FASTING
a-what-fasting-is-not
b-what-fasting-is
c-context-of-fasting-struggle
d-fasting-redefined
e-fasting-and-prayer
f-fasting-attacks-distractions
g-types-of-fast
h-making-fasting-relevant-for-
i-is-fasting-commanded
j-biblical-outcomes-of-fasting
k-actionresponse
l-56-biblical-examples
Great work here Jez very clear
ReplyDeleteThanks for the group yesterday. i listened to the Bashir/Bell interview and went on also to listen to Rob bell talking for some 12 minutes on his beliefs on Hell. I did not see him as squirming and I did not hear heresy. He does seem to be saying love precedes judgement. I do not hear universalism. I do in some critics ...but not when I listen to Rob right through. Did you listen to Rob's 12 minute u tube? Also he is said to be whining in another interview...I missed the whining too... maybe I am missing something? x Liz
ReplyDeleteer... just wanted to add that I haven't read the controversial book that seems to have sparked the interest, don't believe any man is infallible and imagine that Rob(like all of us) will have some lies in his truth drawer.... even Peter needed correction with some of his theology xx
ReplyDeleteI've only had a chance to skim his book briefly, but I've tried to listen to Rob Bell when he made appearances to promote the book. One problem, and what many from 'mainstream' churches find difficult about Rob B, is that he loves to make people think rather than tell them what to think, which is good but can cause problems.
DeleteThis leaves you unclear about what he believes or what he is trying to communicate. At times is feels like he has a valid desire to reach people the church doesn't normally reach, but his method seems to result in him blurring any Biblical teaching that is awkward or unpalatable to modern ears. For an undoubtedly brilliant and gifted communicator, this can seem strange.
Hence, as you said, you can tell that he isn't a Universalist, but you can't quite work out what he does believe about Hell. When pushed to clarify his Biblical understanding, he tends instead to ask a question. Although I enjoy listening to him, and he comes across as very likeable, this tendency is frustrating.
e.g. In a recent UK radio interview, when asked about how he believes the Bible defines the Eternity of Hell, he answers with a question: "So, let’s say a 17 year old rejects Christ, dies, and 17 million years from now (or however you want to say that…that’s obviously sort of over-the-top language), God is still punishing that person…is God like that?"
Ultimately, this approach risks the hearer not really looking for a Biblical answer, but could result in anyone being able to define an aspect of God how they want, rather than how He has revealed himself.
The danger is that he may be making people think rather than telling them what to think, but he might always not be helping them to think Biblically.
I actually enjoy a dialogue/debate style of communication, but underlying it there needs to be a clear foundation of Biblical truth. I'm not saying that this isn't there with Rob Bell, but at times he can come across as very guarded in clearly basing his logic on referenced Biblical truth.
This is made frustrating by the fact that his excellent 'Everything is Spiritual' stage presentation is not like that at all, involving very little dialogue, which means that when he ends up in an unclear question loop in a debate, he must have deliberately chosen to do that in order to not be pinned down and to make the audience think.
Final comments, Rob Bell is good to read, but handle with care and balance, and always go back to Biblical roots with his ideas, as you would with any author, e.g. C.S. Lewis, who has very similar ideas on Hell.
If you want to read, watch or hear more on this (and there's masses out there, be careful!) try these:
1: Radio Debate involving Rob Bell:
Transcript here
Video here
Audio here
2: Blogs/Articles about Rob Bell:
Comparison with Stott and Lewis here
Another comparison here
Early response to Bell's book publicity here
Thanks for that Jez. yes , i agree.... his gift is to provoke one to look and think... and he recognises frequent paradoxes... i am provoked to word-search "hell"... cos ultimately it is what God says that matters.x
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