How many of you are aware that Father God is doing a whole new thing in the world right here around us, and everywhere that we do not see?
An “awakening” if you will. I want to tell you about a fairly new book, that is becoming the most widely read book throughout Christendom and the world. It is highly controversial.
The saddest thing to me is how many people are judging this book, without ever reading it. Pretty typical of closed off religious minds, eh?
There are many concepts that modern Christians have been taught and now believe, but these concepts are just a few hundred of years old. Starting with the King James version of the Bible being created – to be exact.
Rob Bell challenges some of these concepts in his latest book “Love Wins – A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived.”
I want to share a few thoughts directly from the book’s cover.
“Millions of Christians have struggled how to reconcile God’s love and God’s judgement. Has God created billions of people over thousands of years only to select a few to go to Heaven and EVERYONE to suffer forever in Hell? Is this acceptable to God? And how is this “good news”?
Troubling questions – so troubling that many have lost their faith because of them. Others only whisper the questions to themselves, fearing or being taught that they might lose their faith and their church (and friends) if they ask them out loud.
But what if these questions trouble us for good reason?
What if the story of heaven and hell that we have been taught is not, in fact, what the Bible (all original manuscripts before 1600s) teaches?
What if, what Jesus meant by Heaven, Hell and Salvation are very different from how we have come to understand them?
What if it is God Himself that wants us to face these questions?”
Would you even be open to questioning or considering anything different than what you have been taught?
“The result is that the “Good News” is really GOOD and much, much better than we ever imagined!
” “Love Wins” is a bold, prophetic and poetic masterpiece. I don’t know any writer who expresses the inexpressible love of God as powerfully and as beautifully as Rob Bell!
Many will disagree with some of Rob’s perspectives, but NO ONE WHO SERIOUSLY ENGAGES THIS BOOK WILL PUT IT DOWN UNCHANGED.
A must read book!” Greg Boyd – Senior Pastor and author of “The myth of a Christian nation.”
Now, if you still aren’t sure you want to read this little book, I encourage you to read my next blog post, right below this one, on “Destroying the Little Boxes”.
Don’t be afraid. Your God is big enough to stand the test of all Truth. He will prevail. With, or without our agreement or consent. Truth does not need consensus. Could God be bigger, greater and more loving than you have ever possibly imagined or been told your whole life?
Maybe? I, personally, am so relived that HE IS NOT AS SMALL AS OUR LITTLE BOXES that we create for Him.
I heard a man say the other night, that the full revelation has not been given to man on this entire subject yet….selah.
God reveals bits and pieces of Himself, throughout the ages, as He chooses. Never be afraid to ask real questions and put them before Him, as you seek Wisdom and Truth.
It will come…….I can promise…..if it is really is Truth you are seeking.
EXCITING TIMES!!!
PS. I most humbly submit this to you – I don’t even begin to think I have all of the answers. I used to in the past. For most of my life, I piously thought that I had it all clearly figured out. I have been humbled and broken, and now know, above all, that I can not even begin to wrap my little mind around God and all of His thoughts and ways. I have learned that “God (and all of Heaven) resist the proud and embrace the humble.” I am on a genuine pursuit of Truth, and am more convinced than ever of the inconceivable love of God and His total heart for reconciliation.
As Jesus said in John 12 – “He did not come to judge the world, but to save it.” That, I believe, is His bottom line!
I invite you to pray and ask the Father to begin to reveal to you – the difference between living from/in the Tree of Life, and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Marcie said,
January 26, 2012 at 11:55 am
Hi Toni. Just read your blog via Rob Bell’s “Love Wins.” I have found his interviews, quotes, and excerpts of his book to actually be “off.” I tried to read his book but I simply couldn’t muster through it. My concern is that the emergent church or the American church has failed to preach the whole gospel to this generation. Yes, we have a God full of love for His people, His creation. And yes, He wishes none will perish. But He is also a God of justice that actually gets pretty ticked off at His people. Repeatedly, throughout Biblical History, God Himself wiped out people without a blink of an eye! But He warned them time and time again that He would, yet people would not turn from their evil ways. We don’t hear that much from the pulpit these days… i.e. Rob Bell, Joel Osteen, etc. etc. Wide is the road to Hell and narrow is the road to Heaven and very few will ever find it. Matthew 7:14. I respectfully appreciate your thoughts on the matter however and, if anything, it should encourage us to hunt through scripture to see what God’s word really says about it. I think you will find this review interesting re: “Love Wins.” In my opinion, he nails it. http://www.challies.com/book-reviews/love-wins-a-review-of-rob-bells-new-book
themothersheart said,
January 26, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Thanks Marcie for your feedback. However, the scripture you quoted about “narrow is the road to Heaven”, was not quite “spot on”. The verse says the road to “eternal life” or the “Kingdom of God”. The Bible says “The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.” No, without Jesus you will not have that. John 17:3 says this “What is eternal life – but to know Father God and His son Jesus Christ.” Neither of those 2 verses are what most people think of when they hear “the Kingdom” or “eternal life”. People assume Heaven for both “the Kingdom” or “eternal life” all the time. Have you read the book yourself? It is so easy to take things out of context without reading the whole book. This happens more in Biblical interpretation than anywhere. I would strongly encourage you to read the whole book and go from there. Love you my friend.
P.S. Just looked at that particular verse you quoted and it actually says, “but it is a narrow gate and hard road that leads to LIFE, and only a few find it.” (Complete Jewish Bible)
Katie said,
January 26, 2012 at 5:33 pm
To say that anyone who doesn’t want to read this book is apart of a religious culture seems a bit unfair. The traditionalist reaction is understandable, for Bell’s arguments about heaven and hell raise doubts about the core of the Evangelical worldview, changing the common understanding of salvation so much that Christianity becomes more of an ethical habit of mind than a faith based on divine revelation. When you adopt universalism and erase the distinction between the church and the world then you don’t need the church, and you don’t need Christ, and you don’t need the cross. This is the tragedy of mainline liberalism, and it’s Rob Bell’s tragedy in this book too.
Love is such a wonderful and beautiful facet of our Father but it’s not the only facet. I love that His throne is a seat of mercy. What other god could you say that for? But what holds that seat up is justice and righteousness. It is what makes His mercy so precious and beautiful.
The point is Jesus. You said it yourself, “Your God is big enough to stand the test of Truth.” Who is Truth? Why did He come if the Father’s love is so consuming that we don’t need Jesus to access relationship with Him? Why did Adam and Eve have to leave the garden? To say “I don’t believe in a god who would send people to hell.” is the same as saying, “I don’t believe in a god who would kick his children out of Eden all because they ate a silly piece of fruit from the wrong tree.” So are we to believe then that there was no fall of mankind? Are we to doubt then the existence of the Garden of Eden a place just as unreal to us as hell?
I think it is right to say that full revelation has not been given on the subject but let’s not be manipulative and insinuate that if you don’t agree with Rob Bell you are closed minded, of a religious nature, and have put God in a box.
themothersheart said,
January 26, 2012 at 8:58 pm
I did not say anyone “who doesn’t read this book is part of a religious culture”. And who said we don’t need Christ or the Cross?? Jesus Christ is the reason for all redemption and hope for all mankind. I assume you have not read the book either. You might start with chapter 4 and then go back and read it all. So much judgement here and inaccurate asssumptions, before you even read it for yourself. And I certainly didn’t say “there is no hell” and neither does Rob Bell. Before critiquing a book you haven’t read, I highly recommend reading it first.
And I did not say anyone who doesn’t agree with Rob Bell is close minded, etc. I do not even agree with all of it. I simply challenge you to read it.
Marcie said,
January 26, 2012 at 10:46 pm
Ack!! I’m not sure where my second reply went… oh well. Toni, I love you my dear. I, honest engine, tried to read it but it just did not resonate within my spirit so I closed it up! Not judging! Just not interested. Again, I had also watched him in several interviews where several excerpts of the book were read out loud and his responses alarmed me and were simply his theories unfounded Biblically so I simply did not want to read it. I felt I heard “enough.” It’s not so much that I’m not “giving the book a chance.” I simply do not agree with anything he has said so I why would I want to fill my mind and spirit with more?? That’s all I’m saying. You are entitled to read the book, support the book, enjoy the book, share your thoughts on the book.
I just really disagree with his philosophies. And as I have pointed out before, if you will read the link above re: and actual review of the book from someone else who actually read it, he, in my opinion, has some valid challenges to Bell’s theories. Not against you! Not judging! Just stating some opposing views. 
themothersheart said,
January 27, 2012 at 10:02 am
Thanks Marcie, I appreciate that and get what you are saying. For many years now, Dave has said so much of what Rob is saying and based it all on scripture. I have struggled for years with all of it, and as i read this book and based on the very scriptures Rob fills the book with, I get now what they are saying. I wish you would go back and read the 4th chapter. It is incredulous to me and says it all. He uses a Socratic method of questioning alot to simply introduce thoughts to consider, but that 4th chapter is soo full of just scripture. There are sooo many more scriptures throughout the entire Bible on the ultimate reconciliation of all men to Him. That is the heart of God and He doesn’t fail.
Neither Rob Bell or us are negating hell. Only the misconceptions of it. And boy, has it been misconstrued from what the Lord meant in our translations. The word hell is used about 12 times in the New Testament. “The Greek word that gets translated “hell” in English is the word “Gehenna”. It was an actual valley on the south and west side of the city of Jerusalem. In Jesus’s day, it was the city dump.People tossed their garbage and waste into this valley. There was a fire there, burning constantly to consume the trash. Wild animals fought over scraps of food along the edges of the heap. When they fought, their teeth would make a gnashing sound. Gehenna was the place with the gnashing of teeth, where the fire never went out.”
What Rob Bell goes into in chapter 3, which i also most highly recommend, is the scriptural context of all those passages and who Jesus was speaking to. It is just so profound and different than what we have “bought.”.
I would be so grateful if you would go back and read thoroughly chapters 3 and 4 and then we may talk more.
The Bible is our total authority and sometimes we need someone to point some things out in their original context and intent that is not known at surface glance, which is how most of us read.
I love you too Marcie
Marcie said,
January 27, 2012 at 1:54 pm
And one more question, if “Love Wins” how can one support that with Lucifer and a 1/3 of the angels getting kicked out of Heaven? Did “Love Win” then?
themothersheart said,
January 27, 2012 at 2:50 pm
Nothing is over yet, except the payment for sin. For Christ said “It is finished” on that judgement day – at the cross.
I am really not wanting to fight, Marci. I hear you and all you are saying. I think if you read those 2 chapters, your perspective would be different.
Marcie said,
January 27, 2012 at 5:02 pm
I humbly submit this. Probably good for the whole world to hear, starting with me.
themothersheart said,
January 27, 2012 at 11:39 pm
I thought this video was great and really appreciated his heart. I have felt exactly as he does, in not wanting to say “this is what i think or i know and i know it is right”, kind of attitude. That is so dangerous before God to me. I do not claim to have all the answers anymore. The more I do learn and the more i do know, the less I want to throw that around or push it on anyone. For most of my life i was overly confident of all that I thought, but now tread with great trepidation, before Almighty God. I presented the book, because i think it will make people reconsider many things they have always completely accepted, that may not all be as what they seem. WE actually have a group that is meeting at our home and discussing these things. Very openly, candidly, and lovingly – seeking Truth and with no hostility whatsoever. I just really don’t want to get in great debates here.