Kill All the Heretics

Rob Bell is at it again. The likes of John Piper and Mark Driscoll are sharpening the executioner's axe. And if the volume of references (over 20,000 at last Google count) to an article by Justin Taylor are any indication, the orthodox religious types are gathering in the village square to witness a good old fashion beheading.

So what did Bell do this time to justify such fervent cry of "Off with his head?" We don't really know, because the book that has neo-Calvinists like Piper and Driscoll up in arms hasn't actually been released yet. About all we have is a short promo video and the following description from the publisher.

“Fans flock to his Facebook page, his NOOMA videos have been viewed by millions, and his Sunday sermons are attended by 10,000 parishioners – with a downloadable podcast reaching 50,000 more. An electrifying, unconventional pastor whom Time magazine calls ‘a singular rock star in the church world’, Rob Bell is the most vibrant, central religious leader of the millennial generation. Now, in Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, Bell addresses one of the most controversial issues of faith – the afterlife – arguing that a loving God would never sentence human souls to eternal suffering. With searing insight, Bell puts hell on trial, and his message is decidedly optimistic – eternal life doesn’t start when we die; it starts right now. And ultimately, Love Wins.”

Based on this, Piper tweets to his loyal following "@JohnPiper “Farwell Rob Bell. http://dsr.gd/fZqmd8”. And the link at the end of the tweet is a link to an article by Justin Taylor, who states, “It is unspeakably sad when those called to be ministers of the Word distort the gospel and deceive the people of God with false doctrine.” Taylor goes on to quote 2 Corinthians 11:14–15 (14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.)

So there you have it. We have no other choice but to kill the heretics before they can do any damage to the movement. And I use the word "movement" intentionally, because killing anyone who might disagree with the early followers of Luther and Calvin seemed to be standard operating procedure. Consider the two following quotes.

“Whoever shall now contend that it is unjust to put heretics and blasphemers to death will knowingly and willingly incur their very guilt.”

And this one:

“Anyone who can be proved to be a seditious person is an outlaw before God and the emperor; and whoever is the first to put him to death does right and well. For if a man is in open rebellion, everyone is both his judge and the executioner; just as when a fire starts, the first man who can put it out is the best man to do the job.”

The first is from John Calvin (after the execution of Servetus for preaching a non-Trinitarian understanding of God). The second is from Martin Luther encouraging the slaughter of peasants (often Anabaptist Christians).” And while John Piper has yet to call for the slaughter of liberal theologians, his "death before debate" approach to the writings of those like Rob Bell and Brian McLaren shows that little has changed over the centuries.

Is Bell a Universalist, as Piper and Taylor claim? I don't think so, but unlike them, I'll need to wait to read the book before I pass judgment. And even then, I think calling Bell a servant of Satan is a little over the top. Even without reading Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived I'm fairly certain that Rob Bell's Hell has a lot fewer inhabitants than Piper's. But then, I don't need Bell to tell me that. All I have to do is actually read scripture. That approach would work for Piper and Driscoll if they could ever take their John Calvin glasses off for a moment.