Does Love Win?

 I have just finished reading “Love Wins” by Rob Bell.  Just in case you don’t know Rob Bell, is a pastor from Mars Hill Church in Michigan. He has also written a number of books including Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith and Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections between Sexuality and Spirituality. He is also responsible for the brilliant Nooma videos that were released about five years ago.

Love Wins is his latest book. In it he explores heaven, hell and “the fate of every person who ever lived” (and so just a few small topics then!). The book has proved deeply controversial within Christian circles in the States and many American evangelicals are "not amused" with some of the content of Bell's book and have accused him of heresy on the grounds that he is a Universalist (unfairly in my opinion). In fact Bell denies that he is a Universalist on his web site.

So does Love Wins win?  The best review I have read of the book is a three part review written by our very own Andrew Shamy on the Compass website (http://www.compass.org.nz/conversations/) . This three part review is balanced and considered. Well done Andrew. (Incidentally Andrew opened our new preaching series on the book of Acts last Sunday with a superb talk which is worth listening to. (http://www.stpauls.org.nz/Growing/Talks.aspx))

Personally, I have read a lot of Bell’s stuff and love his creative communication style and his ability to resonate with contemporary culture, which often is a challenge for us in the church. However, communication brilliance aside, having read many of Bell’s books I have wondered what some of the hype has been about as his theology is fairly mainstream (indeed Love Wins carries the endorsement of Eugene Peterson).  I have to say though that his latest offering contains passages of utter genius (particularly in the opening couple of chapters) which are very inspiring. Bell undoubtedly has a grand and majestic view of Christ.  As the book progressed, I found that a few passages became rather fuzzy and Bell’s train of thought was a bit hard to follow on a few occasions and one chapter seemed unrelated to his main topic. Yet, whilst a couple of paragraphs towards the end left me feeling a bit uncomfortable this is not a hideous and irresponsible book!  If I were you, I would grab a copy, read it, enjoy it and discuss the parts that unsettle you with your mates. Thrash it out and together you will grow in your faith.