ROB BELL'S LOVE WINS
As part of a series on peacemaking in late 2007, Pastor Rob Bell's Mars Hill Bible Church (outside of Grand Rapids, MI) put on an art exhibit about the search for peace in a broken world.
An artist in the show included a quotation from Mahatma (Mohandes) Gandhi. A visitor at the exhibit stuck a note next to the Gandhi quotation: "Reality check: He's in hell." Bell was taken aback by this person's belief that the non-violent leader is suffering in hell because he was not a Christian.
Really? He recalls thinking. Gandhi's in hell? He is? We have confirmation of this? Without a doubt? And that somebody decided to take on the responsibility of letting the rest of us know?
So begins Bell's controversial new best seller, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived.
Much of Bell's book focuses on our perceptions of God - if God is our friend, protector, counselor, and merciful parent throughout life, why would our death suddenly evoke a vicious, judgmental,
condemning God? Are we to believe that God happily created billions of people only to turn around at the time of their death and eternally condemn them for not professing Jesus as Lord? And why is it that people who are so certain of whom is going to Hell are also certain that they themselves are going to Heaven?
Starting with the premise that we won't have definitive answers about Heaven and Hell in this life, we will use Bell's book to explore the theology of the ancient creeds, the cultural perceptions of Heaven and Hell, and - most importantly - what the God and the Jesus we meet in the Bible point us to.
The eight-week book study will run from 7 to 8:30 pm on the following Sunday evenings: September 25, October 2, 23, and 30; November 6, 20, 27; and December 4.
Please sign up in the lobby. I have copies of the book, which costs $14 (but if that's not in your budget, please speak to me in confidence).
Hope you will join us!
Pastor Jean
