Love Wins

A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived

By: Rob Bell

Narrated by: Rob Bell

Length: 3 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Millions of Christians have struggled with how to reconcile God's love and God's judgment: Has God created billions of people over thousands of years only to select a few to go to heaven and everyone else to suffer forever in hell? Is this acceptable to God? How is this "good news"?

Troubling questions, so troubling that many have lost their faith because of them. Others only whisper the questions to themselves, fearing or being taught that they might lose their faith and their church if they ask them out loud.

But what if these questions trouble us for good reason? What if the story of heaven and hell we have been taught is not, in fact, what the Bible teaches? What if what Jesus meant by heaven, hell, and salvation are very different from how we have come to understand them?

What if it is God who wants us to face these questions?

Author, pastor, and innovative teacher Rob Bell presents a deeply biblical vision for rediscovering a richer, grander, truer, and more spiritually satisfying way of understanding heaven, hell, God, Jesus, salvation, and repentance. The result is the discovery that the "good news" is much, much better than we ever imagined. Love wins.

©2011 Robert H. Bell, Jr. Trust (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers

I've listening to this ten times over

As a Christian my whole life - he has answered and asked every question that has come to my mind. It's so comforting to know - that no matter what - LOVE wins.

Love really does win.

I remember back in the early 90's, sitting in a Southern Baptist church in which I was deeply involved, watching a friend's child "walk the aisle" to publicly accept Christ as his lord and savior. That night, I laid awake in terror because my oldest son was about the same age as the child who'd made the walk earlier that day. I was terrified because my son was reaching that dreaded age of accountability and being a shy youngster, he'd never be comfortable walking the aisle in front of all those people so according to what I'd been taught, if my son died that night, he'd go to hell. Somehow in the dark of that night, a peace crept in that gently asked me, "Do you really think the same loving God who blessed you with this child would damn him to eternal torture for not walking the aisle of a church?" No. No, he wouldn't. This book is a detailed and loving confirmation of the reassurance I got that night in the darkness.

enLIGHTened reading

Having studied theology, I agree that Rob Bell is not talking about anything 'new' here. However, his eloquent method of delivering such a complex theology in simple terms makes this piece of work brilliant.

I loved this book for the simple reason that it deepened my love for God more, even though it didn't support traditional dogma. Even though I am not an evangelical person, I have talked to others about God and faith more since reading this book than ever before. I cannot recommend it more.

#Lovewins

what a breath of fresh air to the modern church. Wish all religious people would read this.

Outstanding book!

I have nothing but superlatives for this book! Great, outstanding, excellent! I wish I had known about it earlier.

Life changing!!

Most of my questions from being raised in a strict Christian house are getting some attention in this book. Rob is fearless in asking valid questions about God that typical Christians are afraid to ask. Love the book and thank you so much for this book! It has given me the great freedom that God intends.

Finally!

Someone finally speaking truth over religion. Fantastic read! Thank you Rob Bell. I devoured this. It’s the first time I’ve heard I can be loving, accepting, and life affirming AND still be a Christian.

A book of hope

I adore this book so much. I read it over and over. This book offers a refreshing view of God and the amazing love that is for everyone. This book is about grace and freedom from the fear of God.

Stay and Be Challenged

Where does Love Wins rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 10%

Who was your favorite character and why?

Well, as this is non-fiction, I'll go ahead and say what's best about this book is that it's read by the author. Maybe that's not always important, but with Rob, it's paramount, I think. His intelligence and passion for the material comes through in the recording. You don't feel like he's reading (though he is, I read along in my book) but rather having a chat or talk.

Which scene was your favorite?

The pivotal question Rob structures the book around is that God is reconciling ALL THINGS to Himself (he provides Scripture verses as evidence), so if this is true, does God get what God wants? Will ALL THINGS (eventually) be reconciled to God? Or will Some Things be eternally separated from God? (And what did "eternally" even mean in the time of the biblical writers...)

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes and No. I probably could have listened all in one setting, but who has that kind of time. Also, there was plenty of information and discussion presented that was worthy of deliberation - and for those who needed to, time to do their own research about the suppositions he was making.

Any additional comments?

This was a controversial book when it came out. It shouldn't have been. It doesn't say what a lot of people assumed it did. It is well reasoned and written in Rob's almost rabbinical style. He asks questions, provides Scripture, tells stories. Sure he asks an open-ended question with a gap as wide as the Grand Canyon, but he doesn't tell you how to answer it for yourself.

4th time reading this. Still learning.

This story of God is true for my life and it is true for yours! Love always wins!