I just finished reading Kevin DeYoung’s review of the now controversial, soon to be released book by Rob Bell, Love Wins. The review is long (available also as a 20 page PDF) but worth the time it takes to read. The review is not only helpful for understanding Bell’s theology of the afterlife, it also traces the book’s departure from orthodox Christology, eschatology, and as DeYoung suggests most egregiously from the doctrine of God.
“At the very heart of this controversy, and one of the reasons the blogosphere exploded over this book, is that we really do have two different Gods. The stakes are that high. If Bell is right, then historic orthodoxy is toxic and terrible. But if the traditional view of heaven and hell are right, Bell is blaspheming. I do not use the word lightly, just like Bell probably chose “toxic” quite deliberately. Both sides cannot be right. As much as some voices in evangelicalism will suggest that we should all get along and learn from each other and listen for the Spirit speaking in our midst, the fact is we have two irreconcilable views of God.”
DeYoung’s review is well written and without having read Bell’s book yet myself, appears to be very comprehensive. Yet what shines forth most clearly from this review is DeYoung’s grace and charity toward Bell the man and his passion for pointing God’s people toward a right understanding of Biblical truth.
“I have not spent hours and hours on this review because I am out to get another pastor. I may be a sinner, but with four young children and a very full church schedule, I have no time for personal vendettas. No, this is not about a single author or a single church. This is about the truth, about how the rightness or wrongness of our theology can do tremendous help or tremendous harm to the people of God.”
Take the time to read this review. Though DeYoung won’t be the last one to review Love Wins in the coming days, I imagine many bloggers, writers, and thinkers will be citing this helpful article.
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