Shouldn't Love Always Win? Part 1

There is a lot of Material in the book I am about to review, and this is only a small approach to a wide topic for review. For now, I'll begin with this: 

"Those are questions, or more accurately, those are tensions we are free to leave fully intact. 

We don't need to resolve them or answer them because we can't, and so we simply respect them, creating space for the freedom that love requires." 

(Rob Bell, Love Wins)

It implies that there is a mystery in the account of heaven vs. hell. Rob Bell takes the topic by storm and addresses the questions so commonly asked by people who have never believed in a God and by those who have spent their entire life being frustrated by the box so many institutions -often- place God in. So what is the truth about heaven and hell and the fate of the entire human race?  I don't think Bell presumes to know the answer, rather after reading his material, I'm convinced that he is only presenting a new way of thinking that makes God truly powerful. "God gets what God wants."

And if God made man in his own image, if the Spirit of the Creator in everything that exists in the earth because of Love alone, why would He not offer every opportunity possible for each one to choose him? Even if it meant in infinite time and space? 

What I appreciate about Bell's analysis is that he presents both and heaven and hell as reality now, in the Earth. "The age to come" does not necessarily have to be a realm that is yet to arrive. Rather by establishing the reality of heaven and hell in the present, it prepares the human being for the future of this life and yes, then ultimately a Realm that will unite itself with the Earth.

In his address of heaven: he pulls in the story of the rich man who came to Jesus to ask him, "what must I do to have eternal life?" Bell states that the rich man wasn't necessarily concerned with whether or not he would get into heaven, in fact, having done all the "right" things and living the "good" life, he assumed he would. What that young man was concerned with was a deeper sense living in the "age to come" - the future of his existence before and after death. So to this, after Jesus recites the commandments (which the man had kept),  he drives it home - with a heart-issue. "Sell all you have..." and the man walked away. "He had great wealth...." Such was his greed. The point, Bell says, Jesus is making is that heaven is ultimately "entering life." What does it mean to really live? To have peace, love, joy? What does it mean to live in the state for which we were created? Could the goodness of LIFE be heaven on Earth? I can imagine so -- if in fact a God so big could create an Earth so beautiful, with laws of Physics and Biological intricacies that function at will. And honestly, I couldn't imagine the eternity to come existing without them.

Bell taps the lack of imagination we have when it concerns heaven. Floating in robes atop gold streets, through pearly gates and big 15th century stone castles. While it might be interesting - the world has grown, progressed, and discovered so much more since the days of King Richard the Great. Would it be so impossible --for what we experience on Earth to be a taste of Heaven? Could not heaven's existence mesh with the beauty of the Earth? I think so. 

Moreover - Bell continues by discussing the very idea that God set out to save the human race and that it is not FROM God for which people need saving, it is unto God one is saved. This indicates, in my mind - what we are being saved from ultimately - is ourselves. And if it is eternal - then it seems to me, it should exist in death and in life. 

But one might ask, what about justice? -is this not the fate of Hell? I am beginning to believe that we, as humans have derived our own form of justice (and in western culture, it includes court dates and prison cells and political bias) - If God is truly to be all powerful, is it not conceivable that His version of justice is beyond our comprehension and we have no idea what justice REALLY is? The Cross was meant to be a sacrifice - not just for the human race of 1st century, but for every century past and in an "age to come." 

I'll back up a moment and address Bell's analysis on Hell. First, it's important to note that he takes a more scholarly approach to the place Christianity has deemed a place for those who do not accept confess their sins in this life...

Bell discusses an the idea-- stating that in the Old Testament of the Bible, there is very little reference to a place called Hell and that there is more commentary on death itself - both in the physical and in the spiritual renewal of God's graces. In the second half of the Bible, Bell points out that Jesus reference's to hell were of a physical garbage dump that the Israelites of his day would have been familiar with. In essence, a common noun was used as metaphor to the consequences of poor choices. 

This is interesting. Why? Well - once again Bell makes a significant point about the importance of this life and how sometimes, we do a fine job of bringing Hell to Earth through our will, which we were given by God. We're not robotic. We're human and we are allowed to make up our mind, for better or worse, how we want our life to look. So this approach to the idea, once again, creates life in the here and now - rather than some furnace --where we'll feel our skin scorching for eternity. 

But what about the passages where Jesus may not refer directly to hell but to condemnation and punishment? It's a valid question. Bell takes a look more specifically at the audience Jesus was talking to - and ironically, it was never heathens that received his words, but rather  - the religious culture that believed they were on God's good side and had their ticket into heaven.  "This is not say that hell is not a pointed, urgent warning or that it isn't intimately connected with what we actually do believe, but simply to point out that Jesus talked about hell to people who considered themselves, "in." (p.82)-- He continues on to discuss references in the Bible where such punishment is the preparation for a great Redemption. It is ultimately about a death and consequences --before a transformation. "Failure," Bell notes, "isn't final, judgement has a point and consequences are for correction." 

As for references in the book of Revelation and traditional teachings about the end times, I was interested to find out -- through research -- more than one interpretation exists on the book, i.e., there are some theologians who actually believe the book was written specifically for it's time and the events already happened. Others believe that it was a book written to address timeless truths and still others who believe it is solely the end times. Nevertheless, the book is debated -- and we may have no true understanding. Which is it? Option D: All of the Above. 

So is there a place called hell? I believe so but I also admit my understanding of it is human, and therefore minuscule compared to where it actually may be or what  will really exist there. Could it really be His people that He made in His image? Or could it be the "fallen beings" - that do not yet exist in their eternal damnation? We really don't know. But it certainly gives the mystery of love and salvation more hope - don't you think?

Ultimately: Rob Bell's words make sense to me. His reference to scripture and study of the Hebrew text often fascinates me. There will be people who disagree with him, who will disagree with me. There will be some who would say these ideas are heresy and frankly haven't cracked open the book. And there will be those who read these words, already pre-set to disbelief and will still call Bell a heretic. Others will find they just can't wrap their mind around the concepts he offers. And that's ok. There will still be others that will find his words resonate in a deeply spiritual way, so much so, they find themselves approaching God in a way they never have before. To each of you -- I'm fine with that. So if the book stimulates any conversation, I can imagine it will be that of a God who came to save the Earth --- Such attention, in any form can only be applauded, correct?

So go ahead, read it, decide what you think. But don't jump on the bandwagon of critics before you do. Have an open mind. 

Nevertheless, I conclude with this. Each generation has its heretics. Ironically, Jesus himself was considered one in his own time. Often they are the revolutionary leaders that bring people into a new life of grace and understanding of an old idea. And frankly, I'd just rather be a heretic.