For Whom the BELL Tolls...

      Apparently the Bell still "tolls for thee!!" According to the Tennessean Rob Bell has resigned his position as pastor of Mars Hill church in Grandville, MI. (click HERE to read the story). I'll confess when Bell first burst onto the public scene I was a fan.  I enjoyed the first few NOOMA videos that were released and I like his work Velvet Elvis (in fact it is still on my shelf). However, after that Bell gained notoriety in a variety of ways...much of it was controversial.

      In his latest work, Love Wins, Bell was accused of "heresy" (supply your definition here____________) by suggesting that IF people went to hell it was not in any sense eternal, and they need not feel compelled to stay there and could leave if they wanted!! (GREAT NEWS...thanks Rob!).  One of the most vocal opponents of his recent work and theology has been John Piper who tweeted "Goodbye Rob Bell" after viewing a preview video for the book's release.

      Bell has usually been identified with what is often called "emergent theology." Since its inception (the dates which are frequently argued) the emergent movement has often tried, purposefully, to be out of the mainstream of both orthopraxy and theology.  In recent years, as the effect of postmodernity has waned, there has been a lot of juxtaposition within the movement as to exactly WHAT they believe and why (some who originally aligned with the early part of the movement have now purposefully distanced themselves--most notably Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill in Seattle--not associated with Bell's congregation). Few have dared to go where Bell has gone...which seems to be "off the deep end" of traditional interpretive schemes, Church history, and classic theology---all of which can be critiqued, called into question, even doubted but they CANNOT be ignored which is EXACTLY what Bell seems to have done.

      I know that I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer, and I confess that over the years my views of heaven and hell have changed...even changed dramatically.  Scientifically, I wonder how hell can be a place of utter darkness and burning at the same time.  As near as I can tell whenever anything burns it also gives off light.  Heaven seem now less like a "place" (though I still believe it is) and now seems more like a state of being in that place...or more to the point "heaven" is wherever God is present in the fullest sense of the word. And hell (though I STILL believe it to be a place of torment) is that place (or state of being) where God is absent in every sense of the word ABSENT.  Scripture teaches that both are eternal places (or states) and that we choose our destination based on free will...BUT...God in His compassion and grace has supplied a means for us to avoid all of it. There seem to be MANY questions but only ONE answer that is certain.

      It seems uncertain what Bell is doing (presently) or what he is going to do in the future...I simply find it odd that two of the emergent movements key personnel have now left their congregations for other avenues (first was Francis Chan, and now Bell)...is something going on?  Has the emergent movement run out of steam?  We are left to wonder..."for whom does the bell toll?"