Sex God (Part 2)

To my surprise, I actually enjoyed Rob Bell's book. One negative I would like to point out is:

-Why does our culture say we have a wedding ceremony to be married. I'm not saying what Bell says, talking about people sleeping together yet not married, "But Maybe it's already a marriage in God's eyes, and maybe their having sex had already joined them as man and wife from God's perspective.

This isn't a low view of sex. It's a higher view of sex. It's a higher view of marriage. It's people living in the reality of the decisions they've all ready made."

1.If that's the case, their are a ton and I mean a ton of divorces in God's eyes...

Over all I give this book a 4 out of 5. I do like how Bell states that we were not created like animals who just do "it" when it's time. We are also not like angels who act like we don't know what sex is. However, we are created to be sexual beings. We are sexual!



In Prayers,


-AgapeTheologian

SEX GOD (Part 1)

Here are my thoughts on Sex God by Rob Bell. This review will not be as detailed as Velvet Elvis was, but I will try to point out a few of the negatives that I have found in the book...

Despite how I felt about Velvet Elvis I actually really enjoyed this book. Rob Bell had slight errors and only a few things I really disagree with. I would actually recommend this book... I would just clarify a few of Bells mistakes.

Ch. 1

-Rob Bell says that lust doesn't seem that big of a deal since it is so common. He doesn't have a correct view on Matthew 5:27-30.

-His view on the Lord's Supper is a little weak.

As of Chapter one, the book is recommendable. As I continue to read, I am scared that this view may change and change very fast...

Ch. 5

-He says that some people are good enough for God.
1.Who is good enough for God. No one is good enough for God. It's by grace we are saved not on what I deserve.

-"God can do anything-that's what makes God, God. But God can't everything. God can't make us love him-that's our choice."

1.A very shocking statement. This statement puts a bitter taste in my mouth. That statement is denying God of who He is. It's saying that God is not in full control. It's saying God is not sovereign. It's saying God can't make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor. (Rom 9)

2.This is the biggest problem I have found so far.

Velvet Elvis! (Revised 07-27-07)

I just finished reading, Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell. Throughout the book I found myself a little, umm...disturbed. I don't want you to feel like I am attacking Rob Bell as a person. I am attempting to write this in a graceful matter, please do not take it any other way.

Introduction:

In the introduction of Velvet Elvis it sure seems like theology changes. Truth never changes. The book really risks damaging the faith. People will have different beliefs, but solid truth will never change.

Ch. 1

-"An atheist is a person of tremendous faith." I do agree with that. It is a funny thing to think about it, yet atheist just don't realize how much faith they really do have. Perhaps even more than Christians have today. Very sad, but possible.

-Bell risks claiming that Jesus was the Father in essence. Again, Bell risks it. I can't decide if whether Bell says it but it is possible that is what he meant. Which would be heresy if this is what he believes. Meaning Christ is God in bodily form.

-Bell says that we should take the Trinity out and "examine it. Discuss it, probe it, question it." However, the Trinity is key to salvation. If you don't believe in the Trinity, I would claim it is impossible for you to be saved. Rob Bell is questioning key points to the faith.

Ch. 2

-He says women have authority over their husbands. He takes 1 Corinthians 7:4 out of context.

-He challenged us to discern when we can curse non-believers. But again, the verse he uses is taken out of context.

-Truth is Truth. Trust doesn't change. Truth is the same for each person. Truth doesn't change to fit you. Although Rob Bell disagrees.-or atleast it seems to be the case

-Rob Bell basically said that can't know Truth. Check pg 60 fourth paragraph down.

-As far as I know, the Bible was not written because of oral history. If that was the case, how reliable is the Bible. Rob Bell doesn't elaborate of the matter. He has a false view of the Bible.

Ch.3

-Rob Bell said throw yourself to work in the church but we really need to find our gift in the church and use that for His kingdom.

-It appears as Rob Bell claims that the world is not fallen, just humans are. I would argue that the whole world is fallen. Everything in our world is tainted by sin, even the birds, the trees, etc...Humans are completely sinful as well as other created things.

(No issues in ch. 4, although it was a story about how Mars Hill was started)

Ch.5

-Rob Bell said Peter needed to have more faith in himself instead of Jesus when he was walking on water with Jesus. Peter doubted Jesus and started to sink that is why Jesus said,"You of little faith." Rob Bell is giving way to much responsibility to man. I wrote, "Wrong. Peter loses faith in Jesus. What do we have faith in ourself?" What Rob Bell says is pushing towards heresy.

Christ makes me more like Him. I don't make

myself like Christ.

-Rob Bell says we don't understand what we are capable of. Which is very false. God makes us who we are.

-Rob Bells says Christ believes in me, but Rob has it backwards. "God has faith in me."-NO! I have faith in God. God does not have faith I can be like Him which Rob claims. I need Jesus to make me like Him and He knows this.

Ch. 6

-"... it is possible for religious leaders to actually get in the way of people entering into the life of God." I know I have used strong language, and I am sorrow if I have offended anyone but these things must be said. With the quote from Rob, I think he may be talking about himself.

-He makes it appears as if I can not sin, but says we do. So, that doesn't make sense. God does not view me at Christ as Rob says God does.

-When I sin, it's good to feel shame, yet Rob says we shouldn't. He takes a verse from Romans out of context. Romans 8:1!

-Rob Bell says that their will be people in Heaven who are forgiven and people in Hell who are forgiven. Both places their will be full of people whom Jesus died for. "The difference is how we choose to live, which story we choose to live in, which version of reality we trust."

This is so, so false. I don't see any ounce of truth

in what he is saying. Does this qualify as blasphemy? Heaven and Hell is not based on works. Heaven is not based up to us!

Ch. 7

-In the story in Matthew where Jesus feeds 5000 people with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread. Bell says that "God gives fish the ability to make more."-NO! God makes more with His power.

-He claims creation wasn't perfect, which in reality it is!

-Rob says that Christ died to save all. And what I mean by all is all creation. Rob says he died for every star and bird.-I may misunderstood what he meant. But I know Christ came to redeem man!

-The Bible is not equivalent to the Church.

-He uses the TNIV which may be some of the issue since that translation is not a very good translation at all.

-I don't agree with ladies being leaders in the church, but there is much debate among the topic which I haven't study effectively.

-He writes many information as fact but the truth is that what he says is not fact. But many people who don't study doctrine will easily believe him. I may have if I read this a year ago.

Throughout the book he asks lame questions.

-Rob contradicts himself. I tell you Christ had to redeem man, but His death also had to save the earth. The earth is under the curse as well.

Sadly, Rob Bell has potential to be one of the false teachers Peter talks about in his two books. Is Rob Bell dressed in Sheep clothing?


This is the impression I got from reading his book. I would not suggest the book to anyone. I can really see people who don't know their doctrine believe every word. But their is a lot of false facts in the book that people will take as truth.

With that said, I'm sorry if I have offended you. I didn't desire to. Please leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for reading...



In Prayers,


-AgapeTheologian

I was doing some thinking lately. I've been told so many times that we have no language to express our joy and love to God. That just recently hit me. Our language, or any human language for that matter can not in any way express what we should towards God. We express what we can, but it's nothing compared to what the Trinity deserves.

It's so graceful that Jesus would actually listen and count what we say as a good thing. Why would Jesus have to listen to us? He doesn't. He chooses to out of His love and mercy. WOW!

God is...

"the eternal, independent, and self-existent Being; the Being whose purposes and actions spring from himself, without foreign motive or influence; he who is absolute in dominion; the most pure, the most simple, the most spiritual of all essences; infinitely perfect; and eternally self-sufficient, needing nothing that he has made; illimitable in his immensity, inconceivable in his mode of existence, and indescribable in his essence; known only funny by himself, because an infinite mind can only be fully comprehended by itself. In a word, a Being who, from infinite wisdom, cannot err or be deceived, and from his infinite goodness, can do nothing what its eternally just and right, and kind."-Adam Clark

It just has struck me that we have no language for God yet He still accepts us as we are. It's all of grace. Again, why would God listen to us? He shouldn't, yet He chooses to because He so desires. Grace, it's all grace!


In Prayers,


-AgapeTheologian