"Love Wins”, Rob Bell's new book has caused a sensation, even garnering a Time magazine cover. People at church are talking about it too. So here's my two cents. The reason for all the controversy is Bell's belief (held by a prominent Evangelical) that there is no hell. Reaction has been fast and furious, mainly accusing him of attacking the truth of the Scriptures. More on that some other time. I don't think the problem lies with his view of Scripture but with his view of God.
Freedom requires hell. There can be no love given truly and freely to God if there is no possibility of rejecting him. We know that even from this life. If someone coerces another into 'loving' them, we may call it many things, but not love. Can the infinite lover be any different? And if freedom to reject God must be honored, what state of being could that be? Rob has taken the view of so many Christians that hell is punishment and retribution. So a god that would promote it would be sadistic and cruel. Bell rightly rejects that view of God's character. But that is a misreading of the New Testament. Yes, there is imagery of fire and suffering but look at the full picture and the main thrust is summed up in the words of Jesus; 'I never knew you, depart from me your evildoers' (Matthew 7:23). The primary truth is separation from God. If you finally just can't stand God, where can you go? All beauty, all truth, all love and affection, all creation belong to God. If you reject the one who is everywhere, where is there for you to be? And if the only others with you are 'like minded' having rejected God and turned inward into endless self-absorption, what would you call that existence? Hell, maybe?
Hell is primarily eternal quarantine in a self made sewer, and that instructs on Gods' character and purpose. He isn't consumed with hatred for 'the damned'. What if the prodigal son didn't “come to his senses”? Some never will, you know, and they won't ever come home. The father in Jesus' parable is a picture of God who suffered waiting for his son. God has made us and loves us and nothing can change that, not even hell. So for those who accept him, joy and relationship are eternally theirs and God rejoices in that fellowship. But those who reject him will never leave their Father's heart. For them he suffers eternally. That is, I’m certain, at least part of the meaning of Jesus' eternal scars. They speak of a God who loves us always, even if we never love him back; a God who chooses to suffer forever.
It is a hard and terrible reality this freedom we have. With it we can love God and other humans, his very image, or use and abuse people and strike at the very heart of God.
I think if Bell, or anyone else, would look at it that way they would see that no one will suffer because of hell any more than God.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your comments are welcome. Please keep them on point. Offensive comments, or those with a bent towards personal attack will not be published, and the commentator will be flogged.