Listening to one of Michigan's most prominent pastors on primary day.
A recent Time profile called Mars Hill Bible Church pastor Rob Bell "largely apolitical." Is he? The current issue of Relevant asks the question as his state heads to the polls. He answers:
We refer to ourselves [at Mars Hill] as aggressively nonpartisan, so we don't engage in partisan politics in terms of "Here's whom you should vote for; here's whom you should support." We do acknowledge that the Gospel has deeply political edges to it, but that should not surprise anyone. Jesus was killed because of how He confronted a particular socioeconomic religious system. He's a first-century Galilean revolutionary who proclaimed a Kingdom other than the kingdom of Herod, so the Gospel does have political edges.
The interest is in giving voice to people who have no voice and using all of our abundance and wealth and resources on behalf of those who have a shortage. Some of our pastors had a meeting with the mayor of [Grand Rapids], which was simply for the purpose of asking who the most forgotten and the most hurting in our city are. They mayor had several very specific answers, and so we've actually reorganized a whole area of our church, putting the majority of our efforts around trying to take care of the worst problems in our city. I don't know if you would say that's political or not, even though it involved meeting with the mayor, but if Jesus comes to town and things don't get better, then we have to ask some hard questions.
share thisPosted by Ted Olsen on January 15, 2008 7:58AM
Comments
Yes, Jesus was a radical. Yes, He challenged the theocratic system of His day. Yes, He taught on a Kingdom view of money.
But for those who seek to turn Jesus into a Rauschenbusch, I just don't get it. His Kingdom worldview was so much more (not 'other than,' but *more*) than taking a naked demoniac to J.C. Penney's and a homeless shelter.
It seems to me that Jesus' 'politics' is best summarized by Luke 13:32: "Go tell that fox (Herod; [Murdoch?]), 'I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.'"
Of course, if one is a diehard cessassionist (I don't know about Rob Bell in this regard), then I can see how one could end up turning Christ's compassion into a modern, powerless Rauschenbuschianity.
Posted by: Paul at January 15, 2008
Eh. I don't think Jesus's chief opponents, the Pharisees and the Sadducees were necessarily big fans of Herod. Herod and Pilate and the whole corrupt political scheme of the Roman Empire served its usefulness to Temple authorities who had carved out their niche in the pecking order.
No, Christ was the target of sinful men, particularly the religious leaders, because He confronted sin, and because man in his natural, unregenerate state is at war with God and His Christ.
Christ's crucifixion was far from a political assassination par excellence. It was the unfolding of God's plan of redemption through the broken body and shed blood of the spotless Lamb of God.
Mr. Bell should appreciate and preach that.
Posted by: Ken at January 15, 2008
I really appreciate Rob Bell -- mostly BECAUSE I don't agree with him about much.
He makes me think hard about what I believe, why, and how that affect my actions and the Jesus I portray to the world.
I think it's insecurity that drives so many people to 'compete' with him and criticize every thing he says and does.
For what it's worth, they did the same things to Luther, Spurgeon, Willberforce...
Posted by: Zack at January 15, 2008
With all respect, Mr. Bell knows better than most what's underneath the crucifixion of Christ. I think we can safely deduce that his comment was intended to suggest that ON THE SURFACE, Christ's death was a result of politics at its worst, but as with anything...God can use the most ridiculous human systems to accomplish His higher purposes. If one doesn't think that he actually understands and preaches that, one would be well-served to read Mr. Bell's body of work and restrain from making judgments on His life message based on two paragraphs read in a vacuum. And...since when does simple obedience to Christ's example of meeting practical needs reduce the aim of Christ's compassion or make one into a powerless Raushenbusch? Woe to anyone who thinks that ministering to the poor weakens Christianity.
Posted by: Jill at January 15, 2008
Nice shot Jill! I am a great admirer of all that Rob has accomplished,even from my 10,000 mile away view, and have watched most of his Nooma dvds. Stay close to Jesus Rob and most everything else WILL fall into perspective, whoever gets the dreadful job of leading your complex country.
Posted by: ANDREW at January 16, 2008
Why are there negative comments to this? Was there a lie here? Or is it just contrary to the way you and your church do things? As long as it's not contrary to the Bible or the nature of God, there is more than one way to do things. Helping the poor? OK. Staying out of politics? OK, if you want to. We were not called to change the world but to love. Jesus didn't take over from Caesar, he changed hearts. Not that there's anything wrong with being active in voting and free government. I wish people wouldn't automatically argue with this guy because of his take on a few issues. I've read both his books and, as a fundie, I think he has a great grasp on and respect for scripture. I agree with Jill.
Posted by: Erin at January 16, 2008
I don't get the shots taken at Rob Bell on this one. I understand that this blog as well as others are a hotbed of anti-Bell people. But he didn't say anything "heretical" here at all.
Not using my church to promote politics - okay, what's wrong with that? If I remember my church laws class correctly, its borderline illegal for a preacher to publically endorse a political candidate.
Jesus was crucified because of his political rebellion. That was the REASON given for his crucifixion. The Romans and Jews didn't say "Crucify him for our sins!"
Helping the poor of his city. have you read Galatians 2:6-10 lately? You should
I think this is just biased. But if I say that too loudly, then I'd be called judgemental huh?
Posted by: Steve at January 16, 2008
Steve, you make a fair point, I believe.
I admit to being somewhat guilty of overreading this post in isolation. I did read it in the context of other things Rob Bell has said, like that our goal is not to get people to heaven, but to create heaven on earth. Bell's embrace of Marcus Borg and others does scare me, so I plead guilty. The apparent subjective embrace of Bell by others scares me even more.
Posted by: Paul at January 17, 2008
Jill-
If what Paul says is true - that Rob Bell thinks the point of Christianity is creating heaven on earth (which is impossible) and not on getting people to heaven - then Bell is to be refuted - he is preaching heresy. I am sure it's not that cut and dried - but how easy it is to stray from the pure form of the Gospel - which not only has everything to do with where we spend eternity - but also how we live our lives while here on earth!
I still though, appreciate Bell's NOOMA videos...
Posted by: Alan at January 17, 2008
Just to clarify-- Rob never preached that our goal was only to create heaven on earth, he said that it was A goal. We should be making life on earth as it is in heaven, as Jesus prayed. Let's bring heaven to earth so that people see that our God is a God of love and grace and redemption.
Our goal ultimately is to still see people saved, and Rob preaches that.
I'm just saying.
Posted by: Mark at January 18, 2008
Sorry, it is not illiegal or borderline illegal for a pastor to endorse a political candidate from the pulpit or speak on any topic that may involve politics or elections.
The closest to what you said only involves those who have a 501 3c status so that contributions can be tax deductible.
Posted by: Franklin Reeves at January 19, 2008
Hey Alan, have you ever read Revleation 21 before? The whole goal of God's salvation project is to bring heaven (God's Kingdom, reign and rule to earth). Remember praying that phrase in the Lord's Prayer, "your kingdom come, your will be done, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN THE HEAVENS.!" Or try Romans 8.20 where the whole creation waits in groaning for the redemption of the sons of God (humanity). Sounds like too many Christians have the wrong puzzle lid to read their Bibles correctly. "The whole earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof!"
Posted by: Sam Andress at March 8, 2008
I am currently writing a book on the phenomena of the role of religion in America over the past 30 years as a political force. I am so pleased to read about a vision of Christianity with sanity, and serves as a spiritual force for people to know God and learn about him.
I think Mr Beck is amazing,without this love of materialsim, or tries to argue that if you are a Christian you have to subscribe to a particular conservative political ideology; I hope that more pastors in America can learn from him, and this can be the first steps in helping to mend the culture wars in America.
Posted by: Dave Farley at August 26, 2008
Rob and the leadership at Mars Hill do a great job of demonstrating and telling. Is there anything else to talk about?
-Ross Christopher
Posted by: Ross Christopher at March 3, 2009
Just wanted to comment saying how refreshing it is, to have readers who can decipher the wheat from the chaff. Reading these comments, and seeing the discernment- it gives me much hope. I'm glad not too many have been fooled by Rob Bell's twisting of the scriptures to lead to watered down Jesus.
Posted by: Susanna at August 25, 2009
I'm with Jill I'm afraid. I think Bell is saying that being a Christian doesn't necessarily correlate to a particular political ideology. Our aim as Christians should be to follow Christ as an exemplar for our actions in the world. We should be a force for justice in the world regardless. It sounds lot like the Luis Palau "Season of Service" thing. Anyone familiar with that?
Posted by: Luke Parker at October 21, 2009
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