Rob Bell - Is it heresy on tour? (SOLD OUT!)

This is such a sad situation. Mark Driscoll has accused Rob Bell (of the Nooma DVD series) of heresy.... Here's the full story:

Heresy on Tour?

Popular pastor/author Rob Bell's controversial message: God loves you.

Since late September blogs have been buzzing about Mark Driscoll's remark at the Convergent Conference labeling Rob Bell a heretic. Bell's broad popularity (due primarily to his books, NOOMA videos, and podcasts) make Driscoll's accusation all the more serious. Out of Ur has stayed out of the fray - until now. Rob Bell was in Raleigh, North Carolina last week as part of a 22 city tour. Leadership correspondent Chad Hall was there to report on the event.

When the babysitter arrived the night before Thanksgiving, she asked of our plans for the evening. Last week it was a concert, and three weeks before that we were headed to dinner and a movie. Tonight, my wife and I were going to.... I stumbled for words to describe Rob Bell's latest tour. I could tell by her eyes that she stopped caring about thirty seconds before I stopped trying to describe the event.

Bell's "the gods aren’t angry" tour packed about two thousand souls into Raleigh's Memorial Auditorium for what wound up being a 90 minute sermon.

Bell is a popular writer, speaker and pastor, and I found it easy to see why he's so popular. As a friend commented after the event, "The dude has some mad communication skills." Wearing an all black outfit (save a bright white belt) that could have placed him as a member of Green Day, Bell presented an insane amount of information in a style that held my attention and quickened my spirit.

In a nutshell, Bell talked about how humans - since the earliest cavewoman and caveman - try to appease the forces that bring or withhold life. These human attempts led to formation of god concepts and religious practices, which grew ever more sacrificial and eventually led people to harm self and sacrifice children in bold attempts to assuage anxiety about the gods' opinions of us. Like some sort of Ken Burns without a camera, Bell incorporated tons of tidbits and insights from history, cultural anthropology, theology, sociology and literature to weave a compelling story of religiosity that’s led to the anxiety-riddled human condition wherein we wonder, "Have I done enough?"

Into this system where humans guessed at what the gods want and then trying to give it, God spoke to Abram. Now the deity did the initiating. And the word from God was for Abram to forsake his father’s household: which Bell equated with forsaking the old system of trying to appease the gods. Rather than trying to bless the gods, Abram's role was to be blessed by God. This was big revelation number one.

According to Bell, big revelation number two came in Leviticus. He said that this strange and seemingly backward third book of the Bible is best understood as a gift from God to help alleviate people’s anxieties. Rather than leave us guessing and grasping for some elusive set of conditions by which God would be pleased, God presented Abram's lineage with an exact recipe for living and sacrificing, thus removing all doubt that God was not angry with them.

Bell said that big revelation number three came in Jesus. The sacrificial system outlined in Leviticus became corrupt and only led to more anxiety than it relieved. So at just the right time, God revealed that he never really needed our sacrifices anyway. Using quite a bit of humor, irony and pure wit, Bell painted a caricature god who is not complete without what people can provide or perform. Using various sayings from Psalms, Micah, Jesus, Paul’s letters and Hebrews, he drew an alternate picture of the divine: a God who is not dependent on what we do, but who freely loves and pours blessing on us.

The problem, according to Bell, is not that God is angry with us, but that we think God is angry with us. Thus, Jesus' purpose wasn’t to change God’s mind about us, but to change our mind about God: to notify us of God’s lack of anger and to free us from the prison of our misconceptions so that we can truly live well. The place of church and religious ritual is to remind us of our standing with God and freedom to live lives of sacrifice and service.

This tour stop still has me thinking. The sense I got from Bell is that the whole problem to be solved is a mental one: people are not aware of the already-true fact that God is not angry with them. I'm wrangling with the notion that what Jesus changed is not God’s opinion of me, but my opinion of God. For some reason, this makes me think of Jesus as a Post-It note from God telling us what has been true rather than making it true. I'm ready to dismiss this as too insignificant, except that Bell convinced me that the alternatives leave us with a small god who needs sacrifice to be appeased.

I'm not ready to canonize Rob Bell, nor am I ready to fire up the Driscollian flame thrower and burn him a heretic. I chalk up my questions and concerns to the fact that no sermon - even a 90-minute one delivered with incredible veracity – can cover everything.

Chad Hall is an executive coach with SAS Institute Inc. in Cary, NC. He's also the co-author of Coaching for Christian Leaders: A Practical Guide and Vice President of The Columbia Partnership.

Link

Personally, I think Rob Bell is one of the most sensible, level headed, and effective teachers of the Gospel in years... He knows the Bible, he reads and uses it, and his message is responsible and well rounded. The fact that he tries to bring in people whom the traditional Church has excluded (people who look different, think different, and act different to mainstream society) is quite refreshing. I seem to remember the scriptures speaking of someone else who was accused of fraternizing with 'sinners' - perhaps Rob Bell represents more of the mind of Christ than many of his detractors!?

Technorati tags: Rob Bell, Nooma, heresy, Mark Driscoll

Facebook won't last - it is already on the way out...

I would be interested to hear how many people share my sentiments about facebook. A few months ago I would check my facebook page daily (sometimes more than once a day). I had a network of friends and family that I would follow. It was manageable.

However, I now only check my facebook account once every few days, sometimes not even every week. The simple reason is that it is a chore to reject all the silly invitations to join groups, attend events (half way across the world), and update applications just to stay in contact with the people I DO want to have contact with.

The reason for all the 'fuzz' and interference in my facebook account is that I accepted too many people that I wasn't sure about, or didn't really know, because I think I am a nice guy. I felt bad not accepting friends who wished to link to me... Now, however, their 'stuff' crowds out what I really wanted it for.

It won't be long and I probably won't use facebook at all - it's just too much hassle. Or, I may just abandon my account and set up a smaller, private, account....

Cory Doctorow predicted that this phenomenon would happen. Moreover, if enough people feel the way that I do then facebook may be heading for a collapse as people leave to find less cluttered ways of relating via the internet.

Here's his article:

My latest Information Week column is "How Your Creepy Ex-Co-Workers Will Kill Facebook" -- in which I explain why Facebook and all the other social networking services live in a boom-and-bust cycle because they get crufted up with people you don't want to add to your friends list, but have to for social reasons.

You'd think that Facebook would be the perfect tool for handling all this. It's not. For every long-lost chum who reaches out to me on Facebook, there's a guy who beat me up on a weekly basis through the whole seventh grade but now wants to be my buddy; or the crazy person who was fun in college but is now kind of sad; or the creepy ex-co-worker who I'd cross the street to avoid but who now wants to know, "Am I your friend?" yes or no, this instant, please.

It's not just Facebook and it's not just me. Every "social networking service" has had this problem and every user I've spoken to has been frustrated by it. I think that's why these services are so volatile: why we're so willing to flee from Friendster and into MySpace's loving arms; from MySpace to Facebook. It's socially awkward to refuse to add someone to your friends list -- but removing someone from your friend-list is practically a declaration of war. The least-awkward way to get back to a friends list with nothing but friends on it is to reboot: create a new identity on a new system and send out some invites (of course, chances are at least one of those invites will go to someone who'll groan and wonder why we're dumb enough to think that we're pals).

Link

Technorati tags: facebook, facebook sinks, social networking

I'm going to be on TV! 'In the name of God' documentary

Last night I was visited at the seminary (here in Pretoria) by Crispin and his crew from Cut2black and the SABC. They are busy filming a documentary on people and faith communities that made a difference in South Africa during the Apartheid Era. It is called 'In the name of God'.

They came across my Oxford Institute paper while they were doing some research and so asked to set up an interview - it was intimidating!

They came and 'scouted' the best location (which happened to be the College Library - so at least I'll look intelligent on TV), then we spent about two hours filming. Crispin had prepared a whole bunch of questions. He, and the producer from the SABC, asked about the history of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa and the history of Methodism that places that strong relationship between social holiness and personal piety. Then we went on to discuss how at different points in the Church's history the Church took social stances that were seen as attempts at Holiness (honouring God, and participating in God's divine will).

In particular they were interested to hear about the ministry of Bishop Paul Verryn (both in Soweto in the 80's and 90's, but also his current ministry among Zimbabwean refugees).

It was intimidating to sit in front of the camera with lights and a whole crew of people (lights, sound, camera operators, administrators) looking on! But, let's hope that the message gets out there and we help to encourage a few more faithful, committed, passionate Jesus followers to match their passion for personal holiness with a passion for social holiness.

I'll let you know when it is going to air.

Technorati tags: In God's Name, television, documentary, Paul Verryn, Social Justice, Gospel

Ever wondered where Popeye got his strange looks from!? Here's a picture of the guy who inspired the cartoonists!

I love Popeye... I don't care much for spinach, although he did make we want to eat it. Another thing that I have often wondered about is why he has such small biceps and such large forearms? I guess every sailor needs somewhere to put his Anchor tattoo!

One thing I know for sure is that Anime has nothing on good old Popeye the sailor man!

So, have you ever wondered who inspired the cartoonists of that crazy character? Yes, these are the things that occupy my little mind!

Jacob at Fantagraphics spotted a lovely vintage portrait of, er, the real Popeye. Fantagraphics is now publishing beautiful oversized hardcover anthologies of the entire run of Popeye comic strips. Volume 1, titled "I Yam What I Yam," and Volume 2, titled "Well Blow Me Down!" are currently available.
Link to the full Popeye photo, Link to buy Popeye Vol. 1: "I Yam What I Yam", Link to buy Popeye Vol. 2: "Well Blow Me Down!"

Technorati tags: Cartoon, Anime, celebrity, Popeye

If books are made from trees, then what can trees be made of? Here's a Christmas tree made from books [Pic]

This has to be my favourite kind of tree - it is made from books!

This "book tree" appears on the IJM photography site -- it's a great, bookish alternative to a Christmas tree bush for this year. Link, Link to IJM site (giant Flash blob with no permalinks) (via Cribcandy)

Technorati tags: amazing picture, Christmas Tree, books, creative

'Left Behind' author breaks the evangelical stereotype according the Brian Mclaren

This interesting post comes from 'God and politics'. It is by Brian Mclaren. I found it quite interesting...

In light of Pat Robertson's and Bob Jones III's recent presidential endorsements - shocking or predictable, depending on your cynicism factor – and in light of the recent New York Times article on the fragmentation of evangelicalism, I'm sure we'll be seeing a growing number of assessments regarding the status and future of the evangelical Christian community in the U.S. Those interested in the subject shouldn't miss the conversation that's been going on over at the Beliefnet roundtable on evangelicals in power. Beliefnet's Patton Dodd got things rolling, and was joined by writers Hannah Rosin and Jeff Sharlet, Left Behind novelist Jerry Jenkins, sociologist Michael Lindsay, and former Bush aide David Kuo.

All participants agreed on the need for civil and substantive discourse on the relation between faith and public life. Not only did they agree on the need for it, but they practiced it. Stark disagreement didn't give way to name-calling or vilification; civility didn't generate into a surfacey niceness that fogs up disagreement. I can only hope that future conversations on this topic will follow the civil and substantive tone of this one.

I especially appreciated the fresh tone struck by evangelicals David Kuo and Jerry Jenkins. Jenkins, in particular, shatters stereotypes by what he says and how he says it; one can only hope that those who loved his novels will follow his lead when he says things like this:

The true evangelical leaders, to me, are those serving Jesus (for He said that if you feed the hungry, help the poor, etc., doing this "unto the least of these," you're doing it unto Me) behind the scenes. Fortunately, I know many such servants - sadly, or perhaps encouragingly, most of them are young people. My son and his wife (in their early thirties with three young children) have helped started a church in Venice Beach, California, that largely serves minorities and the homeless. Just a few dozen gather Sunday mornings for a joyous celebration, but during the week they are also ministered to in concrete ways. My son and daughter-in-law, despite the fact that he's a movie director and she's a full-time mom, are in the process of adopting another child (and possibly two), believing that this is another way to put their faith into action.

One feels the center of gravity shifting in a statement like this from an evangelical leader like this. I share Jerry's hope when I look at many younger leaders in what is often called "the emerging church." Guided by "true evangelical leaders" like Karen Ward, Shane Claiborne, Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt, Rob Bell, Danielle Shroyer, Adam Taylor, Gabriel Salguero, and others, this new generation of Christian adults will not be driving their parents' generation's evangelical Buick. They'll be serving the least of these - planting churches in inner cities, adopting forgotten children, and working for justice.

Brian McLaren (brianmclaren.net) is board chair of Sojourners, and his most recent book is Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope.

Filed Under: Jerry Jenkins,

PS. I agree with what Gus had to say about the term 'evangelical' - I too regard myself as evangelical (i.e., passionately committed to the Gospel of Christ). Some people call my manner of commitment liberal - I guess that's because they may be conservative. I think my commitment to a Gospel of salvation from personal and structural sin, from individual addiction and social enslavement, is the core of the Gospel, not a liberal leftest agenda....

Technorati tags: God and politics, Brian Mclaren, Left Behind, Evangelical

The REAL ark of the convenant in the Ethiopia? Sounds a bit fishy to me...

I have seen documentaries, and read some reports, of this story in the past. I don't buy it... By the way, did I mention that I bought a one of the nails from the cross when I was in Jerusalem a few years ago - amazingly it only cost me $1!! I also know a few folks in Minnesota who have a pretty nice Ark (which they also claim to be the real thing), oh yeah, and then there's the guy Indiana Jones....

Although, in all seriousness, I could be wrong. The Ark could be in Ethiopia - but then again, so what?

What difference does a 'box' make? Surely God is present everywhere, most importantly to be discovered in a loving relationship with God in community and creation?

Anyway, here's the story:

The fabled Ark of the Covenant may not be in some nondescript crate in a massive US government warehouse but rather in the small Ethiopian town of Aksum where it is guarded by a virgin monk who can never leave the chapel where it sits. And nobody else can see it either. Smithsonian magazine sent Paul Raffaele to investigate. From Smithsonian:

I asked (His Holiness Abuna Paulos, patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church) if the ark in Ethiopia resembles the one described in the Bible: almost four feet long, just over two feet high and wide, surmounted by two winged cherubs facing each other across its heavy lid, forming the "mercy seat," or footstool for the throne of God. Paulos shrugged. "Can you believe that even though I'm head of the Ethiopian church, I'm still forbidden from seeing it?" he said. "The guardian of the ark is the only person on earth who has that peerless honor..."

(We) made our way toward the office of the Neburq-ed, Aksum's high priest, who works out of a tin shed at a seminary close by the ark chapel. As the church administrator in Aksum, he would be able to tell us more about the guardian of the ark.

"We've had the guardian tradition from the beginning," the high priest told us. "He prays constantly by the ark, day and night, burning incense before it and paying tribute to God. Only he can see it; all others are forbidden to lay eyes on it or even go close to it." Over the centuries, a few Western travelers have claimed to have seen it; their descriptions are of tablets like those described in the Book of Exodus. But the Ethiopians say that is inconceivable-—the visitors must have been shown fakes.

Link

Previously on BB:
• DIY Ark of the Covenant Link
• Raiding the Lost Ark Link

UPDATE: BB reader Pawel Szymczykowski points out that the Mythbusters explored this concept a bit on TV. Link And there were other before them too. Link

Hilarious photos of celebreties photoshopped as Star Wars Characters

Are you a science fiction movies!? I have watched all of the Star Wars films (both in their chronological release dates, and in their chronological story lines... They still don't make much sense to me - but I enjoyed them regardless!)

Here, however, is something truly worthwhile! Celebraties photoshopped to appear as Star Wars characters... Follow the link at the end of the post - there are some interesting, and some not quite so interesting, ones...

Today on the Worth1000 photoshopping contest: shopping celebrity faces onto Star Wars characters. Link

Technorati tags: weird, Star Wars, Sci fi, Mr Bean

This MUST be the worst Christmas gift idea ever... Something from Microsoft

Could you imagine giving someone one of these 'Microsoft' gifts!? Surely there could be nothing worse than a 'beige' box filled with bloatware that keeps falling over....

From the friendly folks at Microsoft! Why not warm your friend's heart by giving them something from the Microsoft "Office Online Gift Guide 2007." I promise you they won't forget it.

* Traditional calendars for Excel, $7.50

* Time planning and reporting from inside Outlook, $35

* MyFax Internet faxing, 30% off

* 6 must-have tools Excel pros use, $49

* Create and convert PDF forms in Word, $14.50

* Make Flash presentations in PowerPoint

* Buy one get one free: Three dozen Outlook add-ins

* Professional backgrounds for PowerPoint for only $199

* Create and manage projects more effectively with Project Mentor Lite, $29

* Build lists of leads from any Internet source

* Automate your company's document creation, $24

* Make flowcharts a breeze, $19.95

* Import data from Access into Excel easily and quickly

* Gladstone’s Report Wizard for Microsoft Access, $42.50

Link

Microsoft just seems to keep sinking to new levels with each passing day....

Go Mac, or go back (to Linux)....

Technorati tags: Microsoft, worst Christmas gift ever, Linux, Mac

Staying positive, working and praying for change - Jacob Zuma's nomination...

Much of my ministry and adult life has been spent working in black South African communities, and living in predominantly black communities. I have had to learn a great deal about the power of collectivism.

It has astonished me how the community has the power to silence dissident voices for the common good. I see it often. Even though many persons feel a sense of disquiet about something they will submit to the view of the majority and not voice their concerns.

Perhaps I still have some further growing to do in this regard. I feel that I cannot keep silent on this one.

I was alarmed to hear on the morning news that Mr Jacob Zuma has won an overwhelming majority of the nomination votes to be the next President of the ANC (the ruling party in Southern Africa). If you are outside of South Africa you may not be up to date who Jacob Zuma is. Among other things he has:

1. Been dismissed as the Deputy President of South Africa.
2. Was implicated in a sex scandal where he had unprotected sex with an HIV Positive woman (while heading up the South African campaign for moral regeneration).
3. Is at the center of the 'arms' fiasco, having clearly shown dubious moral and ethical principles in procuring arms contracts, awarding tenders, and taking bribes.

It concerns me that we live in a country where a person who has a track record like this would be considered for high office! Surely we require someone with greater integrity and moral standing than this?

Moreover, there are some further human rights concerns looming if this man is to be the next president of the ruling part (which is only a few small steps from the presidency):

1. He has vowed to re-instate the death penalty.
2. He has made some infamatory and debasing remarks about persons who have a a same sex orientation.

I worry... Is this the begining of the end?

Please forgive me for my pessimism! I desperately want to believe that our nation has the capacity for success. This begins with making some tough and informed choices! We need outstanding leadership, not leaders who are fraught with controversy and scandal.

I shall be praying that my attitude changes. I shall also be praying that we have enough sense to do what is courageous and right.

God bless Africa
Guard her children
Guide her leaders
Give her peace.

Technorati tags: Jacob Zuma, ANC President, unwise, pray

Back from Cape Town... the week ahead... I need prayer (and LEGO)

We had a fantastic time in Cape Town!
The wedding was amazing!
We love being with our friends.
Gus and Heather, so sorry we didn't
get to see you guys... We ran out of
time... You know how it is...

It was wonderful to be in the Cape
again. We visited with friends, saw another
friend who has just fallen ill (once a
pastor, always a pastor). We
checked on our house, and just remmembered
how much we miss everyone and
everything in Somerset West!!!

It must be one of the most amazing
places on the planet!!! Each time we
have to leave we wish we could stay!

But, now we've come off then mountain top
tomorrow I face meetings, difficult
issues, and some challenging situations.

I'm sure many of you know the feeling
I got off the flight, switched on my phone
and heard that a student was in trouble, that
one of our College properties had been burgled,
a CCMA case against the Education Unit
was awarded against us... It kind of
makes me dread the week!

But, this is home - and I love it!
For the sake of Christ, and Christ's
Kingdom, and for the transformation of
the world - here I am!

A Stormers supporter back in Bluebull
Country!

Stephen and Nadene, it was such a blessing
to share your day with you (and Janet, I
said a little prayer for your familly wedding
too).

My friends will tell you that I am
a people person, and so it was amazing
to be with people - first among those
were Megie, Courtney and Liam (I seldom
get to spend a WHOLE weekend with them,
so this was such a treat)..

Well friends please pray for me,
and for all that lies ahead this week.
I would be pleased to do the same for
you if you let me know what, and who,
to pray for.

But for now, I miss the Cape, and
am content in my ministry here in
Gauteng...

PS. the sermon went well... I'll
post it tomorrow some time. Simply think
LEGO and marriage...

Off to Cape Town!

Megie, Courtney, Liam and I are on
our way to Cape Town (well Somerset West)
for the wedding of our friends Nadene and
Stephen.

The Power family are close friends of some years.
So, we are very blessed to be able to share this
special day with them.

I have prepared a VERY unique and special
sermon to share with them... Once it is all over
I'll post it here.

So, I may post a little less frequently for the next
three days...

Now, we shall brave the traffic from Pretoria to
the airport. When I passed there earlier this
morning the highway was standing still!!!!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Much love and blessing to Nadene and Stephen.