GENERAL: XXXChurch Rob Bell and the Gospel

Mission Accomplished with Rob Bell, XXXChurch and Porn Sunday

By Ken Silva
Apprising Ministries

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit. [1]

Rob Bell And XXXchurch?

Here I simply want to make a few personal comments and prayerfully draw you attention to some of the things that are kind of intermingled regarding Rob Bell, XXXchurch and this whole farce known as “National Porn Sunday”. This all began as I read Ingrid Schlueter’s post Anti-Porn “Ministry” Brings Shame on Jesus Christ at Slice of Laodicea.

It concerns the freak show known as XXXchurch and she gave a reason of crystalline clairty just why:

Rather than lifting high the cross of Christ and preach Him crucified, these "Christians" travel the country raising high a 25-foot inflatable mock-up of a reproductive organ, claiming they have to do it to get attention for their so-called message.

Since this supposed XXXchurch is quite a titillating and very questionable area of “ministry,” which young people would probably think is “cool,” I began to wonder if Rob Bell was involved in some way. Was I surprised to find out that Rob Bell “knew these guys.” Nope. Did it catch me off guard that Rob had been the one who would be instrumental in bringing, ahem, exposure to their “work” for Christ? O, most definitely not! Somehow I just knew Bell would be at the bottom of this spiritual sewer. And sure enough, clever Rob would be the one to come up with the catchy li’l title “Porn Sunday.”

Now let me further point out, those of you with any semblance of understanding about proper Christian decorum will notice immediately that these fine gentlemen did not choose to call this apparently much needed event “Anti-Porn Sunday,” now did they? Then I would go on to write Rob Bell’s Porn Sunday “Mission” because Bell made it a mission of his to bring this subject to a Sunday morning service at infamous Mars Hill Bible Church.

What’s The Use Of Talking When Nobody’s Listening?

Apart from a few remarks here and there I decided not to comment just to see how people would react. You see, I already knew this Emergent rebellion against the Word of God is known by an inane moniker “the conversation.” At the same time for over a year now I’ve had many one-sided conversations with those involved in this quite convoluted conversation. This has afforded me the opportunity to “converse” with people like Dan Kimball, well known Emergent pastor and author of The Emerging Church: Vintage Christianity for New Generations and perhaps even with the youth minister at your own church.

But I do have to admit that what I was actually surprised by in all of this is the amount of daffy defense for this XXXchurch/Rob Bell Porn Sunday foolishness. Just check out the feedback section for Rob Bell’s Porn Sunday “Mission” as it appears at Christian Worldview Network here. Then you should be able to notice just how deep this new centered on man reformation of Robert Schuller has penetrated into the rapidly apostatizing evangelical community. When older and uninformed “Christian” adults who should know better think nothing of “correcting” the Lord’s pastors, well…America, we have a problem.


Don’t Look Now Emergent But Your Fruit Is Showing

Be that as it may–and I pray he doesn’t mind–but the founder of CWN Brannon Howse, who was kind enough to give an “unknown” like me a chance to be among his role of columnists, wrote me in a bit of righteous indignation. I certainly understand why he could have been frustrated because it appeared obvious to me, based on the ignorance on so many of the comments, most had not actually followed the links provided within my article. If they had they should have clearly seen what these men are really about with their lame “ministry” excuse to be around the Porn industry.

Brannon, and I’m sure others as well, couldn’t believe how people could be defending these guys. Perhaps even wondering why I hadn’t been a bit more forceful in my initial presentation. But he wouldn’t know that I get letters virtually every single day from those under the spell of Bell. These “loving” Bellites tell me that Apprising Ministries is nothing a website to “hate on” the Elvis of Emergent. Uh-huh, right. Anyone who hasn’t had the Holy Spirit touch a nerve and pull on their security blanket can see from the category index here is much more at AM than Rob Bell.

bump!

These articles make me like xxxchurch more and more. Great work guys.

Who and what?

We love you anyway.

i knew the had the elephant but they have a "25-foot inflatable mock-up of a reproductive organ?"

haha thats hillarious.  

If you don't know Rob Bell and you don't know Mars Hill...then you are really missing out on knowing a totally AWESOME person and a totally AWESOME church.  I know Rob and I go to church at Mars Hill...and the folks that I know that go to church here are AWEOSME too!  For those of you on the board here who know me...you know that I deal with Eating Disorders, Cutting, and if it weren't for the block on my computer...that a friend of mine helped me and put it on for me...b/c they didn't want me to cut anymore...and said that this would help...b/c oneof the reasons I cut was after looking at porn...b/c of how it really made me feel...like garbage.  For a Sunday or two out of a month...for the last 3 months...I have gone up to Rob and told him I haven't cut...before this...it was that I had cut...when I talked with him on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.  The time before the last time I told him that I cut...he gave me a big hug and said to me "You're better than this...You're better than this!"  I started to cry...when I was walking away...I broke down and totally cried...I cut a few more times after this.  The next time I told him I cut...was the last time...I told him I cut...he gave me a big hug...and said to me..."You're better than this...You're better than this!"...once again I started to cry...and as I was walking away...I broke down and cried more.  After this I told him every Sunday for a month...that I hadn't cut...and he told me " YOU'RE AWESOME!"  and he gave me hugs...and I cried...When it got to be one month and I hadn't cut...I told him this...and he told me "YOU'RE AWESOME!"...and I cried...after that when I had got to 2 months with out cutting...I told him..."I haven't cut for two months"...and he said "YOU'RE AWESOME!"...Today after church...I said to him..."I haven't cut for 76 days!"  He gave me a big hug and said "YOU"RE REALLY AWESOME!"...then I told him I am eating now...and I have made my eating contract the 4 out of 7 days that I am supposed to...and he gave me another big hug...and again he told me "YOU"RE AWESOME!"

you know, I'd rather go look at porno than read this nasty lengthy critism about xxxchurch.somehow , I felt hate in the article.

Wow. This is not a good topic. I have to say that I don't personally like the Mars Hill Church because I don't agree with some of the theology preached there, but it has still had an amazing impact on people. It has really helped people like Care. I'll never attend there myself, but I'm glad that a lot of people have found hope and a family there.

Hi Phil, Thankyou for what you say here.  Mars Hill... is the only church that I have gone to...that I have ever felt accepted in.  They don't look down on me for who I am and what I do...what I have done.  I have learned that I have value...and that I can help others...with what I know...and know how to do.  I have learned that what I have to say is ok...even though I may not think so.  I have learned that my story and my life have signifiance...meaning....that I am not a worthless piece of garbage...trash...that I have thought/felt like I am for sooo very long.  I have learned that God isn't going to condemn me for having a baby when I was 19 and not married...he is not going to condemn me b/c I am married and divorced twice...b/c my exhusbands were very abusive to me and my children. I have learned that GOD LOVES ME...NO MATTER WHAT!  For me this has been an exceedingly hard thing to understand...know...and take to heart.  I do know though...that the experiences that I have had...the things that I have learned...the friends that I have made...at Mars Hill...and having Rob Bell...as a pastor, friend, and on my side...are totally AWESOME things...that have changed me...my heart...my life...in major ways for the good! 

take care...

blessings,

~care

Dear proporn/Mr Silva

Firstly, thank you fo gracing the board with us worthless sinners who also don't know much about "Christian decorum" (I assume that's in the Bible somewhere? I'm a new Christian, so I'll look it up). We do appreciate you engaging in "conversation" with us. We understand it's beneith you, but fortunately for us I see God has granted you much humility for the task.

I don't know Rob Bell. I know of him, as I do of you. From that I gather that "infamy" must lie in the eye of the beholder. I also don't know Mars Hill Bible Church, in fact I don't even live in the US. Sorry.

 But since you have such scathing cristicism of the xxxchurch, I gather you must have struggled with porn in your own life and not found their support as valuable as the rest of us here? Or perhaps you are struggling with an addiction of another kind? I am sorry if their concern and support has not helped. Have you tried their XWatch "anti-porn" software? If not, you should join us on the board more often - many if us find friends here who help us find God in the midst of our struggle. You may too? There's a lot of love to go around! It's really very encouraging (that's cause the Hebrews book says we should try to do it every day!)

 Or am I off the mark? Perhaps you don't struggle with any addiction? Then you must have shared your heart out of concern for us who are addicted? Are you afraid that we may receive too much love here and not enough judgement? How thoughtful of you, that you would care for me, about my struggle with porn, about my fear and self-hatred? Jesus did say that people would know us by our "love for one another".  

You might be surprised by this but some Christians are more concerned with being "right" than with loving those who need it! Quite strange when you read about Jesus life in the Bible hey? I guess he made a mistake loving the prostitutes and riff-raff. I guess that means I'm not worth loving either then? Pity. It seems I was right all along. I'm not worth it. The xxxchurch love me but they're obviously not "right".

Well, I guess I'll have to just go back to my porn then. Thanks for pointing me in the "right" direction. You "Bible" guys really know what you're talking about!

Seriously brother...If you've been where I've been and seen what I've seen, you may have been singing a different song on this board. I've found very real Christian advice and accountability support at xxxchurch. Someone to point me in Christ's direction, without the judgement I would get at my church. I appreciate your desire to honour God, I'm just not sure that beating up your brothers and sisters is the "right" way.

Love you man

 

Hi Phil,  Thankyou for what you say here.  For me...what gets me through my day...and what gets me through exceedingly difficult times...are these: God... My friends at Mars Hill...My friends at xxxchurch. Without this I know where I would be...I'd still be 100% where I was. 

blessings,

~care

I think whenever the Fundamentalist/Evangelical leaders 'attack' another Christian entity for not being what they perceive as noble or good, it's a good bet that the entity is doing something radically beautiful.  Jesus and James Dobson would not have a lot to chat about over tea without Jesus tossing the table over midway through the conversation.  And while I hope Jerry Falwell's afterlife is a comfortable one, I have to believe he got a PowerPoint presentation from Peter at the gates that humbled him to a point of eternal silence.

In other words, beware those who claim their 'version' of Christianity is the only approach to Christ.  If you want to save pornographers, porn addicts, and such, you gotta get down in the mud - you can't stand on an ivory platform and command the sinners to come to you.  Nothing is a greater turn-off.  

Jesus hung with the rabble, not the other rabbis.  

And Rob Bell has moved me more than Pat Robertson ever will. 

Please tell him he's made a big difference in the life of a fellow writer here in Atlanta as well.  I'd love to thank him directly someday for his wisdom, compassion, and wit - all things I believe Christ teaches us to share.

Thanks, Care.  

T