Comments on: Rob Bell: Response to Criticism

By: Scott Hobbs

Scott Hobbs — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:34:28 +0000

Thanks to Don Elser for his thoughts. I have wrestled greatly in these times of church changes. The desire should always be pray and hear God, study the Scriptures and hear God and become more like Him. I too love a lot of what these guys are saying. I find it challenging and refreshing. At the same time, I want to make sure we keep our eyes on the Author and Perfecter of our Faith.

By: Truth in love « Verity

Truth in love « Verity — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:18:22 +0000

[...] Rob Bell suggests that those who “engage in mudslinging” “are miserable, and they use religion as a crutch to avoid dealing with their misery and their pain. And what gets masqueraded as Christian faith is not. And we need to be careful spending all sorts of energy engaging with people who don’t have any interest in coming along on the journey with us.” May I never leave anyone with the impression that I am so busy throwing mud at those in the EC that I am not being obedient in loving God, or others…. [...]

By: Don Elser

Don Elser — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 01:08:11 +0000

Hopefully, our main desire is to follow Jesus. If someone like a C.S. Lewis or Rob Bell comes out as a universalist or some other such tag– our first thought should be to listen, go back to the Scriptures, consider the teachings of Jesus, pray…. and see if something like this could be true and that we’ve missed the point. Rob and Brian McLaren have rustled me up from my comfort zones in some good ways and it’s been a great journey thinking through some of these issues in fresh ways.

I love what these guys are “saying” and that it challenges me as (or to be) a follower of Jesus.

By: brdinus

brdinus — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 00:06:56 +0000

thanks for the record of thoughts.

For those that need comfort, his words heal. For those that need softened, his words shake. For those that need help, his words build. For those who need Christ, his words come from following his Savior.

I don’t have to agree with all he says to love how he goes about saying it. I don’t have to embrace all of what he writes to enjoy the books he has written.

I don’t…and I do.

By: samlee

samlee — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 08:37:58 +0000

Love Rob Bell and what he is doing.

Check out what Scot McKnight is saying about him in jesuscreed.org
Scot has a good review of the book “Sex God” on his blog.

Blessings.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 18:28:49 +0000

How funny you should post this within a few days of my hearing this message for the first time. I started regularly downloading Mars Hill sermons beginning with this message – his Directions series – but for some reason, being a newbie at the time, stopped listening to this message when he started talking about how it all pertained to Mars Hill. About two weeks ago, I finally listened to the whole thing. While I wouldn’t have really “got” what he was talking about then, now I know full well. And I deeply respect him and the Mars Hill community for it.

Did you know my husband and I are moving there in 3 months?

By: bobt

bobt — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 13:06:48 +0000

Thanks for the transcription of Rob’s comments to his congregation after the release of his book, Velvet Elvis. I remember hearing that podcast and thinking “What is he so concerned about?” Then I read VE and understood. There are a lot of people – Christians – who just don’t get it. They have one definition of Christian and if someone does not fit – then they are a heretic. It is crazy – and sad.

Rob Bell is brilliant and the freshest breeze in Christendom we have had since CS Lewis. Ben Wirtherington has done an outstanding job in his critique of Rob because he understands what Rob is trying to do and he is filled with grace in his criticism. May we be able to articulate the faith as well as Rob and be as filled with grace as Ben.

By: thirtythousandpeople

thirtythousandpeople — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 02:32:23 +0000

J.M.Y., thanks for the comment. I’ve read all of Dr. Witherington’s posts on Bell. He seems to be fair in his assessment, which is rare these days.

By: J.M.Y.

J.M.Y. — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 02:16:06 +0000

Dr. Witherington III at his blog has posted several entries about Rob Bell in the last couple weeks. You might find them interesting.

I too have posted about Bell and have a friend who commented about Bell extensively at my blog. Thanks for the post. Good to hear Bell’s words about criticism, agree or disagree with them.