A Manifesto by Ryanne-Part 1

A look at some of the statements made in the new book Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile by Rob Bell and Don Golden

 

            I would like to begin this with an explanation for why I am doing what I am doing. As believers, we are called “to test the spirits” (1Jn. 4:1) and “examine everything carefully” (1Th. 5:21). John tells us to “make sure no one deceives you” (1Jn 3:7). This is the basis for my study and critique. To do anything less would be (in my opinion) a failure to respond to the call in Jude 3—“to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.”

 

At the beginning of this book, the authors go through the story of Moses leading his people out of slavery in Egypt. They go on to discuss when God talks to the people at Sinai.

“It’s believed that this is the only faith tradition in human history that has as its central event a god speaking to a group of people all at one time” (page 29-emphasis added).

Later in the book, the authors talk about the Eucharist:

“What the Eucharist does is particularize the exodus story in time and space. Exodus is the ultimate picture of salvation” (page 161 emphasis added).

I would first like to say that the central event of my faith is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12:2 command us to fix “our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.” Faith is about Jesus, not Moses. It was on Mt. Sinai, that God gave the ten commandments—the basis of the old covenant. Hebrews 8:13 says, “When He said, ‘A new covenant,’ He made the first obsolete.” I am in no way saying that the Old Testament or the law is not important, but it is certainly not the central event of a faith in Jesus Christ.

The ultimate picture of my salvation is not the exodus, but a God who sent His only son to die for someone completely unworthy of his grace. It is Jesus, hanging on a cross that was intended for me.

 

On page 179 of the Manifesto, the authors write, “Jesus wants to save us from shrinking the gospel down to a transaction about the removal of sin and not about every single particle of creation being reconciled to its maker.” This passage points directly at Colossians 1:20, “and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” I looked up the Greek word for “all things” used in this verse. The word is pas and it is used over 1200 times in the New Testament. This is what I found interesting. The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon says this of pas:

“The words ‘world’ and ‘all’ are used in some seven or eight senses in Scripture, and it is very rarely the ‘all’ means all persons… the words are generally used to signify that Christ has redeemed some of all sorts—some Jews, some Gentiles, some rich, some poor, and has not restricted His redemption to either Jew or Gentile.”

This does not point to God reconciling “every single particle of creation” to Himself.

On page 168 of the Manifesto, the authors say, “It is the way to a universal religion adequate to the challenge of saving human community and the ultimate renewal of all things.”

The Bible is clear that not everyone will be saved [reconciled to Him]. Those who do not put their faith in Jesus and accept His redemption will be condemned to eternal punishment (Mt. 25:41). Likewise, “The heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). God is not going to restore the present earth; He is going to create a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21:1).

            There are more points I would like to make, but I will save those for another note…