Nooma And Criticism

Message of the Week: Book's ideas about hell get many preachers hot

Rob Bell experienced hell this year, both in his writing and his personal life. Bell, one of the most engaging Christian teachers in North America, led Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan is a church that preaches Jesus and used his city with a fervor that I want at least one decade. Anyone who was near the church in this community understands that his first priority is to love the community in which it is located.

Bell is a well-known writer (Velvet Elvis, Jesus wants to save Christians) and creative video.His Nooma video series is played around the world among the many Christian denominations.

Bell has stirred the waters of the Protestant faith, when he released a video in connection with an edgy new book he wrote titled Love wins. The video raises the provocative question: "Do you are sure that Gandhi is in hell? "In answer to someone anonymously defaced a painting of Gandhi at an art exhibition organized by Mars Hill Church.

Bell has never answered the question about Gandhi's attitude to God, which caused an uproar among the preachers who accused Bell of being a Universalist - someone who believes that, ultimately, all people who have never lived will enter paradise of God because God's love is too strong to send anyone to hell / separation.

A small detail that I find fascinating: most of the criticism came from the original ministers who did not even read the book. Responses to the vitriol came before the book was published.

The book has sold incredibly well, it was in the top five best-seller list for the New York Times for several weeks, mainly because of the drama created by critics of Bell. I read the book and have many ideas and opinions that I'll save for another day.

The book boils down to whether you think Bell is a) a universal and / or b) a person challenging simplistic notions of hell. The reality is that many criticisms of Bell says more about those that criticize About Bell Bell actual arguments (which have some big holes, it is true).For example, I am convinced that many evangelical pastors ignore the historical roots of the fundamental concepts such as Satan (Persian woven an idea in Jewish thought), hell, the devil, evil, etc. Our view ahistorical texts Bible is a parody.

And you know what? God is greater than that weakness.

NT Wright commented on all the great drama created by the release of the book ". I do not understand how people in the richest country in world history could be so passionate about hell "I would add that it's almost like we tend to want to have hell as the most populous sky.As if hell is our way of finally winning a sort of competition in which my beliefs, my God, my cross and my Jesus is for me and those who agree with me. It's like hell is the Super Bowl religious for those who need to be right.

Criticism for Rob Bell « Todd's Mindbloggler

To be a theological creed or a summary of his theology when you put them all together. 

What I think I hear in this criticism, is that in general, Bell is not hammering home the deep, historic, theological doctrines – not in his videos, not in his books, and not in his preaching/teaching.  And I think the Nooma videos are getting targeted because, well, they’re good videos (by that I mean they’re an easy target).

I’ve felt compelled to respond to all of the criticism because we’ve been using the Nooma videos in our Small Group (home group – if that’s your jargon) and have really enjoyed them.  In all of the discussion and criticism of the videos I hear, I never hear any mention made of the study guides that come with the videos (perhaps many of the criticizers are just watching the short versions on YouTube).  For our group, the best thing about the videos has been the discussion that we have after them.  Bell poses deep and hard questions that really cut through the crap and get to the point.  Again, the questions aren’t about substitutionary atonement or ecclesiology, but we’ve had amazing discussions about grace.  And God’s unconditional love.  And accountability.  And fears.  And personal struggles.  And doubts.  And death.

 Is all of that unfruitful?  I’d say no.  In fact, it’s probably more healthy – in some ways – than a discussion on substitutionary atonement.  I’m not saying we should teach and learn about deep theological truths – we clearly should.  But lets not discount the Nooma series all together when it does hold some merit.

If you want to attack Bell’s preaching – that’s a different task, but what I see is some low blows being taken at a video series that quite honestly, is probably the best out there for home group studies made up of average Christians (don’t forget – not everyone has a theological degree) in their 20s and 30s struggling with real issues.

At the same time, as leaders showing these things there is also an obligation of discernment that must be in place (as their would be leading any sort of study or video series that some one else put together).

~ by toddbumgarner on February 15, 2008 12:17 pm.

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