I would have to agree that God is love, is he love exclusively? Rob Bell would say that love wins, I would agree His love did win! The real question isn't whether or not God is love but rather what He did with that love?
It's in our nature to want to serve, worship and love a God that in return loves us back. No consequences for sin, just love. Can't we create in our own image the type of God we want to serve? Can't we interpret how we want to interpret the type of God that is only love? Sure we could, but should we?
When I read the Bible I see a God that loves me so much that He sent His son to die for me. Did He have to do that? If we are all going to heaven anyways why would God send His son to be beaten, brutalized, poked, stabbed, mocked and finally killed. That to me doesn't sound like a very loving Father. Jesus died because there was a price to pay, He became our propitiation--the perfect substitution for you and for me. The God of the Universe wants to have a relationship with you, take Jesus out of the picture and that doesn't happen. Sin and God do not co-exist very well, when we accept what Jesus did we are telling God, "don't look at me, look at your son", when God does that He sees us as righteous rather than a bunch of selfish brats.
Rob Bell's book, "Love Wins" is coming out March 15th. I don't want to judge a book by its cover nor by its critics. I'll let Bell speak for Bell.
Love doesn't win, Jesus wins!
Warren
