Just about every youth pastors bookshelf contains one, if not the entire collection of these DVD’s. They are compelling, creative, engaging, and thought provoking. Their subtle light blue color always seems to stand out from all the other books and DVD’s and seems to act as an honor badge saying, ‘I’m cutting edge’ ‘I’m cool’ ‘I’m a youth pastor!’ If you still don’t know what I am talking about take a look at the photo below.
Nooma. These short DVD’s are produced by Rob Bell and contain his patented teaching style, ask a bunch of questions about everything and give very few answers. Now to be totally honest I know people who have either come to the Lord, or come back to the Lord because of these videos and Bells teaching, yet with that said I want to pose a question, or maybe better put a challenge to those of you who are on the Bell-wagon.
Before I get there I must say that for some time now I have had problems with Bell and his teaching, to be totally honest I used his Nooma videos, but after a couple months, all the questions he posed without any answers and the vagueness that Bell gives as ‘teaching‘ started to concern me. Since that time I have read up on Bell, listen to more of his teaching and read some of the theological, in nature, statements that he has made. Doing all of this has only continually brought me to a place where I distanced myself from Bell more and more, mainly because he seemed to be a boarder-line heretic, or at minimum someone whose teaching did not point to the Jesus of the Bible. Some of you know this about me, mainly because we have talked about it.
Back to my challenge. Bell has come out with, what I would argue, the nail in the coffin as to where he stands as an evangelical Christian. As Justin Taylor put it, speaking about Bells new book, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived
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 Timemagazine 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. (my underlining)
Did you catch that section I underlined? Bell is arguing that a loving God would never sentence humans to eternal suffering, aka Hell. What Bell is saying in this book, which I have not read but plan to, is that everyone will go to Heaven, this my friends is called Universalism. It is not Christianity what-so-ever!
So my challenge is this: Why allow someone to teach your students about Jesus, when in reality this teacher believes your students will go to heaven not in any way dependent on if they listen to him or not. Please find men, and woman, who will teach Christ-centered, Jesus exalting, God glorifying theology so those students, who according to my Bible will be going to hell unless they believe in the substitutionary death of Jesus, can know for sure who Jesus is and how much Love does Win!
Still don’t believe me? Watch this video and pay attention to what Bell says, and what he does not say:
In closing I will post John Pipers words from Twitter – “Farewell Rob Bell.” See HERE
Here are two articles from guys who are much smarter then me: And I would guess there will be much more written in the days and weeks to come, and I will update this post with that content.
Kevin DeYoung: To Hell With Hell
Justin Taylor: Rob Bell Universalist?
I would read his book before you judge about his character. Pray and ask God whether he is someone who you should or should not be listening to. God will show you what is right and wrong.
I am not judging anyones ‘character’, I also plan to read the book. What I’m calling into questions is the very statements from his book, and his promotional video, which he is in so he must therefore endorse. Those statements are enough for me to see a glimpse of his view. Which is un-biblical at the very least, heretical maybe. Judging NO, calling for caution, YES!
I truly hope the book comes out, and the video is way off! But at the same time I want to call people to watch his teaching, it is hard for me to see where you can say there is no Hell and that God sends all to heaven. This is not what the Bible teaches, so therefore we are to be cautious!
Thanks for commenting!
Mike,
Thanks for stopping by. I do not have the time to read your 50,000 word defense of everyone going to heaven, and I don’t mean that disrespectfully. I likewise believe in the Bible, yet can not seem to find within its pages an argument that all people go to heaven, which I assume you are arguing for.
The ‘assumption’, as you called it, is based off the biblical understanding that Jesus came to save sinners, and that not all sinners will go to heaven, as noted above. I am not looking to get into an argument on this subject at this point, so thank you for the link and I will see if I can scan through it then comment on your site about it.
Thanks again!
Josh, thanks for your respectful reply. The page you land on has a link to a 750-word summary of the book. Appendix II of the book is an even shorter summary. We are all starved for time. And I especially understand your being reluctant to take on something that probably sounds outrageous to you. However, if you do ever consider giving some time to this, I assure you that I love Jesus more than my very breath and I would not have written a word of this if I did not believe it was His truth and that it exalted Him. Of course, this doesn’t make me right…but it does make me sincere. And I am sane. Therefore, in your mind I hope you will accord at least the possiblity that what I am saying is right. Thanks for letting me interact with you and your readers.
Mike,
I will have to read the 750 word, much more doable. I assume that you have sat under teaching and or read books that have influenced your thinking? I know much of my thinking has come from that and study of the scriptures. Even if we disagree, I can sense you are sincere, and know that some day we will agree. Either when we are all in heaven, or when I am in heaven! LOL Just joking man!
Thanks again for stopping by.
Josh, I like you have used Noomas in the past and have since become very cautious about his teachings. I am at least glad that he maybe be coming right out with it. Better the false teacher that you know….
Yeah, it will be hard for those who are all about Bell to not take notice if the books holds much of the same tone as the video and blurb from the back.
This just gives all the more reason for us to be cautious as we teach, not to judge people, but to ask good questions. One of my fears is how many young, 18-23 yr olds are out there who were influenced by Nooma or some of the other work Bell did that will take this in just because someone encouraged them to listen to the other stuff. We are in need of discerning ears and eyes.
Actually I think my Nooma DVD’s are somewhere at my church, hmmm….might be able to sell them and make some money for a few books. Anyone want them?
yeah dude, pretty dissapointing. your folks are pretty fortunate/blessed by your discernment though. love the boldness of your article dude. hahaha keep it movin
Thanks Andrew, we still need to do coffee!
I have always been annoyed by Rob Bell’s teachings. Maybe my annoyance was discernment. I’ve never used them to teach with but others in our church have. I’m glad you brought this to our attention.