I realise I am not qualified to comment on this subject, not being a qualified theologian and not having read the book, however, what the Christian world has been doing recently over the subject of Rob Bell’s new book saddens me to the core.
Here we are, followers of Christ, willing to love and forgive murderers and adulterers, willing to welcome thieves and prostitutes with open arms and yet so quick to condemn another believer.
Whilst I do not know Rob Bell on a personal level I have no doubt that he is a Christian.
And that is my point. Who are we to condemn him? Romans 14 makes it very clear that what we, as the Christian world, are doing is wrong. Verse 10 says: “So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”
Verse 13(a) continues: “so let’s stop condemning each other.”
Although I realise that Paul is speaking mainly about differences between believers who were following the Jewish way of life versus the believers who were choosing a gentile way of life, a lot of the teaching in that chapter is very relevant to this debate.
Pastors and other Christians have been condemning Rob Bell for writing a book. Paul makes it clear that there are only two people who truly know whether he should be condemned for what he has done: God and Rob Bell.
Verse 16 to 18 says: “You will not be criticised for doing something you believe is good. For the Kingdom of God is [a matter] of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God…”
It all comes down to motivation. Has he written this book because he believes it is what God wants him to do or has he written it out of selfish desire. There is only one human who knows the answer to this, and I’d like to think that if Rob Bell believed that writing the book were wrong then he would not have done it. (verse 23).
So, here’s an idea: what if we, as Christians, continue loving Rob Bell, without judgement and without cynicism or condemnation?
We don’t have to agree with what he has written. We are free to discuss, dispute and debate, but I am certain that Jesus did not give His life on the cross in order that we should turn on each other. Who are we to condemn a fellow Christian for writing a book (especially a book that hardly anyone has read yet)?
Regardless of the content of the book, I pray that at least the title be embraced by us all and that Love would indeed win.
