I don't want to beat a dead horse...but I do feel compelled to comment on the Rob Bell controversy in my blog, specifically for those who haven't heard of this situation yet. The reason I want to put in my two cents, is because Bell's video flat-out scares me. It's haunting. The frightening thing is that he is one of the most well known Christian figures today (over 50,000 followers on Twitter), yet he is very clearly in this video rejecting the gospel message of the Bible and preaching a very different gospel. I recently wrote a post on the passage in Matthew 7 that talks about false teachers, who Jesus calls wolves in sheep's clothing. Rob Bell is definitely a wolf, but he has taken off the sheep's clothing...he is clearly balking at the biblical and orthodox Christian view of the gospel and exposing himself for the false teacher that he is. Check out this video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODUvw2McL8g
I obviously can't comment on the book, because it hasn't been released yet, but I can comment on this video. In this promotional video, Rob Bell criticizes a comment someone made saying that Gandhi is in hell, and scoffs at the claim that only a few will go to heaven and the rest will burn in hell for eternity. It's an appalling thing to say for someone who claims to be a Christian and is leading a church of thousands. What he is promoting is the idea of universalism and possibly an annihilist view as well.
Universalism teaches that all paths lead to heaven, and the annihilist view teaches that hell isn't eternal punishment (people who go to hell will die there). Both of these views go against clear biblical teaching. Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me." Acts 4:12 says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” It is clear from these passages and many others, that we are only saved through Jesus. He is the only way to heaven. Gandhi was a hindu, not a believer in Jesus, so unless he made a deathbed confession of faith that no one knows about, he is in hell. He did many good things on earth, but the Bible clearly teaches that being good won't get you into heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The fact that hell is eternal punishment is an extremely troubling truth, but it is truth from Scripture nonetheless. If we want to call ourselves Christians, we need to accept the whole Bible...not just pick and choose which passages we would like. Revelation 20:10 describes the horrible reality of hell, saying, "And the devil who desceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever," and 20:15 says, "Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire."
We have to realize that hell is what we all deserve. No one on this earth can deny that they are wicked sinners, born into this world bent on rebellion against their Creator. It is our own wretchedness that puts us under God's wrath, and we have no one to blame for this but our own wicked selves. God shows His great mercy to us by sending His only Son to die for all of us who didn't deserve salvation (Romans 5:8). Those who believe in Christ and accept His gift of salvation will live eternally in the Kingdom of heaven, while those who refuse to ackowledge him will burn eternally in hell. Revelation teaches that even during the Tribulation period, when people are seeing with their own eyes the power and judgment of God, many will still refuse to repent of their wickedness and will continue to worship idols rather than acknowledge the true God (Rev. 9:20-21). The judgment of hell is not a reflection of how awful God is, because without judging sin, He wouldn't be just or holy. He would be a weak, passive, and tolerant figure...not one to be revered and feared.
I beg you not to be deceived by blatant false teaching such as that demonstrated in this disturbing video. As believers, we must speak out against heresy and ardently defend the gospel of Jesus Christ. God help us!!
