Strong words from Terry Hollifield after reading an interview with Rob Bell of the emerging church, which appears in the current issue of Relevant Magazine.

Among other things Hollifield says:

The things Bell says in that interview are what I want to specifically talk about. They go way beyond the “progressive” views of the magazine. Bell is preaching a different religion. That is correct, I am saying that what Rob Bell is teaching his congregation of 10,000 at Mars Hill Church in Grand Rapids Michigan, as well as millions who hear him across the country via podcasts, and through his extremely popular video productions (like the NOOMA series) is a totally different religion—not Christianity.

First let me point out that Bell has been embraced by evangelicalism and wears the moniker proudly (albeit with a bit of a smirk). The article reports that the Chicago-Sun Times has called Bell “The Next Billy Graham”; and Relevant claims, he has become one of the most influential figures in evangelical Christianity… (Online source)

Apprising Ministries has also pointed out the growing acceptance in the evangelical camp of this Emergent Church leader Rob Bell as well in Rob Bell Emerging Into Evangelicalism.

And the following from Bell sure appears to indicate that Terry Hollifield is, sadly, right when he says, “Rob Bell is not a Christian”:

1. Universalism:

• That is that all people will eventually be conformed to perfect relationship with God. When asked about his involvement in environmentalism Rob says the following, “It was great. There were all sorts of really interesting things that came out of that. We understand that every person is a priest, and so a church is where all of these people are essentially having their inner priest evoked out of them.” So, the job of the church is not to help people recognize their default condition of being separated from God, rather all people are priests by default and the church is the place to discover that…

You can read the rest of Hollifield’s article here.

See also:

ROB BELL SAYS GOD HAS ALREADY MADE PEACE WITH ALL MEN

ROB BELL SAYS “ALL-EE IN FREE…ALMOST”

ROB BELL AGREES WITH NEW AGE GURU MARIANNE WILLIAMSON

ROB BELL IN A NUTSHELL: THE BIBLE