An Atheist versus a Cafeteria Catholic

Todd Friel of Wretched showcases an example of why it's important to remain consistent in your position: an atheist argues like a Roman Catholic, and a self-proclaimed Roman Catholic argues like a Lutheran.

Todd Friel, Evangelism and Lady Gaga

Todd Friel presents an interesting scenario:

"Let's say you're doing open air preaching...and up comes Lady Gaga!"

I wanted to bang my head on a hard surface over the way the street preacher was speaking to Lady Gaga. Referring to her as "darling," going on about her "pervert ways" and "homo stuff," his general sarcasm...I'm sure the video edited out a lot of what he said, but just that little bit was embarrassing enough. As I said in another post about this kind of open air evangelism, how careful we have to be lest we invent the scenario where "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you" (Rom 2:24).

As Todd Friel says in the video, context is everything. Judgment with no Law is simply empty Judgment. This is why so many universalists such as Rob Bell get away with their theology: they attack concepts of Judgment because there is an absence of Law. In proper self examination, Law presents to us the knowledge of our sin - as Paul wrote: "I would not have come to know sin except through the Law" (Rom 7:7). From this knowledge of sin from Law comes out acknowledgement of the righteousness of God's Judgment on mankind - as David wrote: "Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified when you speak and blameless when you judge" (Psalm 51:4). It is then that the mercy of God's Grace is realized upon us - as Paul again wrote: "Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies" (Rom 8:33).

Our goal should be sharing the mercy of Christ upon the sinner. Yes, that does mean identifying a person as a sinner, but that should not be the end of our efforts. If it is, then we are no better than the Pharisees.

Martin Luther and Rob Bell

One of the most infamous quotations by Rob Bell, in his book Love Wins, is from Martin Luther regarding his supposed teaching of an after-death repentance.

And then there are others who can live with two destinations, two realities after death, but insist that there must be some kind of "second chance" for those who don't believe in Jesus in this lifetime. In a letter Martin Luther, one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation, wrote to Hans von Rechenberg in 1522 about the possibility that people could turn to God after death, asking: "Who would doubt God's ability to do that?"

Again, a good question. [pg. 106]

As Bell does throughout the book, he doesn't cite the exact source to the quote, so that people can cross reference for themselves. However, many people familiar with Luther's works did some research into the exact quote and what it was actually saying. What is the full context of the quote from the letter?

It would be quite a different question whether God can impart faith to some in the hour of death or after death so that these people could be saved through faith. Who would doubt God's ability to do that? No one, however, can prove that He does do this. It is impossible for anyone to be saved without faith. [emphasis mine]

Again and again I am further convinced that Rob Bell is not deceived - he is actively deceiving. As I showed in my review of his book, Rob Bell cannot possibly be "accidentally" taking things out of context. How can he "accidentally" have thought that Luther taught universalism when Luther clearly taught otherwise as shown by the following sentence! This isn't just being stubborn in your opinion...this is willingly distorting facts and just flat-out lying to prove your point.

Below is a video featuring Todd Friel discussing the quote and Rob Bell's use of it in greater detail (H/T to Hell's Bell).