So, I've finished "Velvet Elvis".
It was ok, not all the hype i thought it was going to be.
There were some really good illustrations and ideas, but then some stuff was way out there. I wouldn't recommend this book to a baby christian or someone who isn't solid in they're faith. The reason behind that is in this first blog.
Mr. Bell uses the illustration that our faith should be like a trampoline. At first it made sense, it should be fun and enjoyable and you should being inviting people to jump with you. I've got no problem with that. Yes, Christian life should be something we enjoy and something we're willing to share with others. What's the point of a trampoline? To jump. What the point of being a Christian? To Follow Christ.
And here lies my biggest problem with all of Mr. Bell's teaching.
Christianity becomes a lifestyle. Or the "best possible way to live."
I am a Christian not because i think it is the best way to live my life, but because i sinned against a righteous and holy God, who sent His son to die in my place. I became guilty before a perfect judge and a fine had to be paid. Jesus paid that fine. I am a slave to Christ. I owe him my life and that is why i follow Him, not because i think it's the best way to live my life.
It is because I am a Christian and servant of Christ that my life reflects His.
Lastly, Mr. Bell takes a stab at John 14:6 and says that "Jesus was not making claims about one religion being better than all other religions." He says that misses the point. Mr. Bell say, that Jesus was telling his followers, "his way is the way to the depth of reality." That the way Jesus lived his life "is the best possible way for a person to live."
Oh how sad it is that we only look to merely imitate Christ, because we think it's the best thing to do. Jesus didn't come to this earth to live, he came to die. Christians open your eyes, this teaching is running heavily through our churches today. It's so close to the truth, it seems only three degrees off. But whether you're three degrees off or a hundred, you will end up off course.
So, Christian is Christ just a lifestyle or is He life?
If you have never repented of your sin, know that God has given us a mirror unto our souls through his commandments. Just a rapist is a rapist after only raping once, a liar is liar after only one lie. A thief is a thief. Jesus said, "If you look at a woman with lust, then you are an adulterer at heart." Know that one day you will stand before a holy God who will judge you by His moral standard, not yours. And then it won't matter what your lifestyle was, but where you life is.
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4 comments:
i don't know, man.
it seems pretty dead on to me.
i do believe that Christianity is the best possible way to live. living like Christ is living the way God meant for us to live.
i believe that His death did not bring us salvation. rather His life did. had He just died, there would have been no victory over death.
God is not looking for me to "pay Him back" with my life, He is asking me to worship Him with it. the debt is already canceled. i do follow Him because I believe it is the best way to live my life. i believe obedience to God is imperatively the best way to live. it is in that way of life that many should see Christ and accept His gift of life.
following Christ has become a lifestyle for me. it dictates, or it should at least, every decision i make.
there is alot that rob bell says that i dont necessarily agree with, but this i do. if the Christian life were not the best way to live then we would go to heaven right after we got saved...however we are left here to show others the way that Christ lived, not the way He died...His death did not save us...His perfect life, and his life after death( the defeat of death) is what saves.
where is the liberty and freedom that christ has granted us in your opinion. CHRIST DID NOT COME TO DIE, BUT TO DEFEAT DEATH! he came to free us from slavery, not to enslave us.
you can go ahead and live your life of slavery, but i will embrace my freedom in christ. christ doesn't want me to try and "return the favor", he wants me to serve him out of love...not obligation.
and as for your rant on living like christ is not the best way for you to live...wtf mate? what is the best way for you to live?...because that seems to be pretty straight forward and a great reason for following christ.
anywho man, you are entitled to your own opinion, but i aim to imitate christ. not out of obligation, but becuase of his LIFE (because our hope is in the resurrection, not his death. we all die man. there's nothing special about that) and gift of LIFE to me. it is a lifestyle that has overun my entire being...
jeremy and rachel, i appreciate your honesty. After reading your comments and my blog again, i know i need to clear some things up, because i think you misunderstood me a bit.
James, your comment doesn't reflect what you preach.
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