The Gods Aren’t Angry…

November 13, 2007

Last Tuesday I went to see Rob Bell at the Uptown Theatre. I’ve you’ve not heard of him, he’s an engaging and captivating voice in contemporary Christianity. He’s written a few books (with provocative titles like Velvet Elvis and Sex God), and he’s come up with a series of short DVDs called NOOMA that are just dynamite. He’s the founding pastor (and now holds the title “Teaching Pastor”) of a non-denominational church called Mars Hill Bible Church outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

I first became interested in Bell after reading a New York Times article about his previous speaking tour, called Everything Is Spiritual. It seemed the Times was picking up on the fact that this Bell guy was selling out auditoriums all across the country, filling them with (mainly) 20-40 year old folks and sparking something in them along the way. So I bought Velvet Elvis and started using his NOOMA videos for some of my adult ed and youth group classes…

I’ve found Bell’s work personally uplifting and edifying for my own faith and ministry. He seems to be an interesting bridge between what I would call mainline protestant and evangelical thought. He comes out of the latter world, and while some of what he writes and teaches has been challenging to those of a more “evangelical” worldview, it seems pretty much in line with the faith handed down to me in the various mainline-reformed communities of my upbringing. Focusing on individual piety, the work and grace of God in Jesus Christ, and novel ways of reading and hearing the biblical material for today, Bell has a way of drawing people into the gospel message and rendering it meaningful for people where they are. He doesn’t shy away from where he thinks the gospel speaks most deeply: to help people become free from their hurt and their sin and their pain.

I was excited when I heard that his present tour, The Gods Aren’t Angry, was coming to town, and I was quick to get a ticket. It was billed as “part anthropology, part history, part deconstruction.” I wasn’t sure what to expect at the uptown, but the place was buzzing with excitement. The event was sold out, and in this venue for small, intimate concerts, hundreds of people were lined up for the wait to reach their plastic chair before Bell took the stage.

My internet-friend and fellow Presbyterian Pastor Jim Bonewald, also known as The Church Geek, has written up what I think is a very good summary of what Bell spoke about, so I don’t have to rehash that here. If you’re interested, please read it. In many ways, Bell’s presentation shows how solidly he fits within the basics of Reformed Theology (which is what we Presbyterians are): we celebrate the love, grace, and freedom that God has already given to us, and it is because of that alone that we are set free to get past the need to “appease the gods”–be they our guilt, or our fear, or our rage–and to live fully, live freely, live wholly. That’s basically what Bell was getting at, I think, and that’s Reformed Theology 101. Good stuff.

It was so wonderful to be in an auditorium with 500+ young adults craving to hear that message. Bell’s a wonderful communicator. Would that more begin to hear the word that he is bringing to the world, so that we can live by it.

Incidently, I’m wanting to start showing these NOOMA videos to the young adults at our church. We just need to work out a time and a place to begin. Trust me, its worth it…

Posted in Faith