Rob Bell and the Art of Suffering

2 Timothy 4:3-4:  (NASB)

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.

There are those who believe that Rob Bell is harmless, he’s just presenting another way in Christianity.  I’ll never understand the cavalier attitude Christians have with Scriptural truth.  Many believe it’s okay to give alternative meaning to the Word that God gave us, even though His Word is to be taken literally.  Any time you see a so-called pastor speaking in the way Rob Bell speaks, your immediate reaction should be to turn away from him, instead, Rob Bell’s star continues to shine brighter and brighter.  Does that give you any clue as to the spiritual condition of the church?  It should.

In this article in The Christian Post, Rob Bell is promoting his new book, “Drops Like Stars: A Few Thoughts on Creativity and Suffering.”  The statements he makes in the interview reveal him as a heretic, he can’t speak without exposing himself.  Yet, the church doesn’t see it.  What else are to conclude then but that the church is getting the types of leaders they deserve.  They have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.  Those who care about Scriptural truth seek it out in God’s Word, as well as in pastors who are not afraid to proclaim it.  Those who don’t… they have people like Rob Bell to tickle their ears and dumb them down spiritually.  But, don’t put all the blame on Rob Bell… Rob Bell is just one man.  It’s the blind and naked church that has given him an audience and embraces his heresy.  They won’t endure sound doctrine.  They don’t want it.  Therefore, they have the teachers they deserve – teachers who will continue to lead them ever further down the wide and winding way of destruction.

Below is an article about Rob Bell, and some quotes.  This is just from one short article.  The words from his mouth should discredit him, but many haven’t enough Scriptural knowledge or discernment to know when they’re being deceived.

Regarding suffering:

“This all first came about because I was giving some lectures at a creativity forum and I was doing some talks on basic art theory and I kept bumping up against this,” Bell told Veritas magazine. “I thought, This is not just true about art theory, but this is true about life, too. This is true about cancer.”

“This book is an exploration of the complex relationship between suffering and creativity, driven by the belief that there is art in the agony.”

There’s art in agony?  I spent the last few years of my life in pain and trust me, it wasn’t very artistic.  I’ve watched disease ravage and kill my loved ones, and believe me, I don’t find that very artistic either.  But, what I have found is that God is faithful through it all, and without the heat of the battles we face, we can’t grow in grace with the same degree that we would without it.  How would I know God’s faithfulness if He wasn’t faithful through the long nights of insomnia and pain?  How would I ever have obtained the grace to stand the heartache of seeing a loved one suffer if God haven’t given it to me?  I find it amazing that a pastor who has been given the responsibility of preaching the gospel teaches art theory instead.  Don’t tell me how artistic it is that I suffer, tell me what God’s Word says!

Regarding evangelism:

Most recently, the Wheaton College graduate told The Boston Globe during his tour this month that he doesn’t use a lot of explicitly religious language because he believes there are “enough religious people who are going around trying to convert people.”

His hope is that “the Jesus message” would come across through “a full humanity.”

“I’m not just interested in talking to Christians. I’m interested in what does it mean to be fully human.”

Bell’s tour continues in U.S. and international cities until July 2010.

Humanism.  Humanism is man-centered, and has no saving power.  Man is altogether born in sin, and can save no one.  Good works apart from salvation will do nothing but send a sinner to the grave eternally alienated from God.  The curse of the law demanded our death for sin…however, Jesus redeemed us from that penalty that we may live eternally, and stand redeemed before God – but only if we stand in the righteousness of His Son.

People, wake up.