On a plane recently, I had the chance to re-read the Jan/Feb cover story in Relevant magazine about Rob Bell. Bell, as many of you probably know, is the bespectacled pastor of Mars Hill Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I read his first book, Velvet Elvis, a couple years ago and enjoyed it (haven’t gotten around to his latest yet, but it’s on my list). I teared up when I first watched one of his NOOMA DVDs (it was the episode titled Rain). I’m looking forward to hearing Bell speak at the Calvin College Festival of Faith and Writing in a few weeks.
I know Bell is controversial. Many group him with the emergent movement of church leaders and thinkers. There’s no shortage of both critical and celebratory commentary on Bell around the blogosphere and elsewhere. I haven’t prepared a rant on Bell’s “heresy” (as some of his critics put it). And he doesn’t need me to join his chorus of defenders. I simply bring him up because I like his way with words, and as I read that Relevant interview I was drawn to his thoughts about worldly divisions and our need for “reconciliation.” An excerpt:
First and foremost, in Ephesians 2, Jesus is all about new humanity. What happens when Christ is being incarnated, taking on flesh and blood, is always new humanity, so any person I encounter—regardless of their religious background, their skin color, their worldview, their political stance—they are a fellow human being created in the image of God. I have a bond with them that transcends every other bond. Humans are created in the image of God. Only later do you have geography, family boundaries, ethnic groups and religion. What happened is that we have flipped that upside down, and people begin with all of their differences; they begin with all the way in which we aren’t alike.
And this one on answering his critics from within the Christian community:
I have never set out to be shocking or controversial. That’s a horrid goal—and, I believe, a very unredemptive goal. My interest has always been the Truth, and how the Truth can most clearly and compellingly be communicated.
[T]here are around a billion people in the world who don’t have clean drinking water, and 46 million Americans don’t have health care. That means if they get sick, they don’t have anywhere to go. Half of the the world, 3 billion people, live on less than two American dollars a day, so the world is an emergency. It’s on fire. It’s drowning. It’s an absolute crisis, and when followers of Jesus can think of nothing better to do with their time than to pick apart and shred to pieces the work of other followers of Jesus who are trying to do something about the world, that’s tragic, and I don’t owe those people anything. The world is desperately in need of people who will break themselves open and pour themselves out for the reconciliation of all things. When a Christian can find nothing better to do with their time in the face of this much pain and heartbreak, you start realizing that some Christians need to be saved.
What do you think of Bell’s words?
Reconciliation Blog 
That is so powerful. We spend so much time tearing each other apart and focusing on our differences instead of recognizing our common ground and working together to make a difference.
Thanks for posting this Ed. I agree the world needs the church to take its place in ministering reconciliation. I think what is needed as well is a balance between word and deed ministry. So many of the churches that are doing the most social justice work are churches weak on what they believe about the Gospel. They are churches that tend to believe (due to real and sad experiences in many cases) that doctrine divides. On the other hand, I don’t think we can have true, lasting, biblical compassion and love without a correct understanding of the gospel; and that involves doctrine. There needs to be a place for hammering out our theology and doctrine; we need to know and proclaim who God is and what He has done. But, this also needs to lead to action. As James wrote, “faith without works is dead.”
I appreciate what Bell has to say in this interview. But then again, I’m one of those “emergent” Christians, so I’m a bit biased 😉
I completely agree with his answer to critics. I have thought similar things. He just said it much, much better.
Thanks for pointing this out Edward. A question… Rob writes,
What happens when Christ is being incarnated, taking on flesh and blood, is always new humanity, so any person I encounter—regardless of their religious background, their skin color, their world view, their political stance—they are a fellow human being created in the image of God.
I’m on board with this. Completely. But couldn’t some folks here this type of language as an excuse to ignore cultural distinctiveness? I’ve heard it hinted at before that because we are all one in Christ it is not important to “drag up the past” or spend effort on understanding why someone believes and acts the way they do.
I think we’ve glimpsed this in some Christian’s response to the Reverend Wright’s infamous comments in a few of his sermons. There has, in my opinion, been a lack of understanding- or desire to understand- what context these comments come from.
How do we express the type of new humanity Bell writes about, while not ignoring the histories and cultures that have shaped other members of our Christian family?
A couple of thoughts:
Part of his quote about reconciliation seems vague or confusing. I agree that all humans are created in the image of God, and the Bible tells us to love all people regardless of our differences. The parable about the Good Samaritan illustrates this very well. However, the reconciliation spoken of in Ephesians 2 can only take place under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, a point on which he seems unclear. So we need to treat people with the dignity and respect that they deserve from being created in the image of God- while recognizing the importance of bringing the biblical truth to people who believe in false religion, whether it is one of any world religion or a false Christian religion – such as Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witness, or any other variety that denies a key doctrine in orthodox Chrisitanity.
I think the Christian community can learn a lot from Rob Bell about how to truly minister to a lost and hurting world, and how to see God as an intimate, relational, radically loving God. But he sometimes lacks sound doctrine and that is a great concern. I watched a clip on You Tube where (IMO) he misinterpreted the event where Jesus walked on water and Peter tried to walk out to him to the extent that he misunderstands the very nature of humanity and the whole point of putting that story in the Bible. Christians have a responsibility to point those things out especially when spoken by a very influential and popular person.
There is some truth contained in his last quote, more specifically the need for Christians who are willing to pour themselves out for reconciliation, but it also implies that those who are critical of him do nothing but criticize him and do nothing else to care for the needs of others. He uses a classic fallacious argument, Ad Hominem (Argument To The Man). He attacks character rather than dealing with the content of their criticism. He even questions their salvation because they dare to criticize him.
We probably all know Christians who do nothing but find fault, and they are lots of fun. 😉 But there are some well respected Christian leaders and thinkers who have voiced legitimate concerns and he should address their concerns instead of attacking these people personally. Paul urged Timothy and Titus to oppose false doctrine and to watch their own doctrine closely. We need to do the same.
I have also read Rob’s first book, but not yet his second. I think he has some very insightful thinking for the church, but I also have some caution with him as well.
I tend to agree more with Jason and Judy. Just because you say some things that the church needs to hear and be challenged with does not mean that you can also speak things that a contrary to the scriptures and not be questioned on them.
Reconciliation that is based on everyone laying down their beliefs is not unity. Jesus was a divisisive figure. As he preached in John 6 many walked away because of his hard teaching. He didn’t chase them. He turned to his disciples and asked them if they wanted to leave as well.
I don’t think that it is wise to use the fact that we should be more concerned for some things as a reason to not pay attention to what is Biblical.
Of course, part of this is my belief that the world is drowning, on fire, a mess like Rob described. I see the physical problems as huge and needing to continued to be addressed by the church. But I see the spiritual issues of peoples souls as an even greater crisis and so what we communicate is extremely important. Rob doesn’t even mention people’s spiritual needs.
And then, he accuses many of not being saved.
I think that the new or “emerging” gospel is that peoples physical well being is of greater importance than their spiritual well being.
If someone cares about the physical world and addresses those needs, but gives greater emphasis to the spirital needs of people in any way, then they are often criticized by the “new gospel”.
The physcial has become of greatest importance.
Folks,
Good words here. KG I love the J6 passage and often refer to it with people as a reason not to teach new Christians the doctrine of assurance as the first one they should learn (as is the habit of MANY evangelicals but obviously wasn’t the habit of Christ).
I agree that the world is broken/insane/unjust. I am on a break in southern california and see the brokenness in ways here among the homeless who walk around among the elite — it is unjust juxtaposition that would definitely have been pointed out by Christ. So Bell is right on point. (Karl Barth, Calvin, Kuyper and others all have pointed out that Christ is on the side of the poor in these settings. . . )
One of the best books I’ve read on reconciliation is Exclusion and Embrace. While I have disagreements with the author theologically (Miroslov Volf) has a much deeper grasp of the cross than most Evangelicals I’ve ever read. Like Volf, we can learn from Bell and disagree about some things. (I am not comparing them theologically as I know nothing about Bell beyond what I’ve read above!!).
“What do you think of Bell’s words?”
Since you asked: Rob Bell Critiquing Critics
Maybe I should be out helping someone instead of writing a response.
I have heard virtually every sermon that Rob has spoke over the last 3 years, and I would have to say that his philosophy of redemptive ministry is nothing short of miraculous. He is reaching our world by mobilizing, modeling, and rethinking how we do things as The Church, as a large group of believers. His XYZ ministry has challenged how I live, and the decisions I make as a father, a small business owner, and as a steward of our world. To tell you the truth, from the pulpit, I have heard very little, if anything that is contrary to scripture. I wish that more would listen to his words of wisdom and be challenged by them, and put down the stones that would divide us.
When Christ comes as King of Kings and Lord of Lords and reigns during the age of ages and assisted by his nation of priests, conquers all his enemies the only way Jesus conquers enemies, then every knee will bow (willingly) and every tongue will confess (swear allegiance) and God will be all in all. The reconciliation of all things. The question is do Christians want this?