Much has been written about Rob Bell’s slippery slope to universalism. On a topic as emotionally charged as hell and eternal damnation, instead of offering my opinion I will defer to my Lord. Jesus told us, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13-14) I wonder what part of “few” Rob Bell can not understand?
Almost everything we know about hell in scripture comes directly from Jesus. It’s not an Old Testament doctrine. It seems as though God waited for one so good and so perfect to deliver the message that we would have to believe him. Anyone less and no one would believe it. That being said… Jesus also said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
(Matthew 10:28)
I highly recommend this response by Kevin DeYoung.
