In the end, my overall concern about this volume is a simple one: it is not Christian. Bell's makeover of Christianity has changed it into something entirely different. It is not Christianity at all, it is modern liberalism. It is the same liberalism that Machen fought in the 1920's and the same liberalism prevalent in far too many churches today. It is the liberalism that teaches that God exists and that Jesus is the source of our happiness and our fulfillment, but all of this comes apart from any real mention of sin, judgment, and the cross. It is the liberalism that says we can know nothing for sure, except of course, that those "fundamentalists" are wrong. It is the liberalism that appeals to the Bible from time to time, but then simply ignores large portions of it.Read the rest.
Bell's book, therefore, is really just spiritualism with a Christian veneer. It's a book that would fit quite well on Oprah's list of favorite books. What is Rob Bell talking about when he is talking about God? Not the God of Christianity.
I'm just glad we are all clear now. Back when Velvet Elvis was all the rage (ten years ago), Rob's theology was not quite at clear as it is now. Clarity is always a good thing. Sadly, in Rob's case, his clarity does not equate to orthodoxy.
Another clear example of this would be here.
1 comment:
Very true.
Unfortunately, even in Velvet Elvis, you could see the trajectory, and where he was headed.
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