Rob Bell in his book Love Wins addresses one of the most curly issues of faith – heaven and hell. Bell asks the question, would a loving God send people to eternal torment forever? Bell puts hell on trial, and his message is quite hopeful. Eternal 
life doesn’t start when we die – it starts right now. Really?
Bell has attracted a lot of criticism about this book and his overall theme of universalism – the belief that all people will eventually be saved, given enough time. There are a lot of reviews, good, bad and very ugly about what Rob Bell has to say about heaven and hell. It seems to me that most of the people who claim that Rob Bell is a heretic are the same people who have never read his book.
I’ve read his book. I think it’s great. I’ve asked these questions, and I still don’t think I have the answers. I do believe God has the answers, and that God is love, and that love wins. I have many favourite parts of the book but this quote struck me:
May you experience this vast,
expansive, infinite, indestructible love
that has been yours all along.
May you discover that this love is as wide
as the sky and as small as the cracks in
your heart no one else knows about.
And may you know,
deep in your bones,
that love wins.
This book really got me thinking. here’s my reflection:
Heaven on Earth
in between the now and the not yet
we live here on earth
waiting for heaven
where on earth is heaven
in between today and tomorrow
we live on earth
day after day, some days
seems like hell on earth
perhaps eternity
is set in the hearts of men
perhaps the kingdom of heaven
is within us
perhaps, just perhaps
heaven is a place on earth
not now, but here
sometime, someday
a new heaven and a new earth
one day, in God’s time
because God is love and
love will always win
Finally, here’s a video clip about Rob Bell’s book (by Rob Bell), view it, read the book and then judge for yourself.
your poem/reflection captures much of what Love Wins tries to say. But here is a question – do you really think the Bible does not define the mechanism by which one will experience the love of God as the book claims?
Thanks for your comment Mike. I’m pretty clear on this. I believe God’s grace is all we need to be saved, and that God’s love is available for anyone who wants it. I don’t think that Rob Bell’s book contradicts any of this. Thanks for your question 🙂
I agree with your points that salvation is by God’s grace and His love is available to all. I also think it is good that the book has opened up the discussion on the gospel and the after-life. However while Bell stresses these points he is certainly vague on the “through faith” part in chapters 1 and 6 (or the multiple interviews).
What he doesn’t say is how, or when, or in what manner the mechanism functions that gets people to God through him.[Love Wins p154]
Since you thought the book was great I was wondering if you agreed with Bell’s opening the door on universalism (even if he does not embrace it himself) or this assertion above?
-MikeB
Hi Mike. I believe in a God that is bigger than my questions or anyone elses. I’m not sure that I agree with everything Rob Bell says in his book. What’s important to me is that God is love and love conquers all. I also believe that it’s important and healthy to debate these ideas and issues. In the end God has the answers and that inspires me to live by faith. Thanks for your comments.