Evangelical churches began using warped and toxic teachings of leaders in the sinfully ecumenical neo-liberal cult of the Emergent Church aka the Emerging Church—with its “big tent” Progressive Christianity aka Emergence Christianity—such as EC rock star pastor Rob Bell, so for years now they’ve been poisoning their own young, and have advanced Bell right into the very heart of the church visible. Another indication of widespread apostasy is that Rob Bell is now considered an evangelical; but now the question: Is Rob Bell Evangelical? 

A couple of years ago, even before he wrote his new book Love Wins and did the controversial promo video, which you can see in Transcript Of Love Wins Video Of Rob Bell, I laid out for you where Bell’s personal practice of Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism would eventually lead him, as it does all stripes of so-called Christian mystics: Rob Bell And Christian Universalism. In New Book May Cause Rift At Mars Hill Bible Church Of Rob Bell I told that “many” there are quite concerned about this book.

Numerous sources have now confirmed that there will be “a church meeting next Sun, March 13 in the evening to discuss the book.” It’s only for “covenant members only by invitation” and apparently people “must register and be approved to attend” this question and answer session. I’m being told “many” are seriously wondering if Rob Bell is a universalist. As I’ve said before, I actually don’t think he is; I offer that Bell’s already been leaning toward this Christian Universalism, which is also known as Universal Reconciliation/Redemption.

For those who do believe this heresy—with its false gospel—there is a literal hell; but they dream, after each is punished temporally eventually hell will be empty. You need to understand that with postmodern mystics like Rob Bell we are entering deeply into the world of Humpty Dumpty Language, where words often appear to take shape without any real fixed meaning because (at best) Bell is neo-orthodox, not evangelical, and bends and reshapes Christian terminology to fit whatever audience he’s speaking to.

I need to remind you of something Christian apologist Dr. Walter Martin (1928-1989) said concerning Scaling the Language Barrier in his classic textbook The Kingdom of the Cults. How sad that now even within mainstream evangelicalism we’re seeing that it’s become necessary for us to follow the advice below, which was originally being given re. witnessing to non-Christian cultists.

To be able to insure that we are understanding each other Dr. Martin says of the wise Christian:

1 He must strive to direct the conversation to the problem of terminology and maneuver the cult adherent into a position where he must define his usage of terms and his authority, if any, for drastic, unbiblical redefinitions, which are certain to emerge;

2 The Christian must then compare these “definitions” with the various contexts of the verses upon which the cultist draws support of his doctrinal interpretations;

3 He must define the words “interpretation,” “historic orthodoxy,” and standard doctrinal phrases such as “the new birth,” “the Atonement,” “context,” “exegesis,” “eternal judgment,” etc., so that no misunderstanding will exist when these things come under discussion, as they inevitably will;… [1]

So, keeping this all in mind, note carefully the following wisdom from Dr. John MacArthur:

Neo-orthodoxy is the term used to identify an existentialist variety of Christianity. Because it denies the essential objective basis of truth—the absolute truth and authority of Scripture—neo-orthodoxy must be understood as pseudo-Christianity… Neo-orthodoxy’s attitude toward Scripture is a microcosm of the entire existentialist philosophy: the Bible itself is not objectively the Word of God, but it becomes the Word of God when it speaks to me individually.

In neo-orthodoxy, that same subjectivism is imposed on all the doctrines of historic Christianity. Familiar terms are used, but are redefined or employed in such a way that is purposely vague—not to convey objective meaning, but to communicate a subjective symbolism… Thus while neo-orthodox theologians often sound as if they affirming traditional beliefs, their actual system differs radically from the historic understanding of the Christian faith. By denying the objectivity of truth, they relegate all theology to the realm of subjective relativism.

It is a theology perfectly suited for the age in which we live. And that is precisely why it is so deadly…[2]

What I highlighted above couldn’t describe Rob Bell any clearer. This is what you need to realize as younger evangelicals get set to ride the lightening of Bell’s forthcoming book; it’s not simply Emergents or those in the Emerging Church who’re jumping to Bell’s defense, though they are supportive, it’s younger sectors of your mainstream evangelical churches leading the charge. Today CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor Eric Marrapodi tells us in his piece Firestorm grows over ‘Christian heresy’ book:

The firestorm around Rob Bell has grown considerably in the last week.  Now the leadership of his Mars Hill Bible Church is rushing to his defense, and we’re learning more about the fight to publish his controversial new book… The controversy even caught the staff at Bell’s church off-guard. On Sunday, Brian Mucchi, an assistant pastor, told the church they knew a controversy could come, they just didn’t expect it to come so soon, according to a church member who was at the service but did not want to be identified.

Mucchi told congregants at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan, the church Bell founded, that the entire leadership team had read the book and was excited about its release… Shane Hipps, Mars Hill Bible Church’s teaching pastor, addressed the congregation about the book before he preached on Sunday… “We are not anxious about this at all. Because I promise you when you get to read the book, you will find that it is fresh and liberating ─ but that it rests firmly in the wide screen of Orthodox Christianity and in the history of Christianity it fits perfectly.  You will be very much at ease,” he said.
(Online source)

That remains to be seen; but considering Hipps’ mystic dreaming that all humans “contain a spark of the divine,” i.e. all mankind is already indwelt by God, “including Bin Laden,” likely we’re closer to apostate Eastern Orthodoxy because already Shane Hipps And Rob Bell Are Teaching Heresy. I’m not at liberty to divluge exactly what sources inside Mars Hill Bible Church are telling me; but the Lord knows, Hipps and Bell are drifting in the direction of Hell—and they’re taking along all the fools who listen to them.

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Endnotes:  

[1] Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the Cults, Ravi Zacharias, Gen. Ed. (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2005), 32.

[2] John MacArthur, Reckless Faith: When The Church Loses Its Will To Discern [Wheaton: Crossway Books, 1994], 27, 28, emphasis mine.

See also:

ROB BELL AND CHRISTIAN UNIVERSALISM

ROB BELL AND SHANE HIPPS TEACHING MYSTICISM

SHANE HIPPS: OSAMA BIN LADEN INDWELT BY HOLY SPIRIT