God.
In response to churches sharing about Heaven and Hell, Bell said: “There are those, like the church websites quoted at the beginning of this chapter, who put it quite clearly: ‘We get one life to choose heaven or hell, and once we die, that’s it. One or the other, forever.” (p. 103)
Observation: Bell rejected this biblical teaching, and criticized churches who warn people that they will go to Hell without Jesus. He ignores or reinterprets the biblical teachings concerning Hell.
5. A Way, A Truth, A Life?
“And so space is created in this ‘who would doubt God’s ability to do that?’ perspective for all kinds of people—fifteen-year-old atheists, people from other religions, and people who rejected Jesus because the only Jesus they ever saw was an oppressive figure who did anything but show God’s love.” (p. 106)
Observation: Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6)
6. God’s Glory
“Restoration brings God glory; eternal torment doesn’t. Reconciliation brings God glory; endless anguish doesn’t. Renewal and return cause God’s greatness to shine through the universe; never-ending punishment doesn’t.” (p. 108).
Observation: It is presumptive to assume what does and what does not bring God glory. Simply put, God’s glory is not all about us, as the following verse demonstrates: The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands (Psalm 19:1). Whether or not people trust in Christ, God will receive glory because He is glorious!
7. The Locked Door
“Could God say to someone truly humbled, broken, and desperate for reconciliation, ‘Sorry, too late’? Many have refused to accept the scenario in which somebody is pounding on the door, apologizing, repenting, and asking God to be let in, only to hear God say through the keyhole: ‘Door’s locked. Sorry. If you had been here earlier, I could have done something. But now, it’s too late.’” (p. 108).
Observation: Tell that to those who rejected Noah’s preaching until God shut the door to the ark:
17:26 "And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 17:27 they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. (Luke 17:26-27)
8. Anything Goes (Part 1)
“. . . orthodox followers of Jesus have answered these questions in a number of different ways. Or, to say it another way, however you answer these questions, there’s a good chance you can find a Christian or group of Christians somewhere who would answer in a similar way. It is, after all, a wide stream we’re swimming in.” (pp. 109-110)
Observation: 7:13 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 7:14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
9. Anything Goes (Part 2)
Concerning the belief that not everyone goes to Heaven: “Not all Christians have believed this, and you don’t have to believe it to be a Christian. This Christian faith is big enough, wide enough, and generous enough to handle that vast a range of perspectives.” (p. 110)
Observation: See the above comment.
10. Good Story
“. . . it’s important that we be honest about the fact that some stories are better than others. Telling a story in which billions of people spend forever somewhere in the universe trapped in a black hole of endless torment and misery with no way out isn’t a very good story.” (p. 110).
Observation: A “good” story does not make something
truthful. How subjective!
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