So my new idea for our family blog is that we have some interesting discussions. I think we are all at an age where we have valuble input but we don't often get to spend time talking about important or not so important things. We miss you all and this is a fun way to "hang out" together. I really want to know what you all think about Velvet Elvis. I am almost done reading it and I don't know what to think about it. He poses more questions than statements which frustrated me. So if you have not read it. I say read it as it is easy and fast to read and then post your comments and lets have a "dialogue" as the famous family therapist Minuchin says.Sunday, July 15, 2007
Velvet Elvis Discussion
So my new idea for our family blog is that we have some interesting discussions. I think we are all at an age where we have valuble input but we don't often get to spend time talking about important or not so important things. We miss you all and this is a fun way to "hang out" together. I really want to know what you all think about Velvet Elvis. I am almost done reading it and I don't know what to think about it. He poses more questions than statements which frustrated me. So if you have not read it. I say read it as it is easy and fast to read and then post your comments and lets have a "dialogue" as the famous family therapist Minuchin says.
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5 comments:
I will need to refresh myself on this book before I make any bold
comments on it. I appreciate his perspective in writing the book, that
God's Word is truth and everything else is just a commentary, including
his book.
His ideas come off as being "post-modern", but I think are really
quite wise and humble (for the most part).
The part that was the most true sounding to me of his book, was when he
talks about starting his church, and the stresses and difficulties he
had placed upon himself to be a "SuperPastor"...and how a lot of people
in life, and in ministry, have this really harmful expectations, and are
incapable of being sincerely themselves. They are "SUPER" on the
outside, but inside fall apart because they don't let themselves truly
live, or come to terms with their own human-ness.
Their are a lot of examples of this, from the failures of the Catholic
Priesthood, to the demise of recent Evangelical Powermen.
This point is an example of the main focus of the book: that we as
imperfect humans must approach God's throne, God's word, God's mission,
and our life lived for him with absolute sincerity and humility. We
cannot ever say that we have everything figured out in our lives or in
our understanding of who God is or what his Word means. In the case of
biblical interpretation, he purports that final conclusions cause us to
stop reading and stop applying. In the case of a Christian Life, he
shows that self-righteousness leads us to stop growing, leaving space
for corruption.
He references someone who preached that if just one part of what he
thought was true about Christianity was not true, that all of it would
fall apart... this is similar to when Ministers, and those attempting
righteousness in public positions, do not deal with their difficulties
for fear that their ministerial job will fall apart...and sin and doubt
only get worse when left hidden and not dealt with (i.e. Ted Haggard)
Rob Bell is saying that we must be OK dealing publicly with our doubts
and fears concerning God and his truth, and OK with showing personal
brokenness.
I know that some people's response to this book have been very negative,
because, like I said, it seems relativistic/post-modern at times...but
really, I think it is quite the opposite. He advocates for truth in life
and in understanding God's word and applying it, but is wise enough to
recognize that people do not always have it. He is not saying
that some things are not true, but is saying that simply IF we doubt
some things are true we should not try to snuff out and hide our doubt,
but we should be alright with questions...and simply IF we have sin and
problems, we should not try to hide them and deal with them alone.
There's a song from the new Arcade Fire album, "Neon Bible" that seems to mirror the kind of problems Rob Bell is talking about:
Working for the church while your life falls apart
Singing halleluiah with the fear in your heart
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the solider groan, "We'll go at it alone"
I am actually going to be doing an interview with Rob Bell in the fall for Moody Campus Radio, so that's cool. I think what he offers in his books is a fresh a perspective of old theology, old doctrine, and truth. He is able to take very conservative theology and make it sound "post-modern", he is more edgy stylistically then he is theologically. I think so many people have a problem with his style rather than his theology.
He brings out the importance of really knowing the reasons why you believe the things that you say you believe, not why your church, parents or friends believe but why YOU do. It's forces you to confront the personal nature of the discovery of theology in a way that most people are never asked to do.
I also appreciate that he is open to being wrong but he takes things on faith. Faith is being able to believe something without having to have it proved to you. Even though I did not see Christ on the cross, I know he died. That is truly absurd, but I take it on faith. I trust God, I trust his spirit, and I trust his son. I think that Rob Bell offers a new generation of Christians a good forum for open theological discussion. I read his new book Sex God just a few months ago and I think it's an important book as well. He has a great way of making conservative doctrine, that normally sounds oppressive the way it's taught, sound like common sense, and truth. I'm excited to sit down with him in a couple of months.
Doug I agree for the most part...I think he over complicates some things but when you get down to what he is really saying it is not really out there...I like his honesty, humility and vulnerability which I think is imprortant for all of us as Christians. I have always agreed with the idea that will not and do not need to know the answers to all of our questions about God and the meaning of life etc....otherwise we would not need faith right? How cool that you get to talk to him. Can we give you some questions to ask him??? He seems like a very interesting person. I am thinking about reading the sex god book what is the premise or is it kind of random like this one? Reba
it's not quite as random, it's a most focused discussion on the implications of sexuality on our spirituality, it's really quite interesting.
Mom, Dad, Beth, Abbey what about yall?
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