Rob Bell and Love Wins

Rob Bell is a pastor of a megachurch in Michigan.  His book, "Love Wins," has caused a heated debate not only in Christian circles but also in the non-Christian community.  The recent Time Magazine story about his book and beliefs has further fueled the debate.  At the heart of the debate is the question of whether or not Hell exists and whether or not Jesus is truly the only way to get to Heaven.  These are not insignificant issues.  Therefore, I want to share a thought or two.  Let me acknowledge from the start that I have not read the book.  However, I have listened to a number of interviews with Rob Bell and read a number of reviews which include quotes from the book.  Based upon those, I am extremely concerned about his views and the impact they will have.

He questions the historic, Christian understanding of Hell.
He emphasizes the love of God, while minimizing the judgment of God.
He leaves open the possibility of the salvation of all people, regardless of their faith in Christ.
He denies a belief in universalism, while his words seem to indicate just the opposite.
He believes that God's love will eventually win out, seemingly leading all people to Heaven.
He claims that universalism has always been found in some parts of main-stream Christianity.

If I understand correctly what he is saying, I believe Rob Bell is not only wrong, but his beliefs are dangerous.  Universalism demeans the the sacrifice of Jesus, misunderstands the charater of God, makes evangelism irrelevant, and condemns the souls of people through a false sense of security. 

Now, a few things to consider:

A person can pastor a megachurch and be theologically wrong.
A person can write a book and be theologically wrong.
All books sold in Christian bookstores are not equal.  Some are downright dangerous.
All Scripture is inspired by God, not just isolated verses quoted to prove a desired belief.
Some theological tensions (God's love and His judgment) do not need to be solved. 
Teaching one aspect of God's character while ignoring another is dishonest and leads to confusion.

Finally, let me encourage you to be cautious of any teaching that questions historical, mainstream, evangelical Christianity.  This is especially important when it involves the core, fundamental, truths related to salvation, the nature of God, Heaven and Hell.