So many church people have been talking about Rob Bell that some have called it cliche to quote him, show his movies in sunday school, or read his new book.
But I think, that anyone who is serious about doing church (or is just plain sick of church) should turn their attention to Grand Rapids.
Mars Hill Bible Church "exists for the benefit of its non-members." They sit down with thier mayor and ask how they can help make sure every kid in the city has food and shelter and how they can provide the poorest in Grand Rapids with a way to earn a living.
Although the mentioning of Rob Bell may be cliche, the creative, organic, and authentic expression of a Biblical spirituality that has invited many people to reconsider faith in Jesus after the failure of evangelical, coservative, George Bush Christianity, is anything but trite.
I think sometimes when something true is said and a lot of people listen, there is a group of holdouts (I admit, I've been one) who snobbishly discredit the truth by calling it trendy all because they did not say the truth thing themselves.
To me, this is the danger of a closed cannon Bible, that we do not have to take serious real life prophets or prophetic communites (prophet not in the sense of someone who foretells the future or communicates new truths, but prophet in the sense of someone who retells an intrinsic truth forgotten). I think that God still speaks today and that maybe our stories are just as authoritative as Abraham's and Paul's. You may disagree (as will most traditions of Christianity) , but I think people will be suprised by the Bible God reads in Heaven. I think He tells my story and your story up there, right alongside Moses' and King David's. Which, in fact, maybe being going on right now, in this thing we call life. We are a part of a God-inspired book.
I had secretly given up on church and gave my Bible to a local goodwill. Then I started listening to sermons from Mars Hill Bible Church on my ipod. I do not remember the specific teaching I heard one day while walking, but after listening I was nearly taken to my knees by the sound of unadulterated truth. Truth is freeing. Cliches are empty.
No, it was the cliches that failed me. Mars Hill, that brought me back.
8 comments:
I think most people are scared that rob bellology is just an attempt to throw out truth and replace it with...well, whatever word you use. I don't think its necessarily critisism to having another "religious big gun" or cliche spitter.
A very just fear...and "bellology" may being forming in some christian circles, but if people really listen, they will realize he isn't saying anything new, anything that is not orthodox. Maybe its the way he says it...maybe its because his words come from a community that is taking seriously what is taught.
That's the point I think. Not Rob Bell, but Mars Hill. What that church is doing for Grand Rapids.
"Its not about who is right, but who is living right."
Matthew Levi Beck - I have been thinking about you so much lately and wondering HOW and WHERE you are! My boy was asking about you when he was home a few weeks ago for Spring Break - he misses you too! And so does Reggie!
you look like a lumberjack.
are you?
Hi Beck,
I am glad you found Mars Hill and Rob's teaching. I have seen most of the NOOMA vids and I listen to the podcast every week too... but...
Have you read "Velvet Elvis"? There are things in that book that don't fit with the podcasts and NOOMAs. I'm trying to figure out what it is.
Join me in conversation at:
http://ascenttotruth.blogspot.com/
we are on the same page.
thank you for stating the truth as we know it.
I think that quote 'it's not about who is right, but who is living right' is perfect for what Mars Hill is doing & for what we feel is wrong with some churches today. I feel like we, church people, are so fat on Christian knowledge & we need to go & work it out, burn it off. Being a fat Christian isn't really attractive, unless you're fat too...know what I mean? Anyways, the 2nd reformation is coming...
yes, YES it is!
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