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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
I mean, it was eh. It has presented me with questions and wanting to research more about the implications of there being no hell. It definitely isn't dense and is in a sermon format.
I had high hopes for this book— it started out strong but over time it tapered off a little in my opinion.
I’m so glad I picked this book up and hopefully you will too. It’s a small introduction to a series of questions and answers on heaven and hell so don’t expect to walk away with all of the answers. Expect to walk away very inspired by a new way of thinking about God and the desire to do more research on some of the concepts outlined by Rob Bell.
This book has been difficult for me to review, for a lot of reasons. So before I totally chicken out... here's some really unspecific half-baked thoughts.
So much has already been said, and so much of that has been nasty. And it seems to me that a lot of that ugly nasty actually started from a good place, defending truth. The whole thing makes me twitchy.
And for my part, I have a lot of conflicting personal feelings, like a lot of us do. I call Grand Rapids home sometimes. I had a Love Wins sticker on the back of my car for years. And I describe myself as a Calvinist. So that's (part of) where I'm coming from.
I've described this book as "both more and less" than I thought it would be. Rob Bell always surprises me. I like that. I like that I'm not sure where he's going and he leaves things a little open - that he leaves spaces for the reader to fill in. You can take a lot of different things away from this book. This book is a conversation starter for difficult conversations.
It's also much much less. I anticipated the big hairy conclusion - that grace eventually extends to all. Some of his logic was just faulty - I read several parts over and over, trying to piece them together, but it just didn't hold up. (Much better cases have been made for this, btw.)
Seems like the question is - is God's grace conditional on your belief? or is God's grace so good that it is immediately irresistible? or does God's grace demand freedom, but eventually you get around to choosing it?
I was actually more upset by his narrow view of sin. Sure, he is grieved by the sin that causes outward pain and suffering (of course), but sin of the heart? I was also really really uncomfortable with his chapter on the cross and Jesus.
(Speaking of Jesus, I don't find many non-Christians that are hung up on the idea of hell. Most I know are hung up on the idea that Jesus is the only way. And that the Bible says seemingly contradictory things and you'd be stupid/silly to believe it. Maybe I just have strange friends.)(Actually, I'm sure I have strange friends.)
It both delights and annoys me to see how Bell can re-purpose language. His whole writing style is mostly annoying. Also, the book jacket. Annoying. Lack of footnotes? More than annoying - let's call it intellectually criminal. The way he interpreted The Prodigal Son? Both theologically irresponsible and something that keeps popping in my mind.
I'm not sure I recommend you read this book. I recommend that you read and study scripture daily, get involved in a local church, hear good preaching, read lots of good theology, have long talks with friends about God, and serve the poor. I recommend that you love Jesus. I recommend prayer. I recommend believing in Jesus. After all that, I guess I recommend that you read this book with an open heart and critical mind.
So much has already been said, and so much of that has been nasty. And it seems to me that a lot of that ugly nasty actually started from a good place, defending truth. The whole thing makes me twitchy.
And for my part, I have a lot of conflicting personal feelings, like a lot of us do. I call Grand Rapids home sometimes. I had a Love Wins sticker on the back of my car for years. And I describe myself as a Calvinist. So that's (part of) where I'm coming from.
I've described this book as "both more and less" than I thought it would be. Rob Bell always surprises me. I like that. I like that I'm not sure where he's going and he leaves things a little open - that he leaves spaces for the reader to fill in. You can take a lot of different things away from this book. This book is a conversation starter for difficult conversations.
It's also much much less. I anticipated the big hairy conclusion - that grace eventually extends to all. Some of his logic was just faulty - I read several parts over and over, trying to piece them together, but it just didn't hold up. (Much better cases have been made for this, btw.)
Seems like the question is - is God's grace conditional on your belief? or is God's grace so good that it is immediately irresistible? or does God's grace demand freedom, but eventually you get around to choosing it?
I was actually more upset by his narrow view of sin. Sure, he is grieved by the sin that causes outward pain and suffering (of course), but sin of the heart? I was also really really uncomfortable with his chapter on the cross and Jesus.
(Speaking of Jesus, I don't find many non-Christians that are hung up on the idea of hell. Most I know are hung up on the idea that Jesus is the only way. And that the Bible says seemingly contradictory things and you'd be stupid/silly to believe it. Maybe I just have strange friends.)(Actually, I'm sure I have strange friends.)
It both delights and annoys me to see how Bell can re-purpose language. His whole writing style is mostly annoying. Also, the book jacket. Annoying. Lack of footnotes? More than annoying - let's call it intellectually criminal. The way he interpreted The Prodigal Son? Both theologically irresponsible and something that keeps popping in my mind.
I'm not sure I recommend you read this book. I recommend that you read and study scripture daily, get involved in a local church, hear good preaching, read lots of good theology, have long talks with friends about God, and serve the poor. I recommend that you love Jesus. I recommend prayer. I recommend believing in Jesus. After all that, I guess I recommend that you read this book with an open heart and critical mind.
It seems that Bell began this book with the end in mind - implying that God saves all, not because he came by that conclusion by an honest read of relevant Scriptures, but because he decided beforehand what he wants to be true.
Much more could be said about this book, but I'd point you to much more polished and insightful reviews:
http://www.challies.com/book-reviews/love-wins-a-review-of-rob-bells-new-book
http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/03/14/rob-bell-love-wins-review/
Much more could be said about this book, but I'd point you to much more polished and insightful reviews:
http://www.challies.com/book-reviews/love-wins-a-review-of-rob-bells-new-book
http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/03/14/rob-bell-love-wins-review/
A must-read for everyone who wants (or needs) a fresh look at the Story God has been writing since the beginning of time itself. Well worth your time to get you thinking about grace again. SPOILER! Love wins.
Where has this book been for the past year, past seven years? I’ve struggled so much with my faith. Since I was a little girl, I’ve watched different fundamentalists in my life seem like they have a simple faith. I’ve been jealous of their faith, trying so hard to gain their approval but always choking on the contradictions and harder aspects of Christianity.
After so many of them voted for Trump, I lost my faith altogether. They were never worshipping God, they were worshipping power. Of course that is a simple faith. But I missed wanting what I thought they had. I missed God.
I stumbled on this book because it was in a list of cheap books and I knew he pissed all the fundies off. And since I’m still mad at them for playing me so false and making me feel like I wasn’t the Christian, I was willing to pick this one up. And I’m glad I did.
He presents many of the issues I’ve wrestled with, he offers different perspectives. And I am 100% on board with his claims of salvation. For the first time in a year, I’m feeling an inkling of my faith come back to life. I don’t have to chase after a god I don’t believe in because someone told me I had to. I can instead rest in a belief that I’m loved anyway. I can do kingdom work. I can be me.
After so many of them voted for Trump, I lost my faith altogether. They were never worshipping God, they were worshipping power. Of course that is a simple faith. But I missed wanting what I thought they had. I missed God.
I stumbled on this book because it was in a list of cheap books and I knew he pissed all the fundies off. And since I’m still mad at them for playing me so false and making me feel like I wasn’t the Christian, I was willing to pick this one up. And I’m glad I did.
He presents many of the issues I’ve wrestled with, he offers different perspectives. And I am 100% on board with his claims of salvation. For the first time in a year, I’m feeling an inkling of my faith come back to life. I don’t have to chase after a god I don’t believe in because someone told me I had to. I can instead rest in a belief that I’m loved anyway. I can do kingdom work. I can be me.
challenging
hopeful
informative
fast-paced