ROB BELL'S DODGY HERMENEUTICAL PRACTICES
Unlike many of the other emergents Rob Bell attempts to approach Scripture in a scholarly way. The problem is that he completely abandons the historic grammatical approach to interpreting Scripture that has been common practice through church hstory. The end result we get in many cases is a complete ignorance of the obvious meaning of a text as I discussed yesterday. God is so kind that He made much of Scripture explicit so that people as thick as myself could understand it. Granted there are difficult and mysterious passages, but God's message to man of reconciliation could not be clearer. Rob Bell, however, continually gets new perspectives on how to understand the Gospel. He reveals things that the early Church, Church fathers, Reformers, Puritans, and Revivalists never discovered. Rob Bell is a very intelligent man but I doubt he is that smart.
In this video Todd Friel from Wretched Radio takes a closer look at Rob Bell's hermeneutical practices and the lens through which he approaches Scripture. There are many theological problems with what Rob Bell teaches and his far reaching influence demands a response. This audio examines what I believe to be the root of many of these problems.
I know there are some people who are responding to these posts who either attend Rob Bell's church or strongly support his teaching. If you want to respond again I would like to ask you to explain how you define the Gospel and how you articulate it. I think that would be a good starting point as we try to reason. As some of you have rightly said we should not go to war over the issues of tongues and eschatology. But the means by which a man is born again we can NEVER compromise on and must have unity. So let's see if we preach the same Gospel?
Go On To Part 5
Go Back To Part 3
Go Back To Part 1
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7 comments:
I don't attend Mars Hill, but since Rob Bell carries has a lot of gravitas with people in our church and, frankly, confuses them, what he teaches is something I have to deal with. Regularly.
I, for one, appreciate what Cameron is doing here. I have become increasingly concerned about the teaching wafting out of Grand Rapids.
One example: in his message Wine and Heaven (from 2007 if I recall correctly), Rob Bell slanders generations of Christian missionaries by blaming them for things like the Rwandan massacre.
In Bullhorn guy, he slanders, very cleverly, people who preach the gospel.
I could go on and on and on. It's about time someone stood up to this stuff.
Thanks, Cameron.
Before asking them (the atendee's of Mars Hill) more questions, why don't you take a little time to read their comments and answer their questions first... as they have tried (respectfully I note) to answer yours! (NB I have no connection whatsoever with Bell or Mars Hill, I have never met him or been to Mars Hill - I'm actually English)
Incidentally, may I congratulate you on having the integrity to have comments switched on and for not hiding like Ken Silva and others do.
I will gladly answer your question and as to what I believe but I would love if you would show me the same respect and answer my questions:-)
I believe that Jesus was born of a virgin. He came to earth and lived a sinless, perfect life. I am sinner. Jesus died on the cross for me, my sin, paying a debt He did not owe. He came that I might have life! He did not stay dead He rose from the grave and in Acts He went to prepare a home for those who follow him. According Romans we no longer live by the law but by grace. I must first realize my need for a Savior,that i am sinner , I must believe in Him and confess with my mouth that He is Lord and that is the beginning of a long journey of my relationship with Christ.
If Rob is so far off base then would you mind telling me why you are right? Why should I believe you and that your interpretation of scripture is right and Rob is wrong?
Also I think Jesus answers your question in Luke 10:25-37. That is how you are "born again"
Erica
I am happy to answer your questions. I am just a slow typist. I have been asked the same questions by many people. I think some of them are answered in previous posts and all of them are answered somewhere on youtube. Please give me time and understand that I have been over this ground so many times.
As for your previous comment the problem is the usual problem with many emergents. Missing information and terminology not clearly defined.
For example the mormon's believe in Jesus too. But we all know that the Jesus of mormonism is false and not the Messiah of Scripture. Who is the Jesus you speak about and what is His character and nature? What do you mean by believing in Jesus - Nicodemus believed in Jesus but Jesus told him that he needed to be born again. What do you mean by recognising you are a sinner? Does it mean that you aren't perfect or does it mean that you are wretched, incapable of pleasing God, wicked to the core, and fully deserving of hell. Would it be just of God because He is good to send you to hell? Why did Jesus die for you - to identify with you or to endure the wrath of a Holy Righteous God in the place of sinners? And where was repentance in your explanation - Jesus said that unless we repent we will perish.
Erica you closed with this comment "If Rob is so far off base then would you mind telling me why you are right? Why should I believe you and that your interpretation of scripture is right and Rob is wrong?". That really misses the point. This is not Rob Bell versus Cameron Buettel. This is Rob Bell versus Biblical Orthodox historical Christianity. This is not Rob Bell's interpretation versus Cameron's interpretation. This is Rob Bell revisionism versus what Scripture has always explicitly stated.
Maybe you think I'm being harsh. I am concerned for you and want you to see the contrast. Maybe you think I'm being nitpicky on details. It is these specific details of the Gospel message that are absent from mainstream evangelicalism which is why we have seeker churches packed with false converts unable to discern the even more destructive ideas coming out of the emergent movement.
I will be posting a Gospel presentation tomorrow that I have written for Christmas. You are welcome to respond and biblically critique it and contrast it with the gospel Rob Bell preaches.
Erica, you probably think that I am being harsh about this.
Erica, it is Ezekiel 36:25-27 that describes being born again. If this regeneration does not take place then you are incapable of carrying out Luke 10:25-37
Cameron,
First off, I am not emergent nor do I agree with the emergents on everything.
As for your question, I don't think terminology matters. I think we get so wrapped up in it that God becomes nothing more to us then a free ticket out of Hell. It is people's brokenness they come to Jesus. They come to Jesus realizing He is the way the truth and the life and no man comes the father except through Him. I think people, when they come to Jesus no they are evil and need of a Savior. Everyone that came to Jesus in the gospels came to Him because of a need they had and they new Jesus could save them. The gospels is a very interesting study to me in all the ways people came to Jesus. When I have more time maybe I will lay out there for you. It would be a fun discussion:-)
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