One of the frustrating features of Rob Bell’s book, Love Wins, is that he often presents a series of hypothetical questions which he does not answer. Besides being frustrating, this technique leaves important assumptions unquestioned and possible clarification unexplored. Some questions have no answers because they cannot properly be asked. The classic example is to ask a man if he has stopped beating his wife. The only answer an innocent man can make is to attack the premise of the question by asserting that he never beat his wife in the first place. Bell builds trains of thought by linking assumptions car after car with no examination of the premises.
In one example, Bell finishes a series of questions by declaring that God cannot be glorified by eternal punishment (page 108.) To understand why this statement is simply untrue, one must first understand what glory is and how God gets it. Glory is the establishment or vindication of that which is right, true or perfect. God’s character, as revealed in Scripture, is comprised not only of love, but also holiness and justice. For his character to be established, vindicated, glorified he must be perfect in all aspects. In other words, he must be true to his holiness and justice as well as his love.
The writer of Hebrews quotes the wisdom of Proverbs saying, “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (12:6 ESV) The word “chastises” is the Greek word “scourges,” which means to whip or flog. Pain is intended. God does this to “every son whom he receives.” He does it out of love. I will grant that in today’s PC atmosphere, this sounds horrendous. God would be on trial for child abuse if that were possible. Yet this is who he is; to deny it is to deny who God is. Glory redounds to God when he exercises his loving discipline.
The same can be said for God’s justice. The Old Testament abounds with examples of God’s justice spoken of as his glory, as does Revelation in the New Testament. I would commend Isaiah 45 to anyone who wants a clear example. In this chapter, God announces that he will use Cyrus the Persian to execute his judgment upon wayward Israel. Verse seven of the KJV has God say, “I make peace and create evil.” The ESV softens those acts of God to “well-being” and “calamity.” Whatever they mean, they do not portend pleasant circumstances for God’s chosen people. Years ago, one of my sisters, then a devotee of the prosperity gospel, told me that she had to accede that that verse was in the Bible, but she steadfastly refused to believe it. Rob Bell and his many bedfellows apparently are closing their eyes to the truth in similar fashion.
It may be beyond our finite minds’ capabilities to truly understand the paradox of God’s loving justice. I like Hank Hanegraaff’s formulation: there are certain things about God that I apprehend (know to be true) but will never comprehend (fully understand.) The Bible proclaims and history proves that the human condition on earth, in this age will be plagued by disaster, hatred and injustice. It seems reasonable then that God will only be vindicated, glorified in an age to come. For his entire being to be glorified, all aspects of his character must be included. Justice must be served. God chooses how that will work out, not Rob Bell. God’s answer to Pastor Bell might be found in Isaiah 45:20, “I the LORD speak the truth; I declare what is right.”
In one example, Bell finishes a series of questions by declaring that God cannot be glorified by eternal punishment (page 108.) To understand why this statement is simply untrue, one must first understand what glory is and how God gets it. Glory is the establishment or vindication of that which is right, true or perfect. God’s character, as revealed in Scripture, is comprised not only of love, but also holiness and justice. For his character to be established, vindicated, glorified he must be perfect in all aspects. In other words, he must be true to his holiness and justice as well as his love.
The writer of Hebrews quotes the wisdom of Proverbs saying, “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (12:6 ESV) The word “chastises” is the Greek word “scourges,” which means to whip or flog. Pain is intended. God does this to “every son whom he receives.” He does it out of love. I will grant that in today’s PC atmosphere, this sounds horrendous. God would be on trial for child abuse if that were possible. Yet this is who he is; to deny it is to deny who God is. Glory redounds to God when he exercises his loving discipline.
The same can be said for God’s justice. The Old Testament abounds with examples of God’s justice spoken of as his glory, as does Revelation in the New Testament. I would commend Isaiah 45 to anyone who wants a clear example. In this chapter, God announces that he will use Cyrus the Persian to execute his judgment upon wayward Israel. Verse seven of the KJV has God say, “I make peace and create evil.” The ESV softens those acts of God to “well-being” and “calamity.” Whatever they mean, they do not portend pleasant circumstances for God’s chosen people. Years ago, one of my sisters, then a devotee of the prosperity gospel, told me that she had to accede that that verse was in the Bible, but she steadfastly refused to believe it. Rob Bell and his many bedfellows apparently are closing their eyes to the truth in similar fashion.
It may be beyond our finite minds’ capabilities to truly understand the paradox of God’s loving justice. I like Hank Hanegraaff’s formulation: there are certain things about God that I apprehend (know to be true) but will never comprehend (fully understand.) The Bible proclaims and history proves that the human condition on earth, in this age will be plagued by disaster, hatred and injustice. It seems reasonable then that God will only be vindicated, glorified in an age to come. For his entire being to be glorified, all aspects of his character must be included. Justice must be served. God chooses how that will work out, not Rob Bell. God’s answer to Pastor Bell might be found in Isaiah 45:20, “I the LORD speak the truth; I declare what is right.”
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