The Simple Pastor

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CS Lewis and Rob Bell: it's not just me

In this post I wondered about the link between CS Lewis, Rob Bell and Tim Keller. There is admittedly not much that seems to link Keller and Bell but on hell the link is CS Lewis. This post shows that the link between Bell and CS Lewis is seen by others and not just me.

Roger Olsen writes:

Bell continues in that chapter to say that hell is getting what we want.  This is simply another way of saying “Hell’s door is locked on the inside”–something I think C. S. Lewis said.  (Or it may be someone’s summary of Lewis’ The Great Divorce.)

and also…

While reading Love Wins I kept thinking “This sounds like C. S. Lewis!”  In his Acknowledgments Bell thanks someone for ‘suggesting when I was in high school that I read C. S. Lewis.’

Keller also clearly draws on CS Lewis, as of course, do many of us. What seems to be different here with Bell is that of the offer of ongoing post-death opportunities to be reconciled to God. I’m not sure either Lewis or Keller are saying that.

*I know it’s slightly redundant after the massive amount of reviews already for Love Wins but I do now have a copy to read and will publish some thoughts in due course*

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2 responses

  1. Jon avatar
    Jon

    Having read most of the book, I think you’ll be surprised at how mild it is. There are one or two digs at hyper-Calvinism, but you’d have to know about hyper-Calvinism to get them.

    Most of the questions Rob Bell asks are questions that most Christians will have asked themselves at some point. At least if they’ve ever thought about stuff.

    And he makes some good points about how concentrating on heaven and hell as other places misses the reality of what our choices create here and now.

    In a way it’s just a realised eschatology with a dimension that says the eschaton starts now and continues beyond this life. It’s exactly the sort of thing you find in CS Lewis.

    Yes, he advocates an inclusivist position, but most current reformed theology is informed by Barth’s get-out clause that Jesus was the only elected one. So he just takes that to a logical conclusion, and asks whether the decision point is only available this side of death.

    Although I don’t think he quotes it, Moltmann’s idea that blessing is more original than sin, and reconciliation is more final then judgement, seems to shine through the book.

    That so many people don’t realise any of this is more a testament to the ignorance of many Christians, and of course church leaders who seem to want to keep them ignorant.

    It seems most people’s issue with the Rob Bell book isn’t with his answers, but with his chagrin of asking questions. And, possibly, because his view of God and human futures is more positive then theirs.

    I’m not sure why, but there seems to be a link between individuals who emphasise judgement and are also quite judgemental themselves. Has anyone else noticed that?

    Also, there does seem to be a tendency to attack ‘successful’ church leaders, particularly ones who are gifted communicators. I think jealousy is a motivator in this, as it has been in similar things previously.

    Reply
  2. Jon avatar
    Jon

    Oh, yeah, and the bit about Rwanda makes a very good point about hell not being metaphorical.

    Reply

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