Would a loving, all powerful, God sentence human souls to infinite torment and suffering for something they did in a finite amount of time? What about a child who grew up and never had the chance to get to know this loving God? What about a person who is repulsed by those who claim the name of Jesus but, live a life closer to his teachings than some of his followers do?
Many people in the evangelical world find Rob Bell's style of asking more questions than giving answers unsettling. The idea that Bell might suggest something different than the modern "turn or burn" and "hellfire and brimstone" evangelism has caused quite a stir, including making Rob bell a trending twitter topic.
Weather you agree with Rob Bell or not it's is hard to deny that he has the power to reach an extremely large audience. In his latest book, Love Wins, he uses this ability to ask serious questions that deeply affect the faith of, well "Every Person Who Ever Lived."
The book is masterfully written to engage the reader with serious questions and help folks wrestle with real issues. It is not a new highly developed theological stance or a break from Bell's core convictions. However, it is a far different point of view on the bible and Christianity than the one painted by most evangelical Christians today.
With searing insight, the book puts heaven and hell under the microscope, and the message is decidedly hopeful. Yes ultimately Love Wins!
*This book has been endorsed by Eugene H. Peterson, Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology, Regent College, and author of The Message and Greg Boyd, senior pastor at Woodland Hills Church and author of The Myth of a Christian Nation*
*I received an advanced uncorrected proof of this book from Harper Collins Publishers and used it to write this review. The views expressed here are solely my own and not the views of Barnes and Noble, Harper Collins, or any of their subsidiaries.
@Tom_B
Sorry for the misunderstanding. I thought you thought I was trying to start a fight. I did not find your review offensive or radical. I liked it quite a bit. What I don't understand is your obvious annoyance over my links.
Of course this has been a big topic of discussion all over the blogosphere. I don't see how anyone could think the Christianity today article was harsh at all. All I was trying to do was point out that Love Wins doesn't exist in a vacuum nor is it the first time good Christian people have struggled with this issue.
But it really seems to irritate you that they "haven't read the book yet" like you. But if they had, would that fundamentally change how you feel about Kevin DeYoung's remarks? Professional reviewers, commentators and the average person all make judgments about books/movies/tech gadgets before they become available. Especially when the author is known. This is not the first thing Rob Bell has written. He has a very public ministry. As a comparison, if Joel Osteen comes out with a new book, I can hazard a pretty good guess what it is going to be about before I ever read it. So I am not sure why people who not a lot about the issue in general, giving their take on it is so bothersome. Seems pretty normal to me.
As for my word choice, please don't read anything into it. That and any misspellings have more to do with the fact that between work, volunteering and being a dad I mostly do my commenting late at night. So my tired brain doesn't catch everything. 
