An Examination of Rob Bell's "Love Wins." Chapter 7: The Good News is Better than That

Rob Bell. Love Wins: A Book about Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. New York: HarperCollins, 2011.

Chapter 7: The Good News is Better Than That (pages 163-91)

1. The Prodigal Son

“The younger one demands his share of the father’s inheritance early, and the father unexpectedly gives it to him. He takes the money, leaves home, spends it all, and returns home . . . .” (p. 164)

Observation: One thing that Bell fails to mention is the lewd sins in which the younger son was involved during his time as a prodigal. Throughout his book, Bell is reluctant to mention that people are sinners: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

2. Eternal Cruelty

“Millions have been taught if they don’t believe, if they don’t accept in the right way, that is, the way the person telling them the gospel does, and they were hit by a car and died later that same day, God would have no choice but to punish them forever in conscious torment in hell. God would in essence, become a fundamentally different being to them in that moment of death, a different being to them forever. A loving heavenly father who will go to extraordinary lengths to have a relationship with them would, in the blink of an eye, become a cruel, mean, vicious tormenter who would ensure that they had no escape from an endless future of agony. If there was an earthly father who was like that, we would call the authorities. If there was an actual human dad who was that volatile, we would contact child protection services immediately.” (p. 173-74)

Observation: Once again, God is not on trial or a cosmic child abuser. He is not responsible for us being sinners. In fact God is responsible for sacrificing His only-begotten Son in order to provide us with a way to be saved. This is not abuse, but selfless, supreme love!

3. Awful Reality

“. . . if your God will punish people for all of eternity for sins committed in a few short years, no amount of clever marketing or compelling language or good music or great coffee will be able to disguise that one, true, glaring, untenable, unacceptable, awful reality.” (p. 175)

Observation: This statement is very telling. As believers, we should not be worried about marketing the Gospel as Bell seems to be doing. We are to proclaim the unchanging Word of God whether it is popular or not: And I set watchmen over you, saying, “Listen to the sound of the trumpet!” But they said, “We will not listen.” (Jeremiah 6:17)

4. Sin and Judgment

“When people say they’re tired of hearing about ‘sin’ and ‘judgment’ and ‘condemnation,’ it’s often because those have been confused for them with the nature of God. God has no desire to inflict pain or agony on anyone.” (p. 177)

Observation: The Lord does not enjoy inflicting pain on people, but He most certainly punishes sin: "Behold, I am against you, O arrogant one," Declares the Lord GOD of hosts, "For your day has come, The time when I will punish you. (Jeremiah 50:31)

5. The Good News

“So when the gospel is diminished to a question of whether or not a person will ‘get into heaven,’ that reduces the good news to a ticket, a way to get past the bouncer and into the club. The good news is better than that.’” (pp. 178-79)

Observation: The Gospel is not just a “get out of Hell free card” but a relationship with Jesus Christ here and now. However, a relationship with Jesus does give us a home in Heaven.

6. “They’ll Get Theirs”

“Hell can easily become a way to explain all of this: ‘Those people out there may be going to parties and appearing to have fun while the rest of us do ‘God’s work,’ but someday we’ll do to heaven, where we won’t have to do anything, and they’ll go to hell, where they’ll get theirs.” (p. 180)

Observation: Bell is creating a caricature of Christianity here because true Christians do not want anyone to go to Hell. Notice Paul’s love for his oppressor Agrippa:

Agrippa replied to Paul, "In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian."And Paul said, "I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains." (Acts 26:28-29)

7. Heaven and Hell in the Here and Now

“Everybody is already at the party. Heaven and hell, here, now, around us, upon us, within us.” (p. 190)

Observation: My scholarly reaction to this statement: Say what? Not only does this make no sense, it is completely opposed to the message of the Bible.