Posted by Pastor Terry Fischer in Articles | 2 comments
Now What? By Jon Henegar
Now What?
Rob Bell’s new book is stirring up some controversy and it is just now hitting the stores. You’ve got to hand it to that boy; he certainly is a master of controversy. Rob Bell, the darling of the “Postmodern/ Relevant/ Emergent Church/ Society” really knows how to stir up thoughts. In some ways, I believe that can be a good thing. I have never been an adherent of blind faith and I believe too many Christians really don’t know why they believe what they believe. I think they should know, but that’s for a different article… Stirring up thoughts, however needs to be grounded in truth. His new book “Love Wins” seems to question what people believe about things like heaven and hell. He asks “can a loving God really send billions of people to hell?” “Are people like Gandhi really in hell?” His publisher released a video blurb with Bell asking these and many more questions about hell. Many believe that Bell is arguing for “universalism’. There are many forms of universalism, but the basic premise is this. A loving God would never allow his creation to suffer in hell for all eternity. God has provided salvation through Christ for all of mankind (which He has). Universalism says that even if you are not a believer and follower of Christ, you will eventually be saved. The atonement is provided to all, no matter what you believe or how you have lived. If you are a Hindu, Muslim, Atheist it doesn’t matter, you will be saved through Christ at some point. For many reasons I wouldn’t be real surprised if Bell was preaching a form of this heresy. I hope I’m wrong. I don’t like Mr. Bell’s teachings, the things he say’s are more then a click or two off. He softens the Gospel like most “Emergent’s” do. His new book, according to some reviews, is a good example of that. He preaches a God of “love” not a God of “justified love”. His teachings are like trying to grab and hold on to smoke. He speaks airy commentary with wispy substance. Like a new age guru with a Christian foundation. Young evangelicals, however can’t seem to get enough of what he has to offer. I did some checking on various church websites and found that many pastors, especially youth pastors, consider one or more books by Rob Bell, Rick Warren and other “Emergent” authors to be their favorite books. I also know that the evangelical church is embracing and endorsing these new spiritual leaders as if they were the new hope for a lost and dying church. If you would like some examples of Mr. Bells teaching go to: http://apprising.org/2008/09/08/rob-bell-fails-the-test-2/. This site is biased against Bell, but the statements are based on fact. You may want to do your own searching if you are not satisfied with this site. You can even go to his church site if you think that would be more truthful or unbiased. In any event you have to make up your own mind about his teachings, but you won’t have to search far before you start to see problems with his view of the Gospel, the Bible and Christianity. If Rob Bell is indeed a “Universalist,” and it appears that he may be, the church may be posed with some questions I have questions and maybe the thousands that attend “Mars Hill” (Bell’s church) and the 50,000 people who podcast his sermons, may have also. I would like to ask the pastors across the country, who have allowed his teaching into their churches, “Now what?” What do you do with this? How do you reconcile the fact that a false teacher is impacting, training and teaching the sheep that God has entrusted you with? How will you answer to your people when they learn that you have led them astray? How will you answer to God when He asked you why false teachers were allowed into your doors? When will you say enough, when will you say “I will not allow this poison in my church?” When will the guards and watchmen rise up and say “no more.” Pastors, you are the guards, you are the Sheppard’s, please, please do your duty and protect your sheep. My hope and prayer, is that with the release of this book, the eyes of the pastors and the people of the church, will be opened so they can see the lies of the” Emergent Movement,” and it’s leadership.
One of the problems with guys like Bell is that they often times point out problems with the church as we have known it for the past 10-20 years. They are able to sway so many towards their teachings because we can often agree on many of these things being real problems. And so…since they recognize the problem, people assume they must have the answer. But instead of just going back to the source of what we believe (Christ – The Word of God). These teachers come up with a new and fresh way of doing church that is more “relevant” for people today. They call it a paradigm shift to convince us it’s a good thing. But in the end it is nothing more than another man-made waste of time.
Let’s forget about following the “good” ideas that these guys come up with every couple of months to sell a new book and lets just get back to reading The Book…the bible. And lets believe it!
Praise God that I have an earthly shepard that watching over me like a hawk. That will protect and warn his flock from the wolves that are out to kill and destroy Gods children. God gives preachers a flock and expects His appointed shepards to have a close watch over them just like Jesus would do in the flesh. So many preachers out there that are only worried about what they can get from people and God. Worried about filling their pews instead of getting their flock filled with the Holy Ghost. I will be following my God anointed shepard as he follows Christ. My dad would warn me of possible harm why wouldn’t an anointed man of God not warn me. What a diservice to God people.