tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840519.post5915982776052563630..comments2024-03-27T03:32:53.817-05:00Comments on Euangelion: Love Wins 3Michael F. Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713482855679578651noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840519.post-64730616683774390262011-04-10T16:31:43.787-05:002011-04-10T16:31:43.787-05:00Thanks Joel for your series of reviews. In the spi...Thanks Joel for your series of reviews. In the spirit of full disclosure, I do believe that God will reconcile all through the work of the cross. This was after being a mainstream "evangelical" for 40+ years and not finding satisfactory answers for many important questions and seeming contradictions in the Bible. Universal Reconciliation (or whatever you want to call it if we must label it) and a closer look at Hebrew perspectives, has answered/cleared up most of those issues. I'm glad to hear that you don't believe our will is entirely free as most Christians seem to think, and I also like the fact that you equate heaven with the kingdom. Heaven, the soul, free will, and eternal are a few of the important words and concepts which I believe have been badly mangled by poor translation and theological/denominational bias over the years.<br /><br />Thanks Tim for your thoughts above. The way that these Fundamentalists have responded to this Rob Bell issue is really not much different than how radical Muslims might react to criticism of their faith. It only serves to give Christianity a bad name...and like I always say, "If you believe you have the TRUTH, then why are you afraid of open dialog and sincere questions?"<br /><br />Joel, my wife has just completed a book about our journey to belief in Universal Reconciliation and I'll send you a copy when it's printed in May. Thanks again!Steve Ferwerdahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17651370776285412350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840519.post-47843883187422079182011-04-10T07:54:06.613-05:002011-04-10T07:54:06.613-05:00Joel,
I appreciate this critical review of Rob Be...Joel,<br /><br />I appreciate this critical review of Rob Bell. <br /><br />You wrote:<br /><br />"What’s more, several of the lines of questioning Rob traces are caricatures based on the worst stereotypes of evangelical teaching around."<br /><br />As a pastor I would argue that, in fact, it is the worst stereotypes of evangelical teaching" that are winning the day among common church-goers. I think back to the pamphlets, "The Fundamentals", that circulated in the USA during the early twentieth century. Among them is the idea that there is only one Isaiah (as opposed to modern scholarly work that suggested there were two or more voices in Isaiah.) What was purported is that it was fundamental to the integrity of Christianity to believe that there was one Isaiah. <br /><br />Or, take the "Left Behind" novels as another example. Their popularity has many Christians convinced that the dispensational premillinial view is the one taught by the Bible. <br /><br />Fundamentalism remains alive and well in the USA through the popularity of David Jeremiah and John MacArthur, the Southern Baptist Convention, and books sold at LifeWay and Family Christian Stores, and TV networks such as Trinity BroadCasting and the Inspiration Network. I do not feel that any of these resources represent evangelicalism. However, to those who listen, read and view these media, they are the gospel truth. <br /><br />I cannot speak for Rob Bell, but I feel that it is these charicatures of the worst evangelical scholarship that I must continually battle. For many in the Southeastern USA, these are the views under which many have been raised. Maybe that is Bell's perspective, maybe not. <br /><br />Because these charicatural views seem to win the day as popular Christianity, I feel that Catholic, Evangelical and Mainstream Christians must consider how to communicate the/their message to public so as to get a foot in the door with committed church-goers and seekers.Tim Marshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07271339577288564174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13840519.post-11477148026710563472011-04-08T18:23:33.363-05:002011-04-08T18:23:33.363-05:00Joel,
Thanks for your series of posts. Of all the ...Joel,<br />Thanks for your series of posts. Of all the rhetoric that is flying around right now, I'm finding that your perspective is the one with which I find myself agreeing the most.<br />I am certainly not of the "let's-all-demonize-Rob-camp," but I have serious issues with how he is framing the conversation.<br />Blessings.Taidohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16749230460067735182noreply@blogger.com