Holiday reading for me this
year was Rob Bell’s controversial Love
Wins. The typo in the very last line of the UK version makes it an
imperfect book and it’s not difficult to see why it has become one of the most
contentious books of the year but for me the expansive view of God’s love that
it portrays makes it a hit.
Opening a debate
Bell’s writing style isn’t
to everybody’s liking but I find it quite refreshing and find myself hearing
his spoken voice coming through the printed words. Love Wins isn’t going to top any list of deep theological volumes
but it is this accessibility that has surely opened up a much needed debate
about God’s character. His simple style is able to say profound stuff without
being simplistic.
Two strengths
For me the two great
strengths of the book is Bell’s insistence on eternity being about a renewed
creation not a disembodied soul and his insistence on allowing Scripture to speak
without it being forced into a traditional evangelical straightjacket. Both
emphases are so necessary and Bell brings his scholarly insights into Jesus’
Hebrew context to bear in quite a masterful way as he tackles both heaven and
hell. I heartily recommend the book – even though you may not agree with all he
says.
I happened to read the book
the same week he announced his departure from local church leadership. Could it
be that he is now even freer to explore some other radical ideas and provide us
with an even more refreshing revelation of God and his love?
