I ordered "Love Wins" today....

I am looking forward to reading it. I am not afraid to read something and then judge the content (not the author) according to Scripture. I think knowing what you believe and why is very important! Many denominations take teachings they have grown up with as part of the 'gospel truth' without looking at it according to Scripture. Some people assume that if they grew up with a certain teaching, it must be true...

 Has anyone read the book? Thoughts on the book?

Interview with Rob Bell

http://townhall.com/tipsheet/

I believe it's about 1/2 way down the page. Martin Bashir was really trying to back Rob Bell into a corner to answer his questions the way Mr. Bashir wanted him to. I thought Rob Bell did a good job answering the questions...

Rob Bell Himself on Good Morning America

Here is a link to Rob Bell's interview on Good Morning America....Hmmm....thoughts??


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4RBWOgJGAQ

Another Link

I found it interesting that Rob says something about people who are searching are taught that Jesus rescues us from God (and God will send you to hell if you don't believe in Jesus). I think I know what he is getting at...it's not that there is no hell, it's that we aren't being rescued from God, we are being restored to God. We were separated because of our sin not because of God....

Ok, I am going to wait to post any more thoughts....thank you for your comments, they are so good and helpful!


http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/video/video.php?v=10150104061084774&oid=10553794179&comments

A Link from Christianity Today

This link was sent to me just a few minutes ago via Facebook. I have not read the entire article yet. I just wanted to move it over here for further reading. Thanks.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/marchweb-only/rob-bell-universalism.html

Thank you For All Your Comments!

I appreciate each one who has taken time to comment here and in private messages. Thank you for being respectful and not calling names or attacking churches. My prayer is that some will seek out answers for themselves based on Scripture and that the questions they have will be satisfied through their own study of what the Bible says.

I am really gaining from this discussion and again, I appreciate it.

Still Learning...

If nothing else, Rob Bell's teachings are causing me to dig deeper into the Scriptures to find out more about what I believe and why--that is always a good thing, right?
 Here is another article:
http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/civil-religion/sharon-autenrieth/article_1eed374e-45e7-11e0-9ec5-00127992bc8b.html

In this article, there is a description of Bell and his new book. It does seem the publisher designed it to fuel the controversy. However, I know from experience that once you sign that contract, your publisher can do anything they wish to promote your book. It is your writing but it is really THEIR book. This is one of the main reasons I did not accept a contract with my book even though financially, it would have been much better but money is not always worth the trade...
Anyway, I am really saying that to say Rob Bell is not personally using controversy to promote his book even if his publisher *might be*:

Fans flock to his Facebook page, his NOOMA videos have been viewed by millions, and his Sunday sermons are attended by 10,000 parishioners - with a downloadable podcast reaching 50,000 more. An electrifying, unconventional pastor whom Time magazine calls ‘a singular rock star in the church world', Rob Bell is the most vibrant, central religious leader of the millennial generation. Now, in Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, Bell addresses one of the most controversial issues of faith - the afterlife - arguing that a loving God would never sentence human souls to eternal suffering. With searing insight, Bell puts hell on trial, and his message is decidedly optimistic - eternal life doesn't start when we die; it starts right now. And ultimately, Love Wins.  HarperOne