Since our team is on a Christmas break, we are able to have some down-time at home to rest, relax, and refresh. I wanted this break to be full of time to refresh in the Word and to read theological books that deal with tough issues. I chose to read Rob Bell’s latest book entitled, Love Wins (a New York Times bestseller and a frighteningly watered-down gospel theory that all people will eventually get to Heaven one day) and Francis Chan's rebuttal to Bell's book entitled, Erasing Hell.

I was introduced to Rob Bell in college, when his Nooma videos were becoming popular. I was amazed at his brilliantly creative videos! He seemed to pack heavy theological thoughts surrounded by beautiful cinematography. I even watched some of his videos my first year on the road for inspiration on how to edit our digital shorts. Although he creates spectacular videos, there are a few issues with some of his theology. He would hate to be called one, but according to his latest book, he is indeed a Universalist.

----Universalism – noun \ˌyü-nə-ˈvər-sə-ˌli-zəm\ – a theological doctrine that all human beings will eventually be saved.----

In Love Wins, Bell attempts to explain from Scripture that there is no literal Hell because God is too loving to send His creation to such a place. He believes there are Hells on earth, i.e. – the global debt crisis, when you or a loved one gets diagnosed with cancer, a husband abusing his wife. . . So what we interpret as the torments of Hell are only here on earth. He says there is, however, a place or a state of being that people travel to after death where they are refined and given the chance (multiple chances) to confess their need of Christ. This is not a place of punishment, torment, and fire, rather the place you inhabit until you become enlightened to God’s truth (much like a type of pergatory). So no matter what your religion is, no matter how much you despise and hate God and the gospel truth, you still get your 2nd chance after death.

As I mentioned before, Bell claims that God is so loving that there is no way He would send His created beings to a place of torment. Yes, God is loving. He is the very definition of love! But we must bring His other attributes into view, and not misinterpret this one. God is also Holy, Just, and a Righteous Judge. His Holiness demands an opposition to human sinfulness. He is just in His actions against sin because He has every right to be. Because He is God! We must let God be God in our minds! He has free reign to punish all of us and not let anyone into Heaven, BUT He loves His creation and sent Christ to redeem us. Our response to this truth is necessary - repenting of sin, turning completely away from it, and putting our faith and trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross.

Truth – There is a real Hell. A place of eternal torment for those who do not confess their sins and put their faith in Christ. Truth – God is Love. God sent Christ to redeem His creation from the torments of sin and Hell and into a personal relationship with Himself.

So, Love does win in the end.

Rob Bell brings up many other concepts and Bible verses to "defend" his stance on Hell and God's love. I only brought up these thoughts because I believe that Christians can be blindly swept away by such doctrine. Even as I was reading, I was asking questions and being challenged to really know Biblical reasons why I believe in the gospel and a literal Hell. Francis Chan gives a great rebutal to Love Wins (Erasing Hell). He brings up excellent Biblical texts and logic to prove Hell's existence and God's pure love.

-Laura Kennedy