Review of Rob Bell's Love Wins: Part 1

Review of Rob Bell's Love Wins: Part 1
By: Justin Ahlgrim

I sat there on my bed listening to the end of the audiobook version of Rob Bell's controversial book entitled: "Love Wins." As the book came to a close, Mr. Bell kept on reading, suggesting other books to further our thoughts as readers (good ones, like NT Wright's Surprised By Hope), as well as giving thanks to the people who helped him with the Love Wins like his editors and friends, thanks to his wife and thanks to his church. What I realized at that time was that whatever feelings I incurred from reading the book, any frustrations, any accusations I felt at my heart, all of that needs to be balanced by the fact that Rob Bell is a real person with a family and friends and a church, he's not just an idea to be trifled with. And I'd go as far as to say that I believe Rob Bell is a Christian too. He believes in Jesus Christ, having confessed that Jesus died for his sins and rose from the dead. And He affirms the divinity of Christ that Jesus is God (Chapter 6). Whatever arguments against Bell and his book there are, they need to be under the guise of loving and graceful correction, as a brother would do for his brother. At the same time, he is a leader of church, and with that greater power there is (as Uncle Ben and James once said) a greater responsibility (see Spider-Man and read James 3:1).

Now, onto the book.

The biggest thing I think people are wondering is "what's the big hub-bub?" Now, I'm a pretty naiive person. I try to see the best in people, to a fault. Some may be reading this review after reading "Love Wins" and think I'm being naiive about Rob Bell's Christianity. Nevertheless, I earnestly try to find "the best in everything." Whether its a bad person, or a bad sermon, or a bad book I'm trying to see something good out of it. And as James 1:17 says, every good gift comes from God. In Rob Bell's book "Love Wins," sometimes the task to find good things was difficult, because its very much like the entirety of the book has been slimed at the Kid's Choice Awards Show, and that slime that the entire book is covered in is this ...

Christological Universalism 
Rob Bell would not say he is a universalist. Yet, if a universalist is someone who believes "all paths lead to God," Rob Bell would have his readers believe, "all paths lead to God ... eventually, through the love of Jesus Christ." Bell is a Christological Universalist,  believing that Jesus and Jesus alone is "saving everybody. And then He opens the door leaving all sorts of possibilities" (chapter 6). So whether you live right now with an active religious belief as a mormon or bhuddist or muslim or athiest or christian doesn't matter in regards to your salvation when you die, because God will keep on loving you till you accept Him and  "no one can resist God’s pursuit forever because God’s love will eventually melt even the hardest hearts” (108). That's big. And that's bold. And that's a large step outside of modern evangelical church doctrine. Regardless of Bell's reasons for these beliefs (of which have many biblical, textual, and theological holes), one must note that just the implications of such a belief would be drastic, from the efforts and martyrs of evangelism of Jesus' first followers to today, to blinders that one must put on as you read the entirety of Scripture which speaks on the consequences of not believing and living for Jesus in this life. "Urgency" in Rob Bell's gospel has been diluted. The only reason to repent now is that you'll be missing out on the rewards, celebrations, and opportunities in this life (chapter 8). In essence, you're missing out on "Your Best Life Now!" Apparently then, you can gain the worldly world and keep your soul according to Bell (versus Jesus' teaching in Mark 8:36).

In short, this is a big deal. And it takes the gospel that we have heard, "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life" and makes a little yet significant change, "God so loved the world that He gave His only son so that everyone will believe in Him and have eternal life." And changing the gospel is a big deal (Gal 1:6-10).

In part 2 of my review, I'll be walking through the book, chapter by chapter, going over the good, the bad, and the ugly that I take out Love Wins, seeing the insightful things I gleam from Rob Bell, as well as going over the things that make me wonder how many holes Bell has in the pages of his Bible.

This isn't a tear-down. It's an honest look at what Rob Bell is saying, what he's not, and what he's missing in regards to heaven, hell, and the fate of every person who ever lived.

I encourage you to read the book for yourself, or even better, listen to it for free like I did! If you go to Audible they'll give you a free 14-day trial to their audiobook collection, along with a free token to buy any audiobook. You "buy" Love Wins, cancel your membership, and BAM! free audiobook of Rob Bell reading you his book for 3 1/2 hours. Enjoy.