Does Love Win?

I recently picked up a book called Love Wins by Rob Bell. To be honest, I only picked it up because it was controversial. Many in the Christian community were in an uproar about it because they believe Rob Bell is teaching universalism. I have to say I was disappointed with all the commotion.

I met this book with similar feelings to my conversation about music in the church. I believe Rob Bell is a christian trying to figure out how to live for God and to encourage others to be disciples. I believe he is a praying man and he knows his scriptures. Due to his human nature, in the process of his writing, he probably took some things out of context,and uses the Word to prove HIS point instead of the clear and precise message of the Gospel (which each and every one of us has our own interpretation of). None of us would ever do that right?

I don't agree with some aspects of the book, but it does bring up many questions like what does it mean to be saved? How do we get to heaven? What is hell? Where is it? What happens to those who die without having heard the Gospel, or haven't been baptized or saved? The man on the cross next to Jesus was told he would spend his life in paradise not ever attempting to follow Jesus, but the Bible says that we have to be born again and baptized and to forgive and then we will be saved. Rob Bell raises all these questions and best answer I can think of is that in Isaiah 55:8 God tells us that are ways are not his ways.

We spend so much time trying to put God in a box, trying to explain the eternal and spiritual truths that God has not brough into the light yet. Asking these questions means we are seeking understanding, but when we try to answer them in the context of something that we are not experiencing, we hold our own theology and worldview above the scriptures. God challenges us through His word to be disciples, to care for the widows and orphans, to share the good news,  and ultimately to love Him above all else.

The actions we take and decisions that we make in this life have an impact in the kingdom. A few weeks back we talked about Esther at our youth group. Esther's decision to go before the king saved lives. Noah built the ark and followed God blindly. The disciples who followed Jesus started the first churches, prayed, studied, and healed. God initiated each of those relationships, but the choices and decisions that they made had an eternal impact.

How we spend our time, energy, money,  and thoughts is to be a reflection of the mind of Christ. When we seek God in our lives and live out the call he has put on our lives without trying to condemn others and to put Him in a box, the victory of love that has already been won on the cross begins to shine through God's people.