'Love Wins' Author Rob Bell Supports Gay Marriage

[zone]

Rob Bell, the former "rock star" pastor of Michigan's Mars Hill Bible Church, has come out in support of same-sex marriage.

Speaking during a forum at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral Monday, Bell said the ship of traditional marriage "has sailed."

"Yes, I am for marriage. I am for fidelity. I am for love, whether it's a man and woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man," he said. "I think this is the world we are living in and we need to affirm people wherever they are." Listen to the full audio of Bell's comments here.

Bell suggested that instead of transforming the world, a "ghettoized, Evangelical subculture" has instead turned people away from Christ.

'Love Wins' Author Rob Bell Supports Gay Marriage - US - CBN News - Christian News 24-7 - CBN.com < click



Bell said the ship of traditional marriage "has sailed."

 

[meggars]

i can't handle this guy.....i guess it makes sense to just say ''do whatever you feel like doing as long as you love God'' when you don't believe in Hell anyway.

 

[AAAPlus]

Not sure what to think of Rob Bell. I've watched his Nooma videos for years, being first shown them in college. All of it seemed legit, and it was very helpful for a new Christian. Then all this controversy comes out. I've never read "Love Wins" but people I know read it before the big "everyone goes to heaven" controversy came out and none of them brought up anything to say he was alluding to that. I think do think he purposely makes it unclear what his real views are.

The fact that 3000 people left his church means nothing. Any church that is truly changing toward God will have people leaving in droves.

I'm not sure what to think of this emerging story. It just came out today so he hasn't had a chance to respond to it. The media very often tries to take the words of influential Christians out of context. They were going off the one quote: "Yes, I am for marriage. I am for fidelity. I am for love, whether it's a man and woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man,"

That could be taken to mean that we should love those people, not that it's okay to become them. "I am for marriage" is one statement. "I am for love" could be a completely different statement. I'm not saying it is...but I guess I'm still holding out that Rob Bell really isn't as patchy as people say he is.

 

[meggars]

I think do think he purposely makes it unclear what his real views are.

The fact that 3000 people left his church means nothing. Any church that is truly changing toward God will have people leaving in droves.

I guess I'm still holding out that Rob Bell really isn't as patchy as people say he is.

I work in a bookstore and got an advanced copy of Love Wins...I saw exactly what he was alluding to before the ''big controversy'' came out and I was extremely unimpressed and ready to pull everything he has from the shelves before I ever saw his interviews about it....in which he was super evasive and slick with nothing to really SAY on the matter. He wishy washy floats around the subject, but as much as he refuses to be pinned down as such, he's totally a universalist.

1. He does tend to be unclear....generally for one of two reasons....he actually has nothing of substance to say (you'll find this to often be the case with the pages and pages of one sentence or one paragraph of word salad per page. Either he mistakenly think it's clever or he really does have nothing to say) or because he's a master manipulator who wants to obviously insinuate his point but leave an out so he hasn't painted himself into a corner. He's like a politician. Or a used car salesman.

2. Let's not get caught in the mistake of assuming that people leaving the church in droves means that it's changing TOWARDS God....Sometimes it just is exactly what it looks like. An errant pastor who has lost his way and is taking the ol' flock down with him. I'm glad some of them made it out.

3. Sorry to anybody who loves Rob Bell, but he's pretty patchy. He may have produced valid materials a long time ago but doing that doesn't mean a person is garuanteed to stick to the straight and narrow for the rest of their life. It would be nice if he would stop conforming to what the world wants to hear from us as opposed to what's true...and come back around to the light side, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[AAAPlus]

I work in a bookstore and got an advanced copy of Love Wins...I saw exactly what he was alluding to before the ''big controversy'' came out and I was extremely unimpressed and ready to pull everything he has from the shelves before I ever saw his interviews about it....in which he was super evasive and slick with nothing to really SAY on the matter. He wishy washy floats around the subject, but as much as he refuses to be pinned down as such, he's totally a universalist.

1. He does tend to be unclear....generally for one of two reasons....he actually has nothing of substance to say (you'll find this to often be the case with the pages and pages of one sentence or one paragraph of word salad per page. Either he mistakenly think it's clever or he really does have nothing to say) or because he's a master manipulator who wants to obviously insinuate his point but leave an out so he hasn't painted himself into a corner. He's like a politician. Or a used car salesman.

2. Let's not get caught in the mistake of assuming that people leaving the church in droves means that it's changing TOWARDS God....Sometimes it just is exactly what it looks like. An errant pastor who has lost his way and is taking the ol' flock down with him. I'm glad some of them made it out.

3. Sorry to anybody who loves Rob Bell, but he's pretty patchy. He may have produced valid materials a long time ago but doing that doesn't mean a person is garuanteed to stick to the straight and narrow for the rest of their life. It would be nice if he would stop conforming to what the world wants to hear from us as opposed to what's true...and come back around to the light side, but I'm not holding my breath.

Very good points. I do think a strong Christian should be able to answer a simple question like "does everyone go to heaven" and "do you support gay marriage" with certainty. I'm trying to consider the possibility that he does have legit theology, he is just being vague so as to not turn away people who would normally be offended by these solid statements. I guess it's kind of a stretch, and after reading some interview transcripts, I'm seeing what you mean about his "word salad". He dodges the question just enough and it's quite frustrating.

 

[Nautilus]

I will agree the evangelical portion of christianity may have mucked things up though as far as a perception of christians. Nowadays people think all christians are the wackos from WBC, and Jesus camp, running around talking in tongues, hating everyone that disagrees with us....meanwhile mainline protestants are just like...what? We dont do any of that.

 

[zone]

I will agree the evangelical portion of christianity may have mucked things up though as far as a perception of christians. Nowadays people think all christians are the wackos from WBC, and Jesus camp, running around talking in tongues, hating everyone that disagrees with us....meanwhile mainline protestants are just like...what? We dont do any of that.

what have you done with Nautilus?

 

[meggars]

I'm trying to consider the possibility that he does have legit theology, he is just being vague so as to not turn away people who would normally be offended by these solid statements.

Even if that were what he was trying to do it would still be wrong lol....Jesus didn't deal in vaguerys to avoid offending people. He would tell it like it is. We're not here to conform to the world in order to make people feel good and comfortable in whatever behaviors and beliefs they choose to subscribe to.....i know i know...you like to hope for the best. unfortunately i'm not so sure that's going to happen for you here. lol

 

[AAAPlus]

Even if that were what he was trying to do it would still be wrong lol....Jesus didn't deal in vaguerys to avoid offending people. He would tell it like it is. We're not here to conform to the world in order to make people feel good and comfortable in whatever behaviors and beliefs they choose to subscribe to.....i know i know...you like to hope for the best. unfortunately i'm not so sure that's going to happen for you here. lol

Yeah...I'm not so sure either =/

One could argue, though, that Rob Bell's method of being vague is similar to how Jesus would give messages via parables. At least, that could be his reasoning.

 

[meggars]

Yeah...I'm not so sure either =/

One could argue, though, that Rob Bell's method of being vague is similar to how Jesus would give messages via parables. At least, that could be his reasoning.

haha...but the parables were explanatory. Jesus didn't word salad his stories in efforts to confuse people while he found the nearest exit.

 

[Tommy4Christ]

What a mess, this Robb Bell, is a heretic, leading many into a ditch, the main problem with him and most bible pundits today is that he has no clue what real repentance and faith is, due to all the false teachings today, so its not a surprise to see him, and many like him acting and believing what they do! NO fear of God, No real repentance, and No morals! What a shame! If Robb Bell and the multitude of false teachers out there preached the true gospel minus all the reformed errors, then they would be out of a job!


Seek those things which are above!

Col 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Be mindful of things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For you died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God.
These powerful verses above really sum up what is required of you to walk a pure and holy life before God!
But as with all the powerful scriptures, they come with a strong warning and something we must do!
Now IF you were truly raised with Christ in newness of life that comes from the truly repented and crucified life, you will be seeking the things which are from above! The things that please the Lord, who is sitting at the right hand of God!
It also warns to be mindful of thing’s above, which is purity, sincerity and love, and not on the things of this world, as many who profess Christ have it backwards. They love the things of the earth or world more than crucifying their flesh with Christ, and walking the narrow road that leads to life!
Now the most powerful warning so far is the last verse that says you died! Died to what?
You died to sin, worldliness, and rebellion to God, having truly repented (sin stops) and now your new life is free from the corrupting influence of the world and sin, and now hidden with Christ in God!
This death must occur through the process of godly sorrow which produces repentance leading to salvation, if its real, and from the heart, which will show proof such as a clearing of all wrong doing, amending you ways if necessary, a strong fear of God and His wrath to come, plus a vehement desire to cast out of doors all defilement and attachment’s to the world and its vain ways!
This is what real repentance produces in the humble, and obedient soul, who has yielded to the powerful conviction of the spirit of God, who abounds around the whole world, convicting the whole world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, not asking the lost sinner to just accept, believe, and confess in something that never happened!
1Jn 5:4 For everything that has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. (Obedience to the truth)
Tommy

 

[RachelBibleStudent]

I will agree the evangelical portion of christianity may have mucked things up though as far as a perception of christians. Nowadays people think all christians are the wackos from WBC, and Jesus camp, running around talking in tongues, hating everyone that disagrees with us....meanwhile mainline protestants are just like...what? We dont do any of that.

'mainline protestants' are just as bad on the other extreme...ripping pages out of their bibles because they don't like what they have to say...and then lying to people and claiming they believe the bible...

'nowadays people' see through that kind of intellectual dishonesty...

i will also add that public perception of evangelical christianity is strongly influenced by media portrayals over which evangelicals have little to no control...

 

[meggars]

Oh great. Rob Bell's new book just showed up at our store today. Typical....drop a juicy tid-bit in the news that's sure to get people all fired up JUUUUUST before you release your new book. His statement wasn't about love....it was about marketing. real slick

 

[RachelBibleStudent]

about rob bell...there is a term in popular idiom called 'jumping the shark'...where you finally go to such an extreme of implausibility that you are afterwards perceived as 'hokey'...

i have considered rob bell to be a false teacher since 'love wins' was published...hopefully his latest apostasy will be a bridge too far for a lot of the people who didn't get the idea when he started preaching the heresy of universalism...

 

[meggars]

i have considered rob bell to be a false teacher since 'love wins' was published...hopefully his latest apostasy will be a bridge too far for a lot of the people who didn't get the idea when he started preaching the heresy of universalism...

We'll see. I'm pulling his stuff from the shelves regardless. People can argue that this book or that book was fine, but I can't have people buying something ''ok'' that he wrote previously and thinking that because we have THAT here, his other stuff must be alright also. He's about to find a new home on the backroom shelves.

 

[meggars]

well...i'm 8 pages in and already can tell that if i go much futher i'll probably be foaming at the mouth

 

[Nautilus]

'mainline protestants' are just as bad on the other extreme...ripping pages out of their bibles because they don't like what they have to say...and then lying to people and claiming they believe the bible...

'nowadays people' see through that kind of intellectual dishonesty...

i will also add that public perception of evangelical christianity is strongly influenced by media portrayals over which evangelicals have little to no control...

any examples of things we rip out? or is it perhaps we just interpret them differently?

 

[RachelBibleStudent]

any examples of things we rip out? or is it perhaps we just interpret them differently?

the stuff about jesus being the only way to heaven...the trinity...the miracles...the divinity of jesus...the promise of heaven...the existence of hell...the prohibitions against homosexuality...inspiration and infallibility of scripture...

of course not -all- mainline protestant churches reject -all- of these truths...but the majority reject some or all of them...

 

[1still_waters]

He's the new wave of Christians who want to relegate Christians to simply being soup kitchen operators.
You know, doing good deeds, but not really being salt and light, and standing for righteousness.
Soup kitchen workers never stir a wave or rock a boat.
They just hand out soup with a smile, as righteousness goes unaddressed.

The world wants their soup served with a smile, but doesn't want their boat rocked.

The post-modern Jesus is another Jesus.
Their Jesus would NEVER say blessed are you for being persecuted for righteousness sake.

No one is gonna persecute ya for handing out soup.
But they sure will if you state God's standards on marriage.

 

[crossnote]

'mainline protestants' are just as bad on the other extreme...ripping pages out of their bibles because they don't like what they have to say...and then lying to people and claiming they believe the bible...

'nowadays people' see through that kind of intellectual dishonesty...

i will also add that public perception of evangelical christianity is strongly influenced by media portrayals over which evangelicals have little to no control...

It's not the 'other side' since both sides are liberal. I do agree the twisted perception comes from the media painting us as fallen saints rather than sinners saved by grace.