We live in a society where "truth" is relative and saying you know what the truth is gets you called names like "intolerant," "hypocritical," and "judgmental."
Rob Bell is a controversial figure in Christian circles because he's hard to pin down when it comes to "truth." Bobby Conway isn't. He believes what the Bible says and, despite being an "apologist," does not apologize for embracing the inerrancy of Scripture. Conway has written Hell, Rob Bell and What Happens When People Die to disprove Love Wins but also to show how unashamed he is of the gospel and all that it teaches.
While I have not yet read Bell's book, Love Wins, I intend to -- I am not afraid of it and I like to know what I'm refuting. However, I got the chance to read Bobby Conway's book for free and, well, free is good.
Conway was an unknown quantity to me before I opened his book so I came in without expectation -- well, that's not entirely true. The book cover is so stark, I thought it looked like something someone would have published personally so my expectations were probably pretty low. I was pleasantly surprised by the scholarship, honesty and urgency with which it is written.
I wonder why Bell continues to call himself a Christian. He seems to think he can pick and choose what he wants to believe from the Bible and, if he truly believes as he states in the ads for his book that, "billions of people have been taught that . . . Jesus rescues you from God," [i.e. hell], what part does the Trinity play in his religion (because I think he's made one up)?
Bobby Conway takes his readers step-by-excruciating-step through the mess that is humanity's depravity and sin. Through the amazing gift God offers to those who will believe on his son, Jesus; His life offered freely for that very depraved humanity. To salvation.
If Bell is right and there is no hell; if there is no punishment for not believing in the only "name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12), then why did Jesus have to die? Why believe in Him at all? Isn't God sending His son to die the ultimate cruelty if it was all for nothing?
The answer is that the Bible teaches that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) This means that a loving, just and holy God must punish that sin.
Conway walks us through it; invites us to understand and, in the end, if you do not feel an urgency to tell others about Jesus, you need to read his book -- and the Bible -- again.
LOVE does win. Bell's definitions of "love" and "winning" are just incorrect.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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