Rob Bell was in Belfast at the weekend.
If you are not aware of him, google will tell you all you need to know and a lot more that will not do you any good!
I didn’t go to hear him speak.
My reasons for not attending had little to do with his theology though. This post has nothing to do with his theology and whether i agree with all he says or not. Sorry to disappoint you!
Some of you will know that my heart is not in the crowds or the big events these days. My heart is not drawn to the rock stars, the high profiles and the popular.
I don’t want to appear ‘holier than thou’ but i have chased the books, the latest music and the latest speakers – and for me, it was a distraction from Jesus. It may not be for you though, which is why i don’t want to slam anyone or anything in this post.
I didn’t notice the distraction until it had almost wrecked me, don’t make the same mistake
I did go.
Not because I think he’s a rock star or to see the celebrity…
For me it was to hear someone who has helped me stay close to Jesus by helping me to see how I can keep my faith relevant. It was a chance to experience the Podcasts that I listen to in a church style environment, something I wish I could experience more often.
There were quite a few people there who seemed more interested in him than his message, but that’s still cool by me…
Just as it’s cool that people chose not to go. To each there own, eh?
Yep
Ally, you and I have much in common. Not the fact that I (or you) may or may not agree w/ Bell’s theology, but that we’re coming to the end and edge of the rockstar, crowd pleasers, “ta da” type draw factors.
Funny thing is, I wouldn’t consider Rob “cool” by my “cool standard meter”.
It would do us all good to be aware of our star struck, loud, popular, i have a gazzillion followers / readers bit.
I dig you. Keep sharing your heart, head, and spirit.
Sir Chad of Jarnagin
its been too long since we exchanged comments etc
thanks bro, i always knew we had some stuff in common
Why??
Suppersimbo, my Man – I missed you. Your absence meant the beard count was low – that is unforgivable.
I think it’s a weird malady within the church that people pay to get this teaching that they are supposed to be getting from their own leaders… Theology aside once more…
@Graeme yes
@rob bell clearly you are not Rob Bell unless you rushed offstage in Stoke On Trent & immediately found my blog …………..sigh! Yea yea im sure you coped ok without my beard
Maybe, Ally, you need that quieter time to step back. I’ve never been to hear Rob Bell speak, would love to and hope to some day. I have not been doing much in any kind of ‘churchy’ circles lately and I don’t read very many church books. It has been good for me to not have the distraction. I have been really learning lots from listening to Brad Jersak lately. We all go through different ‘things’ now and then.
Hey Kat
thanks for the comment
Yea, in the last 6-12 months i have most definitely stepped out of the noise and its been good, worthwhile
Its not always easy to do
I have read/listened and debated many times about Rob and his teaching. He has become a motivational speaker – there to draw a crowd and make his money out of it in my eyes. I, as you can guess didn’t go to see Rob last night – of the people I have spoken to who did – they weren’t impressed. In fact, one of them – a youth worker was DEEPLY concerned that 1000 people would be subject to his twisted teachings – empty statements and Biblically incorrect “assumptions”.
Great article on his acclaimed book “The Velvet Elvis” here – http://www.irishcalvinist.com/?p=1283
Matthew 7 15-23. THIS IS THE WORD.
Wow! Motivating people to love Jesus…
He’s a bad little white boy! Shame on him.
In a responce to “this is word” I was actually there to hear the man and not just dwell on the twisted words of those who are against something different. In fact I was inpressed with the message he brought about suffering. As a theological student in Belfast I heard nothing last night that was “twisted” or anything of the sort. I am not standing up for bell as some of the things he says are clearly wrong from a scripture point of view. Every church has it theological failings but it is just pride to think you or your church dosen’t. As for the article, the address says it all “Irish Calvinist”. Maybe if Calvin had of been speaking you would have rushed to hear him.
The man was good. He brought good points and something to thing about. His point point was backed up by scripture. A good evening
.
I haven’t heard of rob bell and will google him but i do hear what you are saying… i am the same…i left the hoopla long ago-not impressed …except my “stalking” of celebrities at the Toronto International Film Festival!!! Oh I should say too that when these “christian celebrities” come to Canada I laugh at their managers who try to protect them from the crowds. we are not the same as the americans and don’t swoop down on them..there is no fear of hurting them, etc. .except me who “stalks” them!!
I have heard Rob speak a number of times, and was at the event the other night. What he spoke about wasn’t twisted or wrong, he didn’t say anything new or outstanding, but he has a great way of presenting his message. He was speaking about suffering and how even when we suffer in our lives, and it changes the direction of our lives, it is for the best. Basically Romans 8:28.
As far as ‘paying to see a celeb speak’ attitude, I don’t think this is an issue, I regularly listen to his podcasts for free, and a flight from the USA to the UK costs money, so what’s £9 to hear him…
I wonder would there be the same concern about spending money to go to say, The Mandate, or Focusfest (Ladies)
Also, if you are going to hear someone speak, and you are going with the mindset of ‘this guy is a weird heretic’, then you are going to come away affirming your thoughts, and you are looking for that. I’m not saying don’t be cautious, but a lot of people, especially in Northern Ireland are too quick to write people off immediately.
I think the overriding issue here is, that if you are going to listen to anything claiming to be Christian, or any speaker (in the flesh, or podcast, or tape/cd if people still do that), be it Bell, be it Piper, be it Driscoll, be it the pastor/minister/elder/youth leader of your church, be it the small group leader or attendee, or the book that you are reading, then we must discern what is Biblical Truth. If the speaker makes claims outside of what is in the Bible, then obviously we should reject it, if they misuse the Bible for their own case or point, then again we should reject it.
It shouldn’t matter who it is that we are listening to, or reading, or however we are taking in the information, but we, the listener, should be being discerning, listening to with an open mind and an open Bible, ready to accept, and listen to, and be changed by God revealing to us His Word, or being willing to ignore the parts, and not apply the parts which are un-Biblical.
It is unfortunate however that people want to listen to people to critique and ridicule some speakers, however I do believe that there has to be caution aired on SOME speakers (and by that I’m not labelling Bell, i know little about him, and have not listened to him to make any fair statement on whether there is a need for him to even be one of these), given their continued mishandling of the Word of God. It should not be an out right condemnation of the speaker, but it would be wise (and maybe Biblical) to warn in a loving and caring way, and to remind them to exercise good discernment when listening to certain people, so as they are not possibly lead astray.
Then again, on that occasion, maybe they will get it right, and the person be edified and built up by it.
Thanks for the comments folks
It is amazing yet unsurprising how the conversation veered off in a direction that i had not intended…..
Ho hum … join the fun, why not?
Re. “This is the Word” — just a wee bit of self-aggrandisement in that monicker, is there not? *sigh*
My reading of Rob Bell is that here’s a guy with a vision for the Gospel that won’t be constrained by human dogmas & doctrines … here are my thoughts on Velvet Elvis…
Ally, back to yourfirst comment is there a small chance you are just getting older and wiser?
Yes Philip, a small chance
though if me getting older & wiser is not inextricably linked to Jesus then its a waste of time
therefore the need to not be distracted from that task
oh i have heard of “Velvet Elvis” but didn’t know the author’s name. i have also heard of Mars Hill church but a different one in Seattle Washington…I’ve actually been to it. Not sure if it is the same branch as Rob Bell’s church. I’ll have to read more about his doctrine because i am intrigued by your comments. what i forgot to say is i agree that we should not be distracted from Jesus. These “tools” can help encourage our faith but I agree we need to focus on Jesus. There is a Canadian preacher with a huge church in the Chicago area that many people in my circle/church worships. People think I’m crazy for not liking him, but as I said I hate all the hoopla and many of my friends treat him as “god” and not acknowledge Jesus. He is not a bad preacher and the things he teaches are not bad, but I hate the pedestal he is put on. I think it is dangerous. He has mini-churches popping up all over the place here in Southern Ontario. I think it is a distraction away from the truth of Jesus. Oops..didn’t mean to ramble…why can’t we as Christians be content …why do we look for something bigger and better. Just my thoughts.
hehe
Karyne
mars hill seattle definitely not a branch of mars hill grand rapids hehe
seattle is Mark Driscoll’s church
Thanks for sharing
can of worms!!
fancy a coffee sometime man??
can? a bottomless pit of worms more like LOL
yea i never pass up a coffee invite…..
Il FB you to arrange something
No-one has a gun to your head – forcing you to think that what they say is the be all and end all.
We are called to seek out WISDOM in all that we are exposed to. I met Rob for the first time on Sunday afternoon over a coffee – he’s a smart guy who has his own views – no doubt formulated over his own experiences/reading and study. If anything, all I could contest was the fact that in conversation he kept saying “In Amercia ….” which started to make me feel like God was different “Stateside”..lol