> General Discussions
Anyone else seen this? Thoughts?
mharrell08:
Belief in the salvation of all mankind and the belief that mankind has a free will are contrary to one another. Part of the free will myth is that people's choices have yet to be determined. There would be no way for anyone or anything to declare all will choose 1 particular choice, since nothing would be able to influence that choice. It would be a huge 'wait and see' event and God does not wait and see for anything.
Now then, what does this have to do with Rob Bell? Well, the fact that he is now teaching all will be saved and supposedly also teaching all will make this choice 'freely' only proves that he is only scratching the surface of the Truths of God. And the reason why I say 'supposedly' is because I don't know what his current opinion of free will is, but his teaching of all will be saved is much more recent.
We all have to begin to scratch the surface somewhere. When I was first led to this site, I got to know Ray's paper on Tithing, front to back, but wouldn't dare look at his Trinity paper. But that wasn't the end of the road that God had me on and this may not be the end for Rob Bell either. We just don't know yet.
It's easy for us to deal with a few people, a small handful of family and friends giving us grief over our beliefs. Imagine if it were hundreds or even thousands? People we didn't even know lambasting us because we had to audacity to believe that God's Love will 'win out'? And this is AFTER we filled the airwaves and gained a huge following with a message that was opposite in every way. Similar to what I said before, this has the potential to be the most modern example of the apostle Paul that anyone has ever seen. Just the potential alone demands patience from all of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Long story short, let's try to look at this with a touch of optimism. Does that mean anyone in the Mars Hill area join the church? No, that's not necessary. But we can continue to keep tabs and see where all this leads to, because right now, this is only a small mustard seed with potential to be a huge tree [Mk 4:31-32].
Marques
Rene:
--- Quote from: mharrell08 on April 10, 2011, 06:44:07 PM ---
Similar to what I said before, this has the potential to be the most modern example of the apostle Paul that anyone has ever seen. Just the potential alone demands patience from all of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Marques
--- End quote ---
Hi Marques,
Interesting thought. I previously read right over this idea when you mentioned it early on in this thread. :P
I did not know who Rob Bell was until recently. After watching the interview, I felt a sense of compassion for this man, although he was not able to defend his new found belief. I, personally, am hopeful his eyes are being opened and perhaps he will be lead here to BT.:)
René
daywalker:
--- Quote from: moxicarose on April 05, 2011, 01:14:01 PM ---http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg-qgmJ7nzA
Is it just me, or did the interviewer have a very harsh attitude toward Mr. Bell from the get go? I have not read Bell's book (yet).
Has anyone here read it?
I know that Rob seemed not to (really)answer the questions at times, and that bugged me a little bit...but I applaud him for having a loving and kind demeanor the entire interview.
Thoughts?
--- End quote ---
My thoughts are that Rob wasn't as prepared for this interview as he should have been. This reporter asked loaded questions that he should have been able to expose. For example, my response to the reporter's first question regarding Japan would have been "Neither are true". And then explained that God is all-powerful, and also all-loving and merciful and that He will console these Japanese people. I would have also said that if God wasn't all-powerful than He isn't God and we should all be atheists.
But to be fair to Mr. Bell, it's much easier to speculate based on what I saw, than to actually be cast live into the fire, so to speak. ;D :D
mharrell08:
--- Quote from: John from Kentucky on April 11, 2011, 10:56:17 PM ---"...this has the potential to be the most modern example of the apostle Paul that anyone has ever seen." Really? Steady on. From reading Paul's writings, I cannot imagine him being tripped up by such a simple interview.
--- End quote ---
And why would you expect perfection from Rob Bell? Almost every member here can recall falling flat on their face when attempting to preach to family & friends about the true gospel.
Why should we be so closed-minded from one simple interview? Jesus likened the Kingdom of God to a small seed growing into a great tree...why would we expect an instant, great tree? These things take time to develop.
--- Quote from: John from Kentucky on April 11, 2011, 10:56:17 PM ---Jesus asked that when He returned, 'would He find faith on the earth?' Hardly an indication of any significant turning to the truths of God in the end times.
--- End quote ---
How would one preacher be a "significant turning"? Jesus also told the Pharisees their house would be left desolate and would not see Him again until they were ready to pronounce "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord" [Matt 23:39].
Paul was a Pharisee...did this statement apply to him too? Or did Jesus pick him for the express purpose of 'showing many things to suffer for the name of Jesus' [Acts 9:16] as well as being 'a pattern to those who are going to believe in Jesus' [1 Tim 1:16]. One out of many, no matter how famous that one is, is still a Few.
--- Quote from: John from Kentucky on April 11, 2011, 10:56:17 PM ---Wake me up when minister Bell stops charging money for the truths of God that he thinks he knows. Remember, "Freely you received, freely give."
Bell's selling his knowledge of the scriptures does not make him a follower of Paul, much less of Jesus.
John
--- End quote ---
John, you don't want to be 'woken up' because Bell doesn't conform to your expectations. How arrogant can one be to expect a potential new convert to practice every single belief as an elder in the Word? Why in the world, would anyone in their right mind, expect someone like this to be just like Ray? Do you really think Ray or Paul or Peter had ALL the answers right out of the gate?
You see, when the rubber hits the road, the religious hobbyists jump off the bandwagon. Never fails. I've read over dozens of unscriptural, borderline heretical comments from forum members for more than 3 years. And I'm just talking about the things that other members will fawn over and not see error.
Now someone with the audacity to preach all will be saved and you nitpick because his book cost $12? How much did you spend on internet access just to read from bible-truths.com?
My point is, we just have to have perspective. There's a whole world out there that God is choosing His people from, not just this tiny forum community.
Marques
P.S. If we want to nitpick these pastors who have recently had a change of heart and are preaching universal salvation, at least make the effort to contact them to express your concerns. Be proactive and not simply sit back and stew in pessimism.
If God is changing us, why doubt He is changing these preachers?
Kat:
It's just to early to tell with this guy, so why speak so disparagingly about him. Maybe God is just opening his eyes, He does not reveal all truths at once. Or doesn't anybody remember our own beginning and the slow process of unlearning the old as we put on the new? If these are baby steps he is making, think where he could be when he is given an little more understanding.
There is no rush to judgment from me, as it will become apparent in time.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version