I've never read a Rob Bell book (I've only seen some of the NOOMA videos), but I'm going to read this one. I'm going to form my own opinion ONLY AFTER I have ACTUALLY READ THE BOOK! Had it not been for the controversy, I don't know if I would have considered reading this book. So now Bell is going to make some money off me. He's going to make a lot of money because this book is obviously going to sell a lot of copies. But I know that isn't Bell's purpose for writing this book. If the introductory video is any indicator of what is contained in the book, he is asking questions that's getting us talking. It's shaking us up. It's not wrong to ask the tough questions that go to the core of our beliefs. Don't we need to ask them to gain a firmer understanding of why we believe the things we believe?
So my hat's off to Bell. He got us talking. If we put the name calling and accusations aside, perhaps this discussion will further enrich our understanding of the scriptures concerning the atonement, heaven, hell, and all the other things that have been brought to the table in this book. If worst case scenario, Bell ends us being a universalist and a heretic, then what does that have to do with any of us besides Rob Bell? He's responsible for him, none of us are responsible for him. If that worst case scenario happens, then we will politely point out what the scripture says as opposed to what he says (again I'm speaking hypothetically) to those within our spheres of influence and pray for him (with sincerity, not in the sarcastic or passing judgment sense that we tend to do in church).
What is sad is that along the way over the past two weeks, Bell has inadverdently exposed some in the Evangelical world. The vehement accusations, tweets, and name-calling aimed at Bell (again, over something they haven't read...yet) has caused me to lose respect for a few people that I once thought highly of.
So that's all there is to be said until we actually read the book.
