The book is generating much interest and controversy because it challenges the self-righteousness of most Christians, especially the pastors and evangelists. For one, it attacks the notion that faith alone in Jesus remains the only requirement to achieve a place in heaven. Truth of the matter is, nowhere in the bible can one find that one must only have faith in Jesus to be saved from hell. What is in the bible is that belief in Jesus will assure one of everlasting life ( John 3:16). And belief in Jesus means following His commandments. Belief entails action and good works ( James 2:24 ). And belief goes beyond lip service ( Matthew 7:21 ).
As a Christian, I do not mind going to hell if God thinks that I deserve to go there. I love Jesus because of what He did and continues to do for me as I live my life here on earth. I do not love Jesus because I fear going to hell. I love Jesus because I choose to do so with all my heart and with no strings attached.
As much as I love controversies, I also frown upon this book's main point. For me, you either believe in both heaven and hell, or you don't believe in both. There's no sense in accepting one idea, then rejecting the other. Heaven and hell, like bread and butter, always go together. I chose not to believe in both. I admire you Christians for believing in both. Believing only in heaven makes the belief and the believer irresolute.
ReplyDeleteWhich Afterlife?
ReplyDeleteIn his new book "Love Wins" Rob Bell seems to say that loving and compassionate people, regardless of their faith, will not be condemned to eternal hell just because they do not accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Concepts of an afterlife vary between religions and among divisions of each faith. Here are three quotes from "the greatest achievement in life," my ebook on comparative mysticism:
(46) Few people have been so good that they have earned eternal paradise; fewer want to go to a place where they must receive punishments for their sins. Those who do believe in resurrection of their body hope that it will be not be in its final form. Few people really want to continue to be born again and live more human lives; fewer want to be reborn in a non-human form. If you are not quite certain you want to seek divine union, consider the alternatives.
(59) Mysticism is the great quest for the ultimate ground of existence, the absolute nature of being itself. True mystics transcend apparent manifestations of the theatrical production called “this life.” Theirs is not simply a search for meaning, but discovery of what is, i.e. the Real underlying the seeming realities. Their objective is not heaven, gardens, paradise, or other celestial places. It is not being where the divine lives, but to be what the divine essence is here and now.
(80) [referring to many non-mystics] Depending on their religious convictions, or personal beliefs, they may be born again to seek elusive perfection, go to a purgatory to work out their sins or, perhaps, pass on into oblivion. Lives are different; why not afterlives? Beliefs might become true.
Rob Bell asks us to reexamine the Christian Gospel. People of all faiths should look beyond the letter of their sacred scriptures to their spiritual message. As one of my mentors wrote "In God we all meet."
Dear Ron,
ReplyDeleteThank you for reading and making a comment.
As I said, the book creates so much controversy because it challenges certain concepts of Christian pastors and evangelists. What I find good about the book is that it forces people to examine the true meaning of God's word. As a Christian, I refuse to believe that Jesus and God the Father want only a certain group of people to be saved. 1 Timothy 2:4 clearly says that God wants all men to be saved and to know the truth.
Keep reading.
dear ro,
ReplyDeleteas i said, believing in Jesus is a choice. i believe that belief in Jesus increases your chance of a heavenly reward in the afterlife. but ultimately, it is only God who knows who will be saved or be damned. i really believe that people will be judged according to what we have done on earth. our deeds will spell the difference between heaven or hell.