Rob Bell makes me angry

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1).


Since when did it become okay for people to take scripture as a collection of stories and timelines rather than the inspired word of the Lord? Since when do we interpret the Bible to fit our own lifestyles and agendas? Am I alone in believing that this is not ok? I sit in a room full of "Christian" college freshman, in a class supposedly about Christian Formation, but I feel as though I must challenge everything I hear and see if scripture really does affirm these things. My research and the Bible, says that not much has lined up so far. And what happens when I do speak up? Heads turn, sigh's leak out of people's mouths, the professor turns his head slightly and gives me a look as if I'm crazy. What on earth am I doing here? Am I really called to be in a place that teaches these things? In the case of Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis, I was literally appalled at the end of the book. The Virgin Birth isn't important? Our home is on earth? Scripture is up to MY interpretation? WHAT? "“Everybody’s interpretation is essentially his or her own opinion”..."Now please understand that this way of thinking is prevalent in a lot of Christian churches,… But this view of the Bible is warped and toxic, to say the least. The assumption is that there is a way to read the Bible that is agenda—and perspective—free. As if all these other people have their opinion and biases, but some are able to just read it for what it says"
So reading scripture without any bias or influence is toxic? God is sovreign! He wanted those words to be written the way they were, why would He leave it up to interpretation when He has the power to make it say exactly what He wants? In Bell's opening statement about a trampoline vs. a brick wall...his "springs" are what are supposed to allow us to jump and live into our Christian selves, but so called "brickianity" which involves a brick wall, each brick a particular belief about God, bricks are not ok because they are rigid and if you remove one the whole things falls. The doctrine that has been in the Church since Christ is meaningless? This book makes me sad, sad because so many people my age believe this. So many peopel believe that this so-called "Trampolinity" is biblical. I am disgusted that my home church here in Seattle has the same name as Rob Bell's church, there is clearly no relation.


Pray that I could be discerning here at SPU. Pray that I would find SOMEthing that includes sound doctrine at school.