Rob Bell and harmful theology

So this whole Rob Bell, love Wins scandal has got me thinking, It's not just about good or bad theology, its an intensely personal debate for me and I suspect a lot of people and I'll tell you why.

First off let me summarize the conflict. One side is saying that he is preaching universalism and twisting what the bible says about heaven and hell. The other side is saying no he isn't preaching universalism and what the bible actually says about heaven and hell has already been twisted. I've read the book and it's full of bold new ideas fundamentalist are scared of and stuff I have already researched and believe on my own. The book also walks hand in hand with EVERY scripture about heaven and hell so obviously I side with the latter. But before you leave my blog in a huff let me tell you the very painful story of why...


When I was 20 years old my 18 year old brother Sammy fell off a cliff and died.... the fundamentalist pastor who performed the funeral barely knew Sammy but seemed to decide that he died unsaved and was in hell so he hijacked the service and made it into his own brand of 'turn or burn' sermon aimed at members of my family and my brothers teenage friends that came to grieve for him. We should have been able to focus on what an amazing, sensitive person my brother was... he was beautiful and he cared about everyone he was my best friend. He deserved better then that. I remember sitting in the front pew and having to stare out the window because I couldn't believe what was happening and what he was saying, that's not what Sammy was about. It was disgraceful it was the final injustice and the reason I left the church for years. It was only my longing for the love of God and His grace that lead me to eventually return to a fellowship but I will NEVER ever ever support men or pastors with this kind of poisonous judgemental beliefs. He valued an established interpretation of words on a page over honoring the vibrant life of someone I deeply loved. Someone who I know deep in my heart is now with Jesus.

The ironic thing is that I think the pastor really did care about Sammy. The night in the hospital when he died my parents had called him and he came and wept over Sammy saying "oh buddy, buddy no".... I remember it vividly. But this is what rigid theology does to a man. I'm sure the immense pressure of his theology, family congregation and position led him to in essence act unlovingly toward Sammy and my family and all who came to honor him in that service. You see it doesn't just harm the unchurched and weak Christians, it puts religious handcuffs on pastors and leaders and everyone told they must subscribe to it.

I watched this same pastor begin to break through it though and after I laid offenses against him he sincerely was broken over it. He later told my mother that knowing my family and Sammy opened up his world and eyes and humbled his pride. He's asked my forgiveness and I have given it and wish him to best. You see, love has a way of breaking through the crap that we grow up with and breaking the chains of theological superiority complexes and spiritual intimidation. Love has a way of opening our eyes and softening our hearts and revealing what is truly important in our faith and theology. It's not listening to men in three piece suits with a bunch of degrees to decide what we believe. Jesus and His disciples didn't have doctorates and you don't need one either to think and decide for yourself what you believe. Most people sitting in pews feel that they are unqualified to form their own opinions on scriptures and it's their pastors and church leaders job to do it for them. We are each responsible for our own faith and it's time we do the footwork and examine closely what we buy so that we can take pride of ownership.