Provocations

Readings for the Year

Wow! I just realized how long it has been since I posted anything on my blog. As I reviewed my page I also realized I had not updated my reading list for the year. I have added a few from quick memory. The whole process made me think about reading and what I read. 

Back in November I was at the Evangelical Theological Society Annual Meeting in San Francisco. One of the highlights at the Annual Meeting is the "book room" where all the major publishers offer deep discounts on their books. While some people walk away from this conference with all kinds of ideas on the next book they are going to write, I usually walk away thinking, "I do not need to write anything, everything has already been written."

I read a lot. If you include blogs, twitter feeds, books, periodicals and billboards, I spend a significant amount of time reading. However, surprising to some, I do not consider myself a lover of reading. In fact, at times, I find it tiresome. What I do love is ideas and I love the craft of communication. Thus I read. In reality, I read a lot. I read so much that I realize that much of what is written is repetitive (thus the tiresome statement). New ideas are seldom new just newly stated.

Perhaps that is what I find remarkable about the Bible. It almost always seems fresh to me. I have no idea how many times I have read the Bible. The reality is I have read some portions numerous times and others portions less so (think the listing of genealogies and details of the Mosaic code). However, at each reading it is fresh to me.

Perhaps that is why the writer of Hebrews states, "the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword..." Perhaps that is why the Psalmist constantly extols the word of God with such statements as, "I shall delight in Your commandments, Which I love..."

Here is something to consider: Each day before reading anything else, including your e-mail, set aside some time to be refreshed by reading the living Word of God. When the day is done reorient your thinking by closing your day reading God's book. Let his word be the first and last word of the day.

Rob Bell and Love Wins

You can not be connected to twitter and blog posts over the weekend to have not picked up on the Rob Bell controversy regarding his new soon to be released book Love Wins. In fact, it made it on the front page of the CNN website this morning. I felt insecure enough about myself that to not comment would make me irrelevant.

Unfortunately for me, most of what need to be said has been said and way to much that should not have been said has been said. Bottom line from my perspective: Bell's teaser video was great for its purpose. If you have not personally dealt with the questions he asks, I wonder if you have thought deeply about the issues. If you have not had others ask you the questions he asks, I wonder if you have any non-christian friends or friends outside one theological construct. The brilliant thing about what Bell did is that he did not answer the questions. He proposed them - admittedly in a provocative way.

Some who blogged about the book have apparently read pieces of it. However, they read only the pieces they were sent. Do not underestimate the marketing wisdom regarding what they were given by the publisher. Anyway, some of those individuals claim that what they read places Bell in the camp of a universalist and a heretic. I have not seen direct documentation supporting their claims and more directly they, nor I, have yet read the whole book. 

It might do well for us all to remember two things: 1) currently most of us do not know what Bell believes because we have not read his book; 2) there are more views of hell espoused by students through church history than the eternal torment and universalist view. Various views of conditional mortality and annhilationism come readily to mind.

This will be an explosive discussion. It is also one of great importance and interest in our culture. Many other discussions in the popular context often bore me - this one has my attention because I know it has the attention of those I minister to and reach out to. Most of them will never buy or read Bell's book but they are asking the questions. 

Yes, I will be buying the book. After that perhaps I will be able to comment on Rob Bell's views. In the meantime, I pray for love and truth to win!