Rob Bell

I just read an excerpt from Rob Bell's soon to be published book, "What is the Bible?".  It looks to be a really interesting, challenging, thought-provoking, inspiring book.  The excerpt, which was posted on his Facebook page has created in me a bit of an inner argument.

I'm personally really excited to get this book, and more excited about the thought of perhaps engaging a group of people who have abandoned the Bible completely to take a fresh look at it through the lenses Rob appears ready to help people use.

But, I thought twice, three times, even four about even "LIKING" the Facebook post.  I know what will happen.  Many people will question me, "Do you really read Rob Bell?  Don't you know he is a heretic?"  A few will give a thumbs up to me.  Most will say "Rob who?"

But it's time to come out of the closet.  It's time to stop worrying about pleasing and appeasing people when it comes to what I believe about the Bible and how exactly we are meant to interact with and use it today.  It's time to follow the inner challenge I've been sensing to speak out about the problems that I and many Jesus-following people have with the dominant views about the Bible in the world of evangelical Christianity.  It's time to say publicly, as I've been saying to a select few privately:  One can be a Christian and not ascribe to the doctrine of Biblical inerrancy (namely, that the Bible is without error of any sort since it is literally God's words written down by human authors).

It is my conviction that MANY people, especially people younger than me, are convinced that there are only two options when it comes to the Bible.
1.  Believe it is literally God's words.  That it is all literally true, with no errors.
2.  Believe it is just a bunch of myths created by humans.

When given these options, most younger people default to option number two because they believe that evolution is true (or at least that the earth is billions of years old), and they can't accept the conservative Christian viewpoint on homosexuality.  (Yes I'm oversimplifying.)

What Rob Bell will do in his upcoming book will, I believe, offer hope to these people that there are other options: options that encourage robust thinking, devout activity, and active worship of the God of the Universe.

So if you've struggled with "what am I supposed to do with the Bible?", if you've felt ostracized by other Christians when you have given voice to your doubts and questions, if you really want to know more about a way to follow Jesus that won't force you to ignore modern science, I'd really like to hear from you.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nothing happens the same way twice

Image
Another interesting line from Prince Caspian is when Lucy asks Aslan why things aren't working out the way they did the last time they were in Narnia. Aslan responds, "Nothing ever happens the same way twice." I want things to always work the same way. In relationships with people, I want to always know what to expect. If I act in a certain way, I want to be certain people will respond the way they did the last time. But I really want God to act in the same way. If at a certain point in my past I received an answer to my prayers when I fasted - I expect that God will come through if I fast again. If I felt close to God by singing a certain song or reading a certain book, I want to re-create that experience time and again - but it never seems to work. I remember going back on my 2nd tour with the Continental Singers back in 1989, having had such an incredible, life changing tour in the summer of 1988. The "sophomore" tour did not live up to my memories of the fi
Read more

Becoming more aware (a prayer of gratefulness)

Image
Thank you God for the growing awareness That you are everywhere You are the force that animates every fiber of my being But not just my being Or all humans But all of creation Nothing exists apart from your creative power  And the force of life you give it The energy of the cosmos is the same As the energy in my cells In my molecules In my quarks So You are always with me No shouting or striving to get Your attention Just to be still And know You are God To breathe in and breathe out with gratefulness For lungs filled with oxygen Sustaining me for another few moments Every breath a gift A reason to praise You are in all things and you have given me existence Life Consciousness Awareness of beauty Ability to act  It is all so good Thank you.
Read more

The Shack

Image
My wife started reading Willam Young's runaway bestseller "The Shack" a month or so ago, and I read it after her (with apologies to people waiting for it back at the library!) It seems "everyone" Ann knew was reading the book so we both were interested to find out what all the excitement was about. I started the book with a good deal of skepticism since I don't tend to enjoy most popular Christian fiction (too predictable and poor writing). But I found "The Shack" to be an interesting read and thought provoking as well. It seems to flirt with the far edges of orthodoxy a few times, but I think overall it is a helpful book for understanding some confusing aspects of Christianity, and for giving some vivid pictures of hard to understand doctrines. All you have to do is get used to the image of God the Father being called "Papa"and appearing as a black woman. (Ann said she kept imagining "Papa" as the head angel from "Touc
Read more