Thoughts on Rob Bell?

[Rhamiel]

When I first saw the Mark Driscoll thread, I could not really remember who he was and I got him confused with Rob Bell because both are connected to Mars Hill Church
So that got me thinking of the man, I have never read any of his books but I have heard a few of his bible studys and sermons
what do you guys think about him?

 

[crishmael]

I've read most of his books and used to listen to his podcast. He has some interesting perspectives on things and I enjoy his stuff.

 

[Sketcher]

Someone from my church used to go to Rob Bell's. According to him, Bell started out solid but slid into the error he preaches now, which I call heresy.

 

[SystematicChaos]

I think they are two different Mars Hills even because the one Rob Bell is from is in MI and the one(s) that Mark Driscoll is involved with are in WA mostly (with one in California, one in Oregon and one in New Mexico).

 

[Blank123]

Pseudo-intellectual. Thats all i have to say.

 

[SnowyMacie]

They are two different Mars Hill churches.


I like a lot about him, his Nooma video sermons and older books. Some other things I don't agree with.

 

[Going Merry]

Never heard of em

What is he catholic?

 

[KingCrimson250]

Never really got all that into him. I know he gets a lot of hate.

I personally tried reading Love Wins and couldn't get ten pages into it. Regardless of his theology, the man writes and argues at a first-grade level. I'm not trying to be snobbish, but what I'm saying is if you're looking for alternative perspectives on hell, there are better books.

I was a bit disappointed with the flurry of activity from the neo-Reformed camps, with a couple of people jumping the gun and condemning Love Wins before they'd ever even read it, and of course John Piper's infamous tweet "Farewell, Rob Bell" which was about as constructive as a wrecking ball.

I get the perceived need to stand up for what they believe to be the Gospel, but that doesn't really justify leaping down a pastor's throat because a book that had yet to be released may or may not have contained some potentially disagreeable theology.

I've heard good things about some of his books/videos (Nooma, Sex God, etc) but haven't had any experience with them myself.

EDIT: I forgot my biggest pet peeve: Rob Bell is not post-modern, at least not theologically. If you don't like him, that's fine, but don't go dragging Barth and Brunner into this.

 

[Sketcher]

I like a lot about him, his Nooma video sermons and older books. Some other things I don't agree with.

I saw some of those Nooma videos. Even though what he was teaching in the videos I saw was not false, I didn't care for his style.

 

[broken_one]

He's not that bad. He gets a little too watered-down sometimes for me.

 

[Rhamiel]

Never heard of em

What is he catholic?

lol no
don't worry, i have something saved for latter

He's not that bad. He gets a little too watered-down sometimes for me.

like, since he is not my pastor, I do not really mind that
like i do not look for him for leadership, I see him as the kinda guy useful for brainstorming ideas

 

[GQ Chris]

Someone from my church used to go to Rob Bell's. According to him, Bell started out solid but slid into the error he preaches now, which I call heresy.

This. He's just another Hair-tick.

 

[blackjellybean]

When I first saw the Mark Driscoll thread, I could not really remember who he was and I got him confused with Rob Bell because both are connected to Mars Hill Church

It's an unrelated Mars Hill Church.

Yeah, I know.

So that got me thinking of the man, I have never read any of his books but I have heard a few of his bible studys and sermons
what do you guys think about him?

He seems like a rambling hipster, from his Nooma videos that I had to watch anyway. I found them annoyingly hollow, like I wish he'd just say something even though he's talking, it's hard to describe.

 

[Hadassah_]

He was fine until he went into the "God is a loving God and won't send anyone to hell" theory.

 

[Rhamiel]

He was fine until he went into the "God is a loving God and won't send anyone to hell" theory.

is that really what he said?
i remember reading something like that
but it seemed like people were oversimplifying what he said
but i might be mistaken

 

[crishmael]

is that really what he said?
i remember reading something like that
but it seemed like people were oversimplifying what he said
but i might be mistaken

That's the caricature the Reformed bloggers started even before the book came out. The book doesn't make the claim that there is no hell or that all will be saved. It says that we can hope that all will be saved, which if you believe in human freedom and that people can choose to follow God or to reject him is a logical extension of the belief, but makes no promises. There are several parts of the book that challenge traditional Calvinist views of God and that is why there was an attempt to smear him as a heretic.

 

[Rhamiel]

That's the caricature the Reformed bloggers started even before the book came out. The book doesn't make the claim that there is no hell or that all will be saved. It says that we can hope that all will be saved, which if you believe in human freedom and that people can choose to follow God or to reject him is a logical extension of the belief, but makes no promises. There are several parts of the book that challenge traditional Calvinist views of God and that is why there was an attempt to smear him as a heretic.

Well I am no fan of Calvinism
I am also not a fan of Universalism, the idea that all will be saved

like I said before, I like that he raises interesting questions

 

[crishmael]

Well I am no fan of Calvinism
I am also not a fan of Universalism, the idea that all will be saved

like I said before, I like that he raises interesting questions

That's what I appreciate as well.

 

[SnowyMacie]

Well I am no fan of Calvinism
I am also not a fan of Universalism, the idea that all will be saved

like I said before, I like that he raises interesting questions

I'm not a fan of Calvinism, in fact, I consider myself almost anti-calvinism.

Yeah. And Crish, while it doesn't say there is no Hell, it clearly does say Hell is real (just not the traditional fire and eternal, conscious torment) It does imply partial universalism. Regardless, I enjoyed the book because it makes you think and raises questions.

 

[GQ Chris]

Come on Matt, the reality of Hell is just too offensive and not very inclusive for everybody.