If anything, I think the initial concerns were understated.
Bell defenders were saying, “But you haven’t even read the book!” (In fact, I was able to read a pre-pub copy of the book during the week after the controversy broke.) But the actual book itself vindicated the dismay that so many of us felt. Kevin DeYoung’s thorough review of the book showed just how problematic the book turned out to be.
How did all of this change Rob Bell’s reputation?
I think it made it harder for a lot of younger evangelicals””who cared about biblical theology and sound doctrine but admired Bell’s creativity and insights””to defend him. There has been a resurgence of theological training among young evangelicals over the past few decades, and I think most people who have carefully studied Scripture and theology and church history””whether they have a seminary education or not””were able to see that Bell was seriously out of his depth. A lot of folks saw that he was on a certain trajectory and that he was now happy to leave evangelicalism in the rear-view mirror. His decision to leave his church and literally sign on to the Oprahfication of spirituality has only solidified and deepened those concerns.
Read it all.
(TGC) Justin Taylor–Rob Bell revisited: 5 years later
If anything, I think the initial concerns were understated.
Bell defenders were saying, “But you haven’t even read the book!” (In fact, I was able to read a pre-pub copy of the book during the week after the controversy broke.) But the actual book itself vindicated the dismay that so many of us felt. Kevin DeYoung’s thorough review of the book showed just how problematic the book turned out to be.
How did all of this change Rob Bell’s reputation?
I think it made it harder for a lot of younger evangelicals””who cared about biblical theology and sound doctrine but admired Bell’s creativity and insights””to defend him. There has been a resurgence of theological training among young evangelicals over the past few decades, and I think most people who have carefully studied Scripture and theology and church history””whether they have a seminary education or not””were able to see that Bell was seriously out of his depth. A lot of folks saw that he was on a certain trajectory and that he was now happy to leave evangelicalism in the rear-view mirror. His decision to leave his church and literally sign on to the Oprahfication of spirituality has only solidified and deepened those concerns.
Read it all.