A Warning about Rob Bell's False Doctrine

Rob Bell is pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan (not affiliated with Mars Hill Church in Seattle).  He's has been described as a "rock star" among evangelical pastors.  Not sure how many of you are reading any of Rob Bell's stuff, but his new book is #5 on Amazon.com right now, so here's a needed warning from Paul McCain's Cyberbrethren blog.

With apologies to those who who think I’m grinding a bit of an axe here, about Rob Bell, I’m going to mention him again. Lutherans who are somewhat sheltered from what’s going on in American Evangelicalism may not be aware of how significant Rob Bell’s influence has been on American Evangelical “emerging church” type thought, which has found its way into many Lutheran pastor’s studies. Rob Bell’s videos known as “Nooma” videos have been used because, well, they are cool and different and have a certain edgy modern appearance to them. But Rob Bell is a false teacher, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and we need keep in mind that often people in this position are not even aware of it themselves. His latest book is now out and is being soundly condemned and critiqued by any number of key American evangelicals. 

Here is a review that I found particularly helpful.

Excerpt:

Bell begins the book with surprising forthrightness: Jesus’ story has been hijacked by a number of different stories that Jesus has no interest in telling. “The plot has been lost, and it’s time to reclaim it.” (Preface, vi)

"A staggering number of people have been taught that a select few Christians will spend forever in a peaceful, joyous place called heaven, while the rest of humanity spends forever in torment and punishment in hell with no chance for anything better…. This is misguided and toxic and ultimately subverts the contagious spread of Jesus’ message of love, peace, forgiveness, and joy that our world desperately needs to hear." (ibid)

You may want to read that again.

It really says that. And it really means what you think it means. Though it takes time for that to become clear.