Velvet Elvis
Jump - Yolk - True - tassel - Dust - New - Good. These are the movements outlined in the audio version of Velvet Elvis read by the author of the book form, Rob Bell, pastor of Mar's Hill [an emerging church in Michigan established in 1999]. In true emerging church fashion, Rob Bell attempts to repaint the Christian faith [subtitle of the book] in a wholistic approach that draws on covenantal theology and understanding of biblical Jewish origins and historical understanding in shaping what it means to be a follower of Christ.
As I listen to emerging church leaders such as Rob Bell I find that the Christian faith is being discussed in a dialogue that continually is mindful of the whole biblical story and its implications to humanity and the world, rather than the modern atomistic approach that is akin to the systematic approaches to faith which categorizes and breaks down dialogue into separate packages. Having been trained in a modern approach while being part of a generation that lives in a post-modern world, I resonate with what Bell says.
The locus of faith, in Bell's address, is centered in God and his activity in the world. It does not depend on the faithfulness of followers but affects the world with God's presence of recovery and renewal. Bell is not so concerned about being right as he is about being true to the God who is present and to who He has created us to be. The focus is on understanding the ancient ways of people who attempted to grasp and understand their lives in relationship with such a God. These ancient ways are helpful in understanding how we can continue to follow God as Christians. In particular, Bell draws on knowledge of rabbinical literature and rabbinical practice in the biblical period to bring us to a greater understanding of the life of Jesus and the impact He had on humanity and the world while living on earth.
Bell also attempts to refashion the description of living out the Christian faith so that it reflects his theological approach. Being truly human in terms of what God created us to be and moving from propositional to relational descriptions of what this looks like is the strength of Bell's approach. This makes the images of what it is to follow Christ more relevant and understandable - I dare say - more in keeping with the way that the early believers were assisted in grasping the faith.
Bell's chapter divisions [which he calls movements] are specifically intentional in his attempt to bring understanding to the Christian faith. Faith is described with images and actions rather than statements and definitions. In a world where icons are more descriptive than words, this approach brings great understanding in our culture of what it means to follow Christ. There is a focus on God as the divine being who loves and engages rather than the divine being who stands as judge over the actions and behaviour of men and women. Accepting Jesus happens in terms of a development of a relationship that grows over time, over against a moment where the "sinner's prayer" is recited. Living in the freedom of relationship with Christ is encouraged over-against the struggle of managing sin in one's life. Focusing on the renewal that God is working in our world, over against the evil that seems to pervade is the lens that Bell encourages us to see through. Promoting heaven on earth, rather then a complete focus on heaven somewhere else is how Bell encourages us to live.
In all this, what Bell presents is indeed a repainting of the Christian faith in a perspective that is communicated through theologians such as N.T. Wright who prefer to think about faith and following Christ in terms that draw on covenantal relationship with God and the primary story of what God is up to in our world. In this new perspective, much of what is old still pervades as history has proven to have had voices that perpetuated this view - some that were heard at mass - and some that went unnoticed. All in all, it seems to me that we are communicating the Christian faith in a way that people find relevant and meaningful in making sense of their lives.
For those of you that spend much of your time commuting and are able to listen to audio, this audio presentation is beneficial in that the author himself is reading his book and its design lends itself to an easy listen. I found myself readily recalling the chapter movement titles which are reminders of what Bell communicates in those chapters. Quite ingenious yet so very relevant and practical. I highly recommend it.
As I listen to emerging church leaders such as Rob Bell I find that the Christian faith is being discussed in a dialogue that continually is mindful of the whole biblical story and its implications to humanity and the world, rather than the modern atomistic approach that is akin to the systematic approaches to faith which categorizes and breaks down dialogue into separate packages. Having been trained in a modern approach while being part of a generation that lives in a post-modern world, I resonate with what Bell says.
The locus of faith, in Bell's address, is centered in God and his activity in the world. It does not depend on the faithfulness of followers but affects the world with God's presence of recovery and renewal. Bell is not so concerned about being right as he is about being true to the God who is present and to who He has created us to be. The focus is on understanding the ancient ways of people who attempted to grasp and understand their lives in relationship with such a God. These ancient ways are helpful in understanding how we can continue to follow God as Christians. In particular, Bell draws on knowledge of rabbinical literature and rabbinical practice in the biblical period to bring us to a greater understanding of the life of Jesus and the impact He had on humanity and the world while living on earth.
Bell also attempts to refashion the description of living out the Christian faith so that it reflects his theological approach. Being truly human in terms of what God created us to be and moving from propositional to relational descriptions of what this looks like is the strength of Bell's approach. This makes the images of what it is to follow Christ more relevant and understandable - I dare say - more in keeping with the way that the early believers were assisted in grasping the faith.
Bell's chapter divisions [which he calls movements] are specifically intentional in his attempt to bring understanding to the Christian faith. Faith is described with images and actions rather than statements and definitions. In a world where icons are more descriptive than words, this approach brings great understanding in our culture of what it means to follow Christ. There is a focus on God as the divine being who loves and engages rather than the divine being who stands as judge over the actions and behaviour of men and women. Accepting Jesus happens in terms of a development of a relationship that grows over time, over against a moment where the "sinner's prayer" is recited. Living in the freedom of relationship with Christ is encouraged over-against the struggle of managing sin in one's life. Focusing on the renewal that God is working in our world, over against the evil that seems to pervade is the lens that Bell encourages us to see through. Promoting heaven on earth, rather then a complete focus on heaven somewhere else is how Bell encourages us to live.
In all this, what Bell presents is indeed a repainting of the Christian faith in a perspective that is communicated through theologians such as N.T. Wright who prefer to think about faith and following Christ in terms that draw on covenantal relationship with God and the primary story of what God is up to in our world. In this new perspective, much of what is old still pervades as history has proven to have had voices that perpetuated this view - some that were heard at mass - and some that went unnoticed. All in all, it seems to me that we are communicating the Christian faith in a way that people find relevant and meaningful in making sense of their lives.
For those of you that spend much of your time commuting and are able to listen to audio, this audio presentation is beneficial in that the author himself is reading his book and its design lends itself to an easy listen. I found myself readily recalling the chapter movement titles which are reminders of what Bell communicates in those chapters. Quite ingenious yet so very relevant and practical. I highly recommend it.
posted by Luciano Lombardi at 10:19 AM
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