Thank you Rob Bell, for setting the record straight.
In anticipation of the release of Rob Bell’s book Love Wins earlier this year, a number of well known pastors, teachers, and ministry leaders were gathering wood, looking for a match, and preparing for a human bonfire. After all, that is what you do with a heretic, isn’t it? As “innocently” as John Calvin used his position and influence to ensure the execution of Michael Servetus, and in a disturbing display of their apparent mystic powers, these men publicly slandered Rob Bell, boldly lying about his historic testimony, and making false accusations about the content of his new book—many before the book was even released.
Perhaps some of these men have publicly apologized? If so, please send me links to the posts or videos as I would like to include the links here.
God’s word exposes these men in Matthew 15 as being defiled. Pastors, teachers, or ministry leaders that participate in unrepentant, “blind” heretic hunting are not leaders of The Church. They are not to be followed. They are blind guides. What were their motives? Jesus had some important lessons for us to learn about blind guides, about following them, and about what comes out of our mouths, so read His words below carefully. Then read them again.
Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”
“Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
Matthew 15:10-20 (NIV)
I have not read Rob Bell’s book. This blog is not about his book. This blog is about learning to obey Jesus in identifying who to listen to and who not to listen to. Those who slander and give false testimony are not leaders in the Church. They are not to have a voice. The Church is not to follow them as they do not follow Christ.
This blog is about learning to obey Jesus by taking captive our own thoughts and taming our own tongues. No citizen of the Kingdom is exempt from following the teachings of Christ, the example of Christ, and the example of those who follow Him.
So, with that said, how have you spoken of Rob Bell? Did you allow these blind guides to lead you to jump on the gossip bandwagon? Is the Church to be unified? Would Jesus want you to send Rob Bell a note of encouragement or an apology today?
If it’s wrong to accuse Rob Bell of false theology without reading the book is it then also wrong to accuse his accusers of false accusation without reading it?
No.