I had a chance to read Rob Bell's book Velvet Elvis over Christmas break. I would like to add my own contribution to the now raging dialogue concerning its claims and implications. A quick glance of the reviews on Amazon will reveal a lack of mediating responses. Most reviews are either a 1 star indictment or a 5 star defense. Well, I intend to fill that gap with my own mediating perspective. In other words, I would give it 3 stars.
As with most thinkers, Bell's strengths are the flipside of his weakness. Specifically, I would like to note three of such prospects. I will discuss their corollary problems next week.
Prospects
(1) Theology
First of all, Bell has an uncanny grasp of what it means to do theology. His subtitle is instructive: Repainting the Christian Faith. He understands tradition as kinetic power that moves us forward into new developments. He grasps that the history of the Church is precisely the history of the development of doctrine. In particular, Bell makes us of the concept of "binding and loosing" as a practice of responsible interpretation of the Bible (ch. 2). The key word here is responsibility: the church in general and Bell in particular can and should take responsibility for their theological decisions. As the Jewish Christians in Acts 15 did, so we too must make decisions, claiming only that "it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us." Such a clarion call for responsible theological thinking is sorely needed.
(2) Judaism
Bell's particularly way of doing theology is by tapping into the Jewish roots of Christianity. Bell thankfully reminds us that Jesus was a Jew (too bad he didn't say that Jesus is a Jew, but more on that later). Familiarity with such Jewish roots provides a treasure-trove of exegetical insight (ch. 5-7). The result is the Bell actually deals with actual Biblical texts, making him the most "biblical" of the Emergent cadre of writers. Furthermore, such a focus on Jewish roots re-embeds the Christian faith in history (where it belongs), and thus brings with it a world-affirming spirituality sorely needed for the progeny of individualistic-forms of evangelicalism.
(3) Jesus
Bell is unquestionably a Jesus-centered thinker. He shares with many a focus on Jesus at the center of our faith, but with a detailed attention to Jesus' words and thoughts and deeds often lacking in most Jesus-talk. Building on his knowledge of Jewish backgrounds, Bell is able to get to the heart of Jesus' message within the context of the whole of Scripture, attends to specific Jesus-texts and their interpretation, and takes seriously the political aspect of Jesus' life. Such concrete advances among the typically shallow Jesus-people are a contribution for which I am grateful.
Any thoughts?
Do you concur with my assessment so far?
Would you add any other points of strength?
For part two of this review, click here.
9 comments:
Good points. I would add that there is no gap between him and the common person. Most pastors and authors with his breadth of knowledge speak & write in language that's difficult for the masses to understand. He uses simple language to convey deep truths, something very few communicators do these days.
I'm anxious to hear his weaknesses, because I'm yet to find any. :)
Well done in just putting part one out there without qualification for us to chew on.
I'm looking forward to part two. While there are many other factors to Rob "The Icon" Bell that make him an attractive speaker/writer these three SUBSTANTIVE issues needed to be clarified. Bell seems to not only be a popular thinker/speaker... but an important one.
Of course, I'm looking forward to part two and hearing how that importance to many can become an double-edged sword.
I will add that when I read VElvis I was shocked that Bell may actually be a "better" writer than he is a speaker.
Scary! May the Holy Spirit guide him in using his influence.
Davarim & Erik - You are right in seeing how much I like Bell. Come back next week to find out why I'd give him a 3.
Dave - He certaintly is a good writer, and substantive to boot.
jld
i've listened to Rob preach many times. and, living in western michigan as i did, i saw many pastors lament his popularity as they watched their twentysomethings all flee their sanctuaries toward Grandville and all things Rob Bell. but that's another point.
i'm not sure i find anything necessarily profound in his theology. or, perhaps that's the strength of it; it comes across as something i've always known because of his ability to communicate so well. in other words, i feel like everything i hear him say (or write) is something i already believe. maybe he's just that persuasive! :)
One thing I liked about Bell's book is his ability to ask faith shaking questions. His intention isn't to guide you down a path of heresy, but to remind you that there are other logical ideas out there so you better know what you believe.
I've ran across some people that didn't like the book and some of them didn't like the probing questions. They thought that Bell was expressing his own theological views instead of trying to encourage the audience to realize there are other theological perspectives out there.
i read some of those negative reviews on amazon. man, people really need to lighten up.
do not fear questions.
FINALLY We get an emergent who can write enjoyable prose! May he end the flood of emergents who cover up their writing-laziness by claiming they are founding some new sort of postmodern writing style. Welcome Rob bell to paper!
(Looking for the "rest of the story" next week--so far I'm with you and RB.
I vote "aye" for Bell.
With some caution.
Like KDrury cautions about being careful who you bring with you on your faith meltdowns, I caution Bell. Even his words in VElvis (I think): "Am I even a Christian anymore?" are potentially loaded.
Other than that, I have learned a TON from his teachings.
1) I love the focus on the Jewish-ness of Jesus. I almost NEVER got that at my church growing up.
2) I love his practical-ness ("orthopraxi-ness"?). He (and Mars Hill in general, judging on the songs my fiance says they teach the kids) is very focused on making the Kingdom of God a reality, as much as possible, on earth.
3) He's upfront and honest. He will preach the hard stuff.
I bought Velvel Elvis the other day. So far I'm enjoying it and learning alot. He certianly comes acrros alot better studied and read than most popular christian authors.
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