orthodox theology, without tipping their hand. They have tickled the itching ears of today’s politically correct masses with innuendo and insinuation (2 Timothy 4:3). Posing as chums of a Christ-rejecting world and critics of the evangelical church, they’ve attributed the Gospel’s present-day lack of appeal to poor salesmanship on the part of contemporary Christians. Never mind that the Apostle Paul identified the power of salvation contained in the Gospel as the “power of God”; they insist, contrary to the Scripture, that it is a mere matter of the power of human persuasion (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:17-24; 2:1-5).

According to them, rejection of the Gospel has nothing to do with our world’s enmity with God, but everything to do with the church’s poor public relations. We have an image problem, they insist. Their prescribed solution is a compromised Gospel that is far more palatable to a world that incessantly regurgitates the pure Gospel that was once and for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3). However, what appears to elude these emergent church leaders is the fact that a compromised Gospel is really no Gospel at all, but a mere form of godliness that denies the power thereof (2 Timothy 3:5). Remember, the Apostle Paul taught us that the kingdom of God was not a matter of our words, but of God’s power (1 Corinthians 4:20).

When did the Christian church not have an image problem in this sin-cursed, Satan-controlled, dark and dying world? Did our Lord not warn us that we would offend many and be hated of all men and nations for His name’s sake (Matthew 10:22; 24:9-10)? Don’t forget, Christ Himself was crucified, Stephen stoned, Paul beheaded and all of the apostles martyred, with the possible exception of John who was exiled. How about all of those other innumerable Christian martyrs down through the ages who died at the hands of a hard-hearted world, martyrs like those burned at the stake or fed to the lions? And how about the voices of present-day martyrs being ignored in our politically correct world? For instance, two-thirds of Iraqi Christians have been forced to flee the country for their lives, in spite of the fact that American troops are stationed on Iraqi soil. 

It appears to elude the leaders of today’s emergent church, as well as all contemporary church growth gurus, that the church is most effective at winning the world when the world is most averse to the church. Befriending the world is, according to the Scripture, enmity with God (James 4:4). It is also, as history has repeatedly proven, the death knell to real evangelism. If you doubt this, just consider the Catholic Church’s reign over the world during the Dark Ages and the death of mainline Protestant denominations precipitated by their espousing of full-fledged liberalism.

What is the fastest growing religion in the world today? Islam, which is a militant, in your face, no holes barred religion. Furthermore, despite its perpetration of worldwide terrorism, today’s fallen world falls all over itself in its efforts to put a positive spin on the Religion of the Sword. No horror perpetrated in the name of Allah ever appears to dim our fallen world’s glowing reviews of the tenets of this tyrannical faith. 

Muslims need not worry about public relations. On their behalf, our fallen world is carrying out one of the most successful PR campaigns in human history. In addition, it’s complimentary; it is being paid for by a Christ-rejecting world at no charge to today’s Islamists. Yet, according to the standard-bearer of the emergent church movement, Rob Bell, the Christian belief in Hell is such a turnoff to sinners that it renders our faith insufferable to them. Bell’s assertion quickly becomes absurd, however, when one realizes that Islam not only teaches the reality of Hell as well, but also that everyone will go there, at least temporarily, so that we can all taste the scourge of Allah.

To Rob Bell’s credit, he is the first of the emergent church leaders to show enough chutzpah to put his theological cards on the table. He is no longer holding them close to the vest. In his new book, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every person Who Ever Lived, Bell clearly plays his universalist hand, suggesting that God’s love will eventually win out in the universal salvation of all souls. Like so many before him, such as Harry Emerson Fosdick, Bell is gambling with the souls of men. Unfortunately, just like his predecessors, he’ll soon discover that his conviction-free gospel will not result in a jackpot of new converts, but in an unappeasable fallen world’s indifference to such spiritual pandering. He, like so many spiritual soft-soap salesmen before him, will end up as just another one of this world’s ecclesiastical wallflowers. 

Christ’s disciples once gave Him the same advice that Rob Bell is giving us (Matthew 15:12). They encouraged Christ to tone down His message. If He would, His message would be less offensive and more readily received by those in rebellion against God. Hopefully, we will be no more inclined to follow Rob Bell’s advice than our Lord was His disciples’ (Matthew 15:13-14). Instead, we will remember that Jesus guaranteed us that as long as we are in this world we will have trouble (John 16:33). If we’re not having trouble or being persecuted in this world, it is not because we have become less galling; instead, it is because we have become less godly (2 Timothy 3:12).