Rob Bell – Love Wins – chapter 1 discussion

Thanks for joining us here on the Digital Disciples site as we start discussing Rob Bell’s new book, Love Wins (hard copy / Kindle version). I’d suggest at some point checking out his livestream or MSNBC interviews, but we’re just glad you’re here! Whether you enjoy the philosophy of Rob Bell or not. NOTE: he claims not to be a theologian, so we’ll spare him that title.

What about the flat tire?

That’s the title of the first chapter. A question. It’s actually the first question of all 119 that you’ll find in the first chapter. Thankfully, with my fingers crossed, I just read the last few sentences of this chapter where Bell pleads that this isn’t just a book of questions (but of responses to those questions).

A life spent accepting and following Christ isn’t a simple one (Acts 14:22). Rob does a great job at showing how diverse the thinking of those that call themselves “Christians” is. What it takes to enter heaven / accept what Christ has done for us (the core of the Christian faith) is thought to be resolved after specific things take place in someone’s life.

That’s where the flat tire question comes in. Since God doesn’t audibly speak to each of us (we won’t go there), the path of those that eventually do come to grips with Christ dying on the cross for their sins is often a result of someone else helping them / teaching them. Something some agnostics / atheists believe is brain-washing. I guess I would also believe the same thing if I didn’t understand the work of the Spirit.

So what if that one missionary or friend that God has put in your life to show you His truths gets a flat tire? Do you believe that your future lies in the hands of someone else? If the age of 12 (page 4) is the average age of people choosing to accept Christ (and we debate about infant baptism or the age of accountability / being able to choose for yourself), then why wouldn’t people choose to prematurely terminate the life of those younger than 12 to guarantee their place in heaven and not take the risk?

Jesus isn’t followed only by people that walk the line / follow the narrow path. He’s followed only by sinners (pastors and priests included of course), and sometimes they call themselves “His” when their life doesn’t appear as you expect it would. You know, the antigay / antiscience / bullhorn blower or the Christian in eastern Europe that opened fire on Muslims.

I believe that a God that has given us the will to choose to follow Him is willing to be falsely portrayed. Like most sports teams, I’m sure He’s well aware that he has fair-weather fans that only follow Him closely when it’s going right for them or their church / business is growing like wildfire. I also believe that this God is just, and He is omniscient (Job 21:22, Proverbs 15:3, Revelation 20:12). Something I’m sure Rob will have to talk about in future chapters. Thoughts?