Bye, Bye Rob Bell

Rob Bell has definitely jumped the shark.  John Piper had it right when he said, “Farewell Rob Bell” in a tweet heard around the Christian Twitterverse.  Any thought that he still embraced a shred of orthodox Christian theology and practice has now been obliterated.  He had some redeeming qualities.  He was an excellent communicator and his desire to reach out to those in poverty is admirable, but the good can not out weigh the bad.

Rob Bell is off the reservation.  Rob Bell isn’t even on the map.

I think those who have read me long enough know that I am no fan of Rob Bell.  Sure I enjoyed some of his Nooma videos, but I as I read more I was concerned by what I see to be his low view of scripture, errant view of the Gospel and high view of culture.

With someone who has questioned salvation through grace alone by faith alone in Jesus, questioned the virgin birth, and casts doubt on the reality of hell – should it surprise us that Rob Bell has now come out in favor of gay marriage?

Nope.

The Huffington Post reports that Bell came out for gay marriage during a sermon preached in a Episcopal Church in San Francisco (how fitting), “I am for love, whether it’s a man and woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man. I think the ship has sailed and I think the church needs — I think this is the world we are living in and we need to affirm people wherever they are.”

Hmmm… will Rob Bell affirm adultery?  Will he affirm child and adult relationships if they are loving?  How about some big love with multiple wives?  A whole lot of love there!  I mean what won’t he affirm that is done in the name of love?

This is such an asinine statement.  I am for love too.  I am for the love that was shown on a rugged cross when the Son of God died a excruciatingly painful death for my sin and yours.

That is how God demonstrated His love (Romans 5:8).  He didn’t affirm my sin, He died with it on the Cross.  He bore the punishment for it.

I am also for transformative love.  The kind that washed, sanctified and justified the homosexual and others who would not inherit the Kingdom of God if it were not for Christ and Him crucified, (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

I am for love, the kind of love between a man and his bride that is symbolic of Christ and His church, (Ephesians 5:22-32).

I also believe in speaking the truth in love, (Ephesians 4:15).  What Rob Bell has accomplished is to not only show hate, but also lie to those who are in bondage to that sin.  He is a false teacher.

Can we love the homosexual?  Absolutely – it is possible, and I understand that many in the Church have failed at this.  What it does not mean, however,  is affirming as right what God calls wrong.  The culture may not agree with it, and polling suggests we are fast becoming a minority, but we will never change culture by conforming to it.

So bye, bye Rob Bell.

Photo Credit: Phil (feyip) via Flickr (CC-By-NC-ND 2.0)