I recently went with a good friend of mine to hear Rob Bell, of Mars Hill Bible Church, speak on his “Calling All Peacemakers” UK tour. We went to hear him speak in
Rob is a phenomenally good communicator, or "conversationalist" as he likes to be described, and is very good at putting the audience at ease. He spoke for an hour and a half, didn’t use notes, had members of the audience on stage, dealt with PA problems as if they were planned and yet it wasn’t the waffle and bumbling thoughts of a mega-church leader, but an incredibly well rehearsed and choreographed display of public speaking. It wasn’t difficult to see why he has become somewhat of an iconic figure, with his thick-rimmed square glasses and beautifully produced Nooma DVDs, in the States and across many parts of the world.
I encountered Rob Bell for the first time a number of months ago when I read a rather scathing review of some of his Nooma DVDs in The Briefing. The review went on to say “I worry that by showing any of the DVDs we are suggesting that we support the teacher and the teaching the DVD promotes.” This article got my intrigued into what it was that Rob Bell said, or for that matter – didn’t say, that people got so hett up about. It also got me wondering whether there would be any followers of Jesus left if we only ever promoted those people who we always agree with 100%?
Since reading that article I have watched the large majority of the Nooma DVDs, been to hear him speak, downloaded his podcasts, read one of his books and spent time browsing the
First and foremost, as an example of how to engage with this generation through looks, appearance, publicity, production, style, audio, visual and everything else, Rob Bell is a fantastic example. The language used is not “religious” language, his narrative and style of teaching the Bible is very unique and catching and I personally have learned a huge amount through his explanation of scriptures in their first-century Jewish context.
However, like many people I have spoken to in recent months and like many church leaders in the world today (including Don Carson who recently made international media interest through his statements as he became conversant with the emerging church) I have my reservations and concerns about Rob Bell. Many people have put their critique into a little soundbite of “it’s not so much what he does say as what he doesn’t say that concerns me”. I’m not so sure that I would agree. Whilst I agree that there are many things that he doesn’t say that I might like him to say, it does seem a bit harsh to criticise based on what hasn’t been said – such a charge could be levelled at all sorts of people and ministries.
So back to
He spoke on Luke 7 and the story of the sinful woman who washed Jesus feet with her tears and perfume. At the end of the story Jesus says: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Rob wants us to understand that this is what we all want to hear. This is the most important thing in the world. This is what we must be living. This is what we must be sharing. This is what we must be telling the world.
“Go in peace”
Not “Your faith has saved you”. Saved me from what? When we look at the verses before we see what we are saved from, we are saved from the punishment that our sins deserve. The point of this passage, as can be seen from verses 47-50 is not that I can “Go in peace”, but that my sins are forgiven and that faith in Jesus, in what he accomplishes on the cross, is what saves me. As a result we can go in peace, but this is not the whole point.
The whole talk was based off this, I submit – false (or at least inaccurate), premise, but I was so drawn in by the communication, the swift presentation, the iconic figure, the “conversation”, that I failed to notice this until after the talk had finished.
It will teach me a good lesson in trusting a speaker to expound a whole passage and not having my own Bible open in front of me.
God Bless.
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