I will be purchasing the book, “Love Wins” very soon as I am curious as to what has incited so much disgust and hate within the traditional evangelical and protestant church. No Christian desires to embrace the concept of Universalism. We feel it not only contradicts scripture, but also cheapens the sacrifice of Jesus. After all, why would His death be necessary if in the end we would all end up in heaven no matter what our choices may be or the consequences which would ensue?
Needless to say, Rob Bell has become the target of much hate and disdain from many Christians. This is unfortunate. It is not unfortunate that the body of Christ would disagree with the self-pleasing thought of Universalism, after all, we all have friends and loved ones who do not believe in Jesus. It breaks our heart to know that they are choosing to spend eternity away from Christ. It is unfortunate because our actions and words merely confirm the negative perceptions of the unbeliever. After all, if we cannot love our own through their misguided perceptions, how could we possibly love the un-churched?
Jesus’ command to love our neighbors is not attached to a conditional clause. That is to say, there is no exception and no limit that would negate this command. In our humanity we find solace in our eternal destination when we are rejected by those who would rather not follow Jesus. We are comforted in the idea that we are still ‘ok’, regardless of their decision. This idea may even foster arrogance and the infamous “holier than you” mindset that so adequately crushes our witness and undermines our should-be compassionate spirit.
Jesus, when forced with the most grotesque of rejection, not merely from those who had not accepted him, but much worse from those who had, still had the audacity to seek forgiveness and mercy for his accusers. He was not comforted in knowing the end, nor did He feel that the means would justify it. Post rejection Jesus was
even
more
broken.
As long as we are human, which in my estimation will not change, we are faced with our flaws, insecurities, and often times our need to be right. This need to be right must be crucified as often as our desire to sin. Rejection should not give Christianity joy, knowing the rejector may ‘get his in the end’. How obscene a thought in light of Jesus’ love and sacrifice for us. Our response to those who would laugh, judge, accuse, mock and reject our love for them and for Jesus should not be one of judgment or ‘paybacks’. Our response should be that we find ourselves
even
more
broken.
It is true, Jesus did for us what we could not possibly do for ourselves. Our responsibility to others is that we love when inconvenient, show grace when wounded, and that when cast aside we respond as Jesus would. We become
even
more
broken.
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