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The pre-publication descriptions of the book alone caused many conservative evangelicals to react strongly. Is Bell a universalist? Is he saying there is no hell, or that no one stays there permanently? John Piper tweeted, "Farewell Rob Bell..." Others pointed out the need to at least wait until the book was released to more clearly evaluate it's contents, and not base conclusions on a marketing department's press release. Now the book is out...
The purpose of this page is to point you to some well-reasoned evaluations made by credible sources who can point out some positives as well as negatives.
First is a well-written review in Christianity Today online by Mark Galli:
Galli points up fairly that one of Bell's concerns is that sometimes in preaching people almost make it seem like Jesus had to rescue us from God. I've heard very conservative Bible teachers point out the same thing. It's not as if God can't wait to send everyone to hell but Jesus stepped in to rescue us from this angry God. Jesus and God the father have identical outlooks on it all. In fact, God "so loved the world" that He sent His Son.
But Galli is quick to point out serious problems too. I'll leave you to read the article at the link above.
I will point out re. the citation of Bell on Christ being present in the Rock that Moses struck, Paul's very point (1 Cor. 10:5) was that despite all that "God was not pleased with all of them...." seeming to make the opposite point that Bell would make.
Albert Mohler, conservative president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, blogged on Bell's book extensively. Here is his April 15, 2011 entry:
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