Francis Chan weighs in on the recent hell controversy:

Welcome to the Weekly Town Crier. Don’t call it a link dump, I’ve been here for years, painstakingly wading through the rough of the interwebs to bring you the diamonds. I collect, you savor and we all live happily ever after. Or something like that.

Be my friend on Facebook.

Follow me on Twitter.

Subscribe to our occasional music/interview podcast The Habañero Hour in iTunes.

Follow the Habañero Hour on Twitter for regular music/arts news updates, podcast and Phoenix house show announcements.

Become a fan of The Habañero Hour on Facebook for even more goodies and to help spread the love and world domination.

Register for October’s Together For Adoption conference here in Phoenix.

R.I.P. Geraldine A. Ferraro.

Read about another earthquake hitting Japan.

Read about Harry Potter and Inception being added to Facebook movie rentals.

Read this post suggesting five things Christians can learn from Mormons.

Read as Ed Stetzer argues that 60% of the “unchurched” believe in Hell.

Read as Christianity Today suggests that there is a growing religious split in the GOP between Christians and Mormons.

Read about the new trend of “enhanced albums” being released as iPad apps.

Watch this interview with Rhett Miller of the Old 97′s.

Get your own “luxury” doomsday bunker.

The Weekly Rob Bell Hell Roundup Ruckus:

• Read as Richard Mouw says: “I find nothing in Love Wins book that violates the standards of a broad Evangelical orthodoxy.”
• Read, read and read as Andrew Jackson considers the book in three installments.
• Read Donald Miller’s review (sort of).

Stream the new Sufjan Stevens tribute album Seven Swans Reimagined.

Read this Q&A with William Fitzsimmons.

Read as NPR profiles Amazon’s new cloud-based music service.

(not) R.I.P. Jackie Chan.

Read about Willie Nelson singing his way out of jail time.

Read this post arguing that it is time to start taxing churches.

Browse Pitchfork’s guide to Spring album releases.

Read as the Seattle Times suggests ways to celebrate National Poetry Month.

Browse this list of the 15 best fictional bands of all time.

Read about the Grateful Dead’s 72-disc box-set of their Europe ’72 tour.

Read as NME, FACT, and Backsteat Sandbar all consider the best albums of the year (so far).

Read as Mashable considers 20 essential resources for finding music online.

Well, hello. How are you? I’m OK, thanks. Why don’t we sit down for a cup of coffee and work out the problems of the world, OK?! Here’s how we’ll start; I’ll collect and then post a bunch of links and then you’ll click on them, read whatever is on the other end of the link, we’ll all think deeply about it and then we’ll come back together and solve everything. Alright? Alright. Let’s go.

Be my friend on Facebook.

Follow me on Twitter.

Subscribe to our occasional music/interview podcast The Habañero Hour in iTunes.

Follow the Habañero Hour on Twitter for regular music/arts news updates, podcast and Phoenix house show announcements.

Become a fan of The Habañero Hour on Facebook for even more goodies and to help spread the love and world domination.

See a visual representation of the Japan earthquake.

The Weekly Rob Bell Roundup:

• Read as Scot McKnight collects several reviews of the book.
• Read CNN’s profile of Bell in which he denies being both a universalist and a theologian.
• Read as Brian McLaren says that Al Mohler has misunderstood (McLaren’s favorite argument).
• Read as Douglas Wilson weighs in.
• Read about the pastor who was fired over his support of Bell’s book.

Read this piece about artists who have dissed their own albums publicly.

Read this piece about five ways the iPad works on the buyer’s subconscience.

Read/Listen as All Things Considered speaks with Trent Reznor about his Grammy win.

Read as the Los Angeles Times speaks with Steve Earle about his debut novel.

Browse Paste’s top ten SXSW moments.

Read as Time says we’ve officially entered the “E-Book Era.”

Customize your own Muppet.

Watch this piece about the evolution of some of our favorite logos.

Read this piece reminding us that Americans are generally ignorant about religion.

Read as Paste profiles The Head And The Heart.

Browse this list of 7 “must-read” books about music, the brain and emotions.

Browse NME’s list of 30 bootleg albums you must hear.

R.I.P. Pinetop Perkins.

(not) R.I.P. Nate Dogg.

R.I.P. Elizabeth Taylor.

Browse Time magazine’s favorite acts from SXSW.

Read about the beer industry’s bright spot.

Read this piece wondering if “organized religion” is heading for extinction.

Read about Apple pulling “the anti-homosexuality” app.

Read this Wall Street Journal piece wondering why we let our daughters dress like prostitutes.

Read this history of the mp3 as an audio format.

Read about PETA calling for a more “animal-friendly” translation of the Bible.

Read this piece wondering if “religious people are prone to obesity.”

Read CNN’s profile of The Civil Wars. There goes our chances of getting them for a house show!

Read about the new album from Bon Iver.

See: “movie barcodes” turn entire movies into single images.

Read about the opening of the “Book of Mormon” musical on Broadway.

Welcome to the Weekly Town Crier. Collect, post, link, click, think, come back for more. Repeat. Week after week.

Be my friend on Facebook.

Follow me on Twitter.

Subscribe to our occasional music/interview podcast The Habañero Hour in iTunes.

Follow the Habañero Hour on Twitter for regular music/arts news updates, podcast and Phoenix house show announcements.

Become a fan of The Habañero Hour on Facebook for even more goodies and to help spread the love and world domination.

Read about the new album from Death Cab For Cutie.

Read about how the Japan earthquake affected the earth.

Read Richard Mouw’s comments about Rob Bell’s new book: “a great book, well within the bounds of orthodox Christianity and passionate about Jesus.”

Read this post about “Why Christians Need To Debate.”

Browse this list of the year’s worst albums (yes, already).

Read the Fort-Worth Star Telegram‘s suggestions of five buzz-worthy bands at SXSW.

Read as Pitchfork offers a guide to SXSW.

Browse this list of “over-rated literary classics.”

Read/Listen as NPR profiles Ben Ottewell’s (of Gomez) solo album Shapes and Shadows.

The Weekly Rob Bell Roundup:

• Read as Christianity Today profiles Rob Bell’s latest: Love Wins.
• Read as Russell Moore considers the book.
• Read Al Mohler’s review.
• Read as “Relevant” magazine talks to Bell.
• Watch Bell on MSNBC.

Read as Carl Trueman considers “The Problem With Trendiness.”

Read about Alaska Airlines’ apology after a prayer mishap.

Read about Neil Diamond being inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

Read this piece considering the 10-year birthday of the iPod and its future.

Read as Vanity Fair talks to Sarah Vowell about her new book.

Read as CNN talks to Patterson Hood of Drive By Truckers.

Browse Stereogum’s list of the 40 best new bands in 2010.

Read as David Johansen talks about the New York Dolls reunion.

Read as Austinist talks to Liz Phair.

Read this consideration of what’s next for book shelves.

Read as The Daily Beast considers Charlie Sheen’s role in the “celebrity meltdown.”

Read about Diet Coke ousting Pepsi for the number two slot in the “cola wars.”

Read this profile of Danielson.

Read about Twitter’s new role in disaster reporting.

I know that I’ve already been pegged as an “anti-Bellite” by some because I expressed concern over Bell’s book before I had read it (despite the fact that his promotional video and blurbs gave more than enough to be cautious over, but that’s not the point), but that’s certainly not the case. I have long had concerns about Bell’s fuzzy theology but I also think he’s had a lot of really insightful things to say.

I was actually a little hopeful when I saw that he was to appear on MSNBC with Martin Bashir. I was excited that, now, a reporter without a theological dog in this fight (as far as I know) would use actual journalistic tactics (I’m not saying Bashir actually did, just that I was hopeful) to get straight answers. It was the perfect opportunity for Bell to bring some clarity to the situation, despite the fact that, even after his book has been published, no one can seem to agree on what it actually says. In the end, because I love, I wanted Bell to win.

If you haven’t watched the video, here it is (yes, I know I posted it yesterday but I know what a hassle it can be to click somewhere, watch it and then come back without interrupting the train of thought. You might say I’m all about your convenience):

One of the things I know a lot of people appreciate about Bell is that he asks a lot of questions. He is great at inciting thought and asking us to think deeply. He is oftentimes careful not to insert his own position, instead, he wants us to arrive at certain conclusions on our own (even though he is certainly guiding us in the process). Sometimes I appreciate this about Bell.

But sometimes, being coy with straightforward answers is not only unhelpful, it is damaging. Theological dialogue is one of those places and you can clearly see Bashir’s frustration when Bell does not directly answer questions. But what else should we expect, Bell, over his career, has asked a lot of questions without giving a lot of answers. This explains both his popularity and people’s frustration with him. It’s like trying to pin jello to the wall. It may be entertaining for a bit, but it proves pointless and frustrating after a bit.

I appreciate Bell’s heart but it’s time for him to let his “yes be yes” and his “no be no” (James 5:12).

I wasn’t feeling well on Saturday so I laid down for a minute and browsed the social networking blogosphere. As is often the case, everyone was talking about the same thing. This time, it was Justin Taylor’s post: “Rob Bell: Universalist?” Taylor wondered aloud whether Rob Bell had crossed outside the bounds traditional orthodoxy, embracing Universalism. Taylor laments:

So on that level, I’m glad that Rob Bell has the integrity to be lay his cards on the table about  universalism. It seems that this is not  just optimism about the fate of those who haven’t heard the Good News, but (as it seems from below) full-blown hell-is-empty-everyone-gets-saved universalism.

On the publisher’s page for the book, Brian McLaren endorses it saying:

In Love Wins, Rob Bell tackles the old heaven-and-hell question and offers a courageous alternative answer. Thousands of readers will find freedom and hope and a new way of understanding the biblical story – from beginning to end.

Taylor also included the promotional trailer for the book:

The reaction in many of the circles I travel was loud and almost universal, with people saying things like: are you really surprised Rob Bell isn’t a Christian after all, or At least Rob Bell is honest about his move to heresy. Now, let’s be clear: the book is not even out yet so we don’t exactly know what his argument will be. Couple this with the fact that Bell has a habit of making very provocative statements and then somewhat backing away from them, back towards orthodoxy and there is some reason still to be hopeful. However, with the endorsements of Brian McLaren and Jay Bakker recommending the book on Facebook, that hope may be for naught. Couple this with the fact that, for years, Bell has been vocally downplaying the wrath of God and the picture looks bleaker still.

What are we to make of all of this? After all, we’ve got a lot of internet controversy about a book that hasn’t even been released yet. On one hand, we have people crying “Heretic!” and on the other, saying things like: “it’s about time Christianity was rescued from the ‘far-right.” Here’s some random thoughts:

• Bell Is A Master Performer

Whatever Bell’s theology may or may not currently be, he sucked us all into his PR machine. He does what he does extremely well and here we all are, discussing a book that hasn’t even been released yet because he had it endorsed by Brian McLaren and he released an “edgy” video. To be honest, this is a book I probably wouldn’t otherwise have read, but now, as a pastor, I probably will, just so I’m aware when people ask me what’s in it. Well done, Mr. Bell.

• We/I Are/Am Far Too Quick To Judge

Bear With me here. I’m not defending Bell but neither am I ready to burn him at the stake as a heretic. But, I must admit that my tendency is to make judgments without having all the facts. I haven’t read the book yet and I was ready to make theological conclusions about an argument that hasn’t even been made yet (at least explicitly).

This often seems to flow (at least for me) from an air of superiority. We are quick to judge because we are so sure we are right. It’s easier to pronounce judgment than it is to listen. This can manifest itself in daily conversation (have you ever stopped listening to someone because you were already sure where they were wrong and you were just waiting for the appropriate time to cut them off so you could tell them where they were wrong? No? That’s just me?) and is most often displayed in theological conversation. Again, I’m not saying Bell is right, just that we should read the book first.

Though I am extremely wary of where it seems Bell is heading, I have been humbly reminded that I am far too quick to speak and much too slow to listen. This is all the more important when dealing with such important issues. I fell into Bell’s publicity-making trap and I should have known better. For all his quiet demeanor, he certainly likes to stir things up and that seems to be exactly what he intended to do with this video. If anything, he succeeded in reminding me of my quick-natured tendencies.

• Theology is Inescapably Important

It’s telling that so many people (on both sides) of this issue are so vocal. But the truth is that theology matters. As A.W. Tozer famously said: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Bell is making arguments of eternal importance. As Bell points out in the promotional video, the “question behind the question” is what kind of God we worship.

Though we are probably too quick to judge, it is encouraging that so many people are so passionate about theological issues. When I grew up, deep theological consideration was often downplayed in the midst of anti-intellectualism trends in Christianity. That trend seems to have subsided and it is encouraging to see people asking lots of hard questions. Let’s pray for the humble discernment to answer them according to Scripture and now our own sentimental interpretations of what a “loving God” should be like.

• The Cross Is The Center of Theology

Bell’s assertions are not just about eternity but ultimately about the Cross. If Bell is truly arguing that everyone will be saved, then he must either argue that the Cross is not necessary or that we are all somehow saved by the Cross. As C.S. Lewis argued: if the Cross pays for all sin, then it also pays for the sin of unbelief. What was or was not accomplished at the Cross?

Bell is also asking a fundamental question (at least in the promotional video) about what salvation is or is not. He almost half-handedly (though with Bell, everything is intentional) asks whether or not someone must be “born again” to enter Heaven. This is more than just a passing comment and it seems to question clear Scriptural teaching (John 3:3, etc.). Bell seems to be questioning fundamental issues of traditional, orthodox Christianity itself.

• Gandhi Really Trips People Up

It’s interesting that Bell begins his promotional video by gasping at the fact that someone had the audacity to assert that Gandhi is in hell. After all, here we have a man who embodied more Christian ideals than many Christians and yet famously noted that, though he liked Jesus, he didn’t care much for Christians. We’re often left wondering what to do with him.

But, as Bell might say, the “question behind the question” of Gandhi is: who are we to say that “good people” don’t go to Heaven? There is an exclusive element to Christianity that makes many of us quite uncomfortable. We don’t like to think of someone like Gandhi facing God’s judgment. After all, look at all the good he did, right?!

• Christian “Celebrity Culture” Makes This All The More Sticky

Let’s be honest, if Rob Bell wasn’t a “celebrity pastor,” this wouldn’t be an issue for anyone outside his immediate sphere of influence. But as it is, his beliefs have impact for people all over the world. Though Christians should strive for equality, our tendency to want our own celebrities makes a single person’s theological beliefs ripple across the world.