Therein lies the problem. Bell, chapter after chapter, builds a case with scripture and truth, throws in a few really odd un-explained statements and then jumps to a conclusion that hasn’t been established by the formerly mentioned truths. As a friend put it, “my ‘bull-junk’ meter kept going off.” Well... so did mine. I almost felt like I was watching CNN or FOX claiming a “no-spin” zone while they spin their side of the story. Giving off an air of elitist, intellectually enlightened, superiority cloaked in questions the writer attempts to paint those who disagree with his conclusions as close-minded radicals who are missing the point. Placing them with the ranks of those who have abused and mis-used the church and religion to cover their tracks. It’s a common tactic and falls short when one is truly trying to arrive at Truth.
The unfortunate part of the equation is that in our self-indulged, individualistic, anti-establishment, post-modern, post-Christian society this liberal spin of God’s Word will be embraced by many. If we get to twist God’s Word to our liking, well then... we become God... and we sort-of like the idea of being God... don’t we? Isn’t that where we see Satan falling, isn’t that where we see Adam falling... isn’t that where we see ourselves... falling?
Who can argue that LOVE does not WIN? Seriously... that is not the question. LOVE WINS without a doubt! Love wins through the cross. Love wins through Jesus.
I’m not a theologian. I probably don’t even have a very good “bull-junk” meter. But I read the book and write this post because I care about the next generation. This morning I read a verse that took the wind out of me. In Judges 8 it says that, “No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god.” Somewhere Gideon dropped the ball. Somewhere he failed to raise up the next generation to believe in Truth. To hold to the True and Living God. I don’t want my story to end with, “No sooner had Johnny died than those he led and loved prostituted themselves to Satan.” Truth is truth. It’s not all gray. Black exists, white exists and we must be willing to cling the the only Truth we have in God’s Word or our story does not end well. LOVE WINS and I am eternally thankful. DON’T BLINK.


