This idea surfaces repeatedly in The Heretic. Everything should be re-thought, in fact, with one tiny exception: that which the re-thinkers think. We should question everything except those who question everything. We should not read his book Love Wins , for example, as if it is actually about a Swedish cat who becomes a unicorn in the zombie apocalypse.
Post-evangelicalism torches literalism, what we could call trusting receptivity, while depending on it. Fourth, the post-evangelicals critique capitalism while making bushels of money off of it. Sure, conservative evangelicals can fall into the money-trap; I can acknowledge that, sadly. Last I checked, most of the current-evangelicals—a distinct species from the post-evangelicals—cannot get near this for the pre-show. There is no show for most of us. Fifth, the post-evangelicals evacuate their worldview of moral clarity.
I confess that, as a theologian, I often struggle to figure out the ethics of the post-evangelicals. But what has Bell done to actual ethics?
This is not a trick question: if you remove the need for repentance from Christian faith, what does this communicate to on-the-ground sinners? If you tell them that the yellow-teeth literalists of the vengeful Midwest have hijacked Christianity by preaching the need to turn away from sin and from hell, what power for moral transformation remains in your theism? I would guess that your average sinner who hears Bell likely enjoys what they hear, for they are not challenged to renounce their ungodliness.
Rather than undermine the singular power of Jesus' story, Love Wins is, to my eye, a love note to and about Jesus the Christ. An image Bell returns to time and again in Love Wins is that of Jesus being the rock that gives water, an image from Hebrew scripture where Moses, leading the Israelites through the desert, called on God to give them water.
God told Moses to take his staff and smack a rock with it. The rock cracked open and water spilled out. A cranky bunch of people wandering in the desert slaked their thirst. Jesus, Bell says in Love Wins was that rock. Even when he wasn't called by that name or when people don't recognize him, Jesus is always the one who brings grace and salvation. Bell said he is happy to discuss theology with anyone, but defending his faith, or convincing people of his validity isn't his calling.
I don't have any anger, I don't have any bitterness, I don't have some grudge of any sort. And I'm not at all closed to such things, but it isn't what gets me up in the morning and it isn't why God put me here.
And that there is nothing they can do to make God love them more or less. That is the "Good News" of Jesus. But for too many people, what they've been told is the good news is actually an ugly truth.
He says Jesus would be horrified that a religion was started in His name and that while some Christian religious expressions are beautiful, most of them are corrupt.
His response:. What the modern world does is cut you off from depth, from fullness. The truth is everything you are working and striving for, you already have. But loved by whom? Fine, but how do you experience Him? What is the path to learning more about Him?
Who was Jesus, really? He left in You can check out more of his work here. Your browser does not support HTML5 audio. Large toggle button.
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