Rob Bell - Cover of Time?

As a pastor in West Michigan, I have wondered over the past few weeks just how big the controversy is surrounding Rob Bell and his book "Love Wins". Being "in the neighborhood", it is hard to tell if this issue is as big a deal in the bigger world of Christian Evangelicalism. However, Rob making the cover of Time Magazine, the week of Easter no less, appears to remove any concern I may have that this is a local issue. Consider, in the past week:

• The Gospel Coalition, a non-domoninational gathering of 5,000+ conservative Bible believing leaders, re-arrainged their conference schedule to add a forum to address the issue.
• John MacArthur, a Bible teacher, pastor and author way out in California, has turned his full attention to the issues raised in Love Wins, as evidenced by a series of blogs on his website, including Rob Bell: a Brother to Embrace, or a Wolf to Avoid?(http://www.gty.org/Blog/B110412). John has spent his life defending the accuracy, authenticity, and authority of God's Word. If this is in the center of his radar, we can be assured that this is a big deal.
• Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Seminary, has found himself in the eye of this storm. His rebuttal to Rob's book was well-constructed, and Al's position has meant he is in the battle, quoted several times by the author of the Time article.

Some may recall I preached a response to Love Wins several weeks ago. My point: By failing to preach hell and holiness, the church has cheapened the gospel and opened the door for this type of false teaching. I am saddened by the whole mess. However, I am also more determined to preach the Gospel ("Jesus in my Place") at every opportunity. This week, while studying for Easter, I was reminded of this wonderful verse in Luke. Jesus, after his resurrection, appeared to Cleopas and a companion has they traveled from Jerusalem to Emmaus, discussing the events surrounding Christ's death and resurrection. Here is the account - pay special attention to verse 27.

Luke 24:13-35

 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16  But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 19 And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24  Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." 25 And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  26  Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?"  27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31  And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other,"Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. 

The challenge is straightforward: Each time we open the Bible, in each passage and every message, bring the Gospel to the center with boldness.