Profile: Mars Hill Bible Church pastor Rob Bell

Grand Rapids Press ^ | 3-23-2008 | Terri Finch Hamilton

[Terriergal]

excellent

[ovrtaxt]

Good points. When I read the chapter about the virgin birth, I do remember making a distinction between essential doctrines of the faith and non-essentials. Thanks for reminding me- and I do agree with your statement:

“If we couldn’t trust the words of Scripture, is Christianity still true?” And the answer to that question, at least according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 (among other places) is an emphatic “No!”

Thanks very much for the response. I don’t think we disagree on much at all, perhaps it’s more a matter of emphasis.

I do welcome books like this, and the Emergent stuff in general. I think they’re asking questions that need to be asked, and there are a lot of disillusioned young people walking around that aren’t going to respond to traditional approaches. Even challenging the core of the faith itself, I say bring it on. If our faith can’t stand the heat, it’s not worth believing, and ‘we of all men are most miserable’!

I don’t think, however, that books like this are an indication of heresy creeping into the faith. At least no worse than any of the other false doctrines floating around that are commonly accepted by most churches- (tithing as a requirement, pastoral covering, hierarchical authority structures, etc.)

Again, thanks for a reasonable discussion.

[Cyrano]

I'm glad we could reach some level of understanding, and better, agreement on at least some things; they are pretty core to the faith, I think.

I do welcome books like this, and the Emergent stuff in general. I think they’re asking questions that need to be asked

There are definitely questions worth asking and traditions that should be challenged. I just think a lot of the time they end up bringing a chainsaw to the operating table.

Your comment reminded me of something that Phil Johnson said about Emergent authors. I did a quick search and couldn't find it so I'll paraphrase. He said they do a good job of identifying problems in the church, but that their proposed solutions are often going one-hundred-eighty degrees in the wrong direction.

The more defined the general "Emergent conversation" becomes, the more I have to agree with that assessment...

[ovrtaxt]

Oh, I’ve heard some goofy ideas from some of the extreme cases in the emergent movement. The leftist politics that sometimes comes attached is also way over the edge of ignorance.

I’m a house church guy, myself, so I don’t really fit into any of the camps. I find flaws with just about everyone, (our own ecclesia included), so maybe I have a bit of leniency with the emergent guys. I do trust that God has the situation under control.

Here’s a book to review. I have’t read it yet, but I plan to order it. I’d like to hear your take on it:

http://www.ptmin.org/pagan.htm

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