A Great Preacher or a Wolf in Sheep's Clothing?

I've been reading all kinds of different critiques, commentaries, friends' opinions, you name it, on the controversial new book out, "Love Wins," along with the even more controversial author of it and pastor, Rob Bell. This is of great interest to me for a couple different reasons. The first reason is that many moons ago, once upon a time in college, I attended Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI founded and pastored by Rob Bell. I went on and off for about three years, and under the pastoral care of Rob, I never smelled "the wolf in sheep's clothing," the way it seems many are insinuating is the case today. Now to be completely fair, I'm not positive that the reason I didn't sense anything doctrinally or theologically off, or just plain wrong for that matter, is because there was nothing there to sense or because it was so many years ago and a lot can escape an 18 yr. old. I do know with years comes wisdom and I'm now gettin' on in years :)Anyway, this is the first reason. The second reason this dialogue or debate, whatever it be called, is of interest is that there are a great deal of false prophets, preachers not preaching the scripture, and outright liars in this world, and I think it wise for any and all believers to be ever so discerning, testing all things to be sure it aligns with God's Word and is Truth. It is necessary we never take for granted the smooth talk, quick and witty dialogue, or even likability, for being true and right. To leave out any or add any to the scripture is dangerous and should be taken with great caution. It should be held to great scrutiny, no matter the source. This is what brings Mr. Bell and his beliefs to the point of discussion.



I will clarify here a couple different points of possible contention upon reading my blog. First off, I have not made up my mind wholeheartedly yet about what I think about Rob in either direction, be it a man who preaches the truth shamelessly and graciously, or a man who preaches not the full gospel, but leaves out what he chooses to appease the masses. I do know however, my intuition does have a particular leaning at this point, but the jury is still out. Second, I have not read his book "Love Wins" so cannot fully make assumptions about this particular book. I have read various differently angled critiques and commentaries on it, along with having watched an hour long interview with Rob himself about ideas discussed in the book. I have also read and seen some of his other works, so I am definitely not coming into this completely blind. Lastly, I admit I am no theologian or mega mind, but simply a discerning believer.



My issues thus far with Rob and some of his views, are that they seem to hit just close enough to the truth, without fully telling the story. It seems to me there is a great disproportionate distribution of weight on the love facet of Christ, almost allowing for anything and everything because it is under the umbrella and guise of "love wins," while making light of and maybe not even mentioning sin. It seems to me he is intentionally not ever talking about the concept of judgment, wrath, and justice of God. We cannot have the God of the Bible without either one-love or wrath. I will be one of the first people to admit that sometimes what we perceive one way here on earth, probably really couldn't be further off from God and His infinite wisdom/mind, than if we intentionally tried to misconstrue it. With that said, I could very well be just as off in some of my thought or ideas as many believe Rob Bell is, but I am trying and praying for the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit to enable me to discern what is true, what is noble, and what is right according to His Holy Word. However, Rob Bell is far more educated, intelligent, and theologically minded than I probably ever will be, and as the saying goes, "to whom much is given, much is required," so Mr. Bell has more explaining to do than me :) He is under much scrutiny as a leader by both believers and non-believers alike. However, it is interesting that he is getting seemingly more flack from other believers than non. When the world is not offended and seems to embrace everything you say, to me, that is when there is a red flag. I completely agree with preaching Christ is love, but the Gospel is offensive. It isn't completely a pretty story; it's brutal, sad, at times unbelievable, but in the end beautiful. It isn't popular. If the story of Christ and coming to Him was so "peaceful," and as simple as "love wins," I would think everyone in the world would be interested and we would be in a world packed full of Christ's disciples. The thing of it is, that isn't the case, so to leave out the offensive parts of the story to draw in and appeal to the crowd is not only misleading, but dangerous and sinful.



The other and most poignant aspect is, that of all the things I have not only heard Rob himself say, or have read about or by him, is that he will never directly come out and say Jesus is the only way to the Father, Jesus is the only way to heaven, to eternity. He won't say it. I understand on the one hand that maybe he is trying to treat the matter delicately so as not to turn away anyone before he can preach the whole story, but that also brings us back to my previous issue of him trying too hard not to be offensive. Jesus isn't PC. He isn't black and white and you can’t just fit Him in a box. He is offensive. He says He is the only way to the Father. In John 15 Jesus talks about how He is the vine and we are the branches, how apart from Him we can do nothing. It goes on and on discussing Him being the only way. The number of times Jesus talks about the way being narrow and that way being Him is a great number,(I don't know how many, back to the part where I said I was no theologian)and so I really would just love Rob to come out and say that, given he does have such a large audience and platform, from which he could be preaching the whole truth. In an interview I saw him do recently, he was interviewed by a Jewish scholar/author and upon coming to the issue of Jesus being the only way, the interviewer told Rob that part did offend her. After tiptoeing around the issue about being gracious and loving, he had neither adequately answered the issue in my opinion, nor had he succeeded in telling her the message of Jesus. He then made sure however, that the answer was OK with her. Again, this just doesn't sit right with me, feeling more like Rob Bell is concerned with making everyone feel good, than telling the whole truth. That doesn't sound very loving to me.



So these are just some of my thoughts thus far, and as I said, the jury is still out for me as I personally wade through it all. (although I am sure you could tell my leaning) Is Rob Bell a man of God who preaches Christ and loves bibically? Is Rob Bell a wolf in sheep's clothing, who is just close enough to the truth to be dangerous? I'm not sure I would go far enough in either of those directions yet. I don't know what it's like being in the spotlight and carrying that kind of weight, so either way I wish Rob well and pray that he carrys the truth.