We have used quite a lot of Rob Bell’s ‘Nooma‘ DVDs in our group. There are about 20 of them at present- each one a little package of creative film making, Bell’s unique presentation style, and subtle reframings of things we thought we knew…
Bell’s high profile (his church is huge and his books and films are known the world over) has meant that he has also come in for a lot of criticism. For many, he is a heretic. For me, he is a man with something to say, who says it well.
I found a copy of one of the films on-line. They cost about £10 to buy, so this might be a way to enjoy one of them (in low quality, with the annoying subtitles) and find out what the fuss is about. Then you can save up and buy some for you and yours!
May it bring to you something new about the wonders of God.
this fragile tent 
Rob Bell is one of the good guys: was fortunate to catch him speaking in London a while back, and he was excellent – really good teaching, and humble as anything.
Funnily enough I was listening to an old Catalyst podcast featuring a couple of interviews with Rob. Inspirational!
…blog continues to bless & inspire, Chris.
Pax
J
Thank you for sharing this video. I had not heard of Rob Bell but I can see why he is so popular. He has a refreshing way of looking at the Hebrew and Christian texts. Breathing meditation is essential in many religious traditions and perhaps this is why. It is essential. It is the core of our essence. And perhaps, it is our communion with Ruah, the source of all life.
Michael Servetus who was burned at the stake as a heretic by John Calvin believed that it was the blood that carried the breath of God through our bodies. That this breath meant that each of us had the spark of divinity pulsing within us and therefore meant that all are imbued with the breath of God. All are graced with salvation. It was this idea that the Breath of God is within each of us that upset Calvin more than Servetus’ non-trinitarian stance. Servetus’ belief contradicted Calvin’s predestination of the elect.
The Roman Catholic Church also burned Servetus in effigy not for believing in the Breath of God in humanity but for his non-trinitarian stance.
Blessings,
How did two different people burn one man at the stake on two separate occassions? He survived the first burning at the stake?
Hi there guys
Thanks Johnny! I think humility is pretty important in people who preach. If they are not- I tend to stop listening! I really liked listening to Brian McLaren at GB for exactly the same reason.
Hi Fred. Thanks for the comment.
I have come across Servetus before. Our group did some thinking about ‘heresy’ and the whole burning of people who disagree with your doctrine- literally of figuratively. Calvin certainly comes out as a bad guy in this story, the way I understand it. But then perhaps Servetus is romanticised too? He, like Calvin was a man of his time.
However, I am not a universalist. I think that Jesus is the light of the world. But I have long since decided that this does not mean that I have any interest in proving other people wrong, or charging them with heresy! My task, I think, should be to get with the Jesus programme- and start learning to love and serve…
I suspect that we have common ground on seeing God as being bigger than doctrine, and the kingdom of God being much bigger than the ‘church’? And we as Imago Dei all bear his image…
Blessings
Chris
Yes, Servetus was a bit of an obnoxious person. He hounded Calvin, never quite understanding that Calvin would never agree with Servetus’ theology. So Servetus certainly was no martyr in the saint category. His death did inspire another reformist to say, that to kill a man for a doctrine is only to kill a man. His death brought about a shift in the populace regarding killing others for heretical thoughts.
I don’t see Universalism and the belief that Jesus is the light of the world as being in opposition with each other. I see them as quite compatible even as Universalism has evolved as a faith tradition. But I am with you, that to follow the teachings of Jesus whole heartedly would mean to allow ourselves to be transformed to greater love and service. One can do that and be doctrinally in a different place. The Love of God knows no boundaries.
Blessings,
Hi Fred
The story of Sevy and Calvin is a fascinating one- happening in a time when one age was giving painful birth to another- and the truth wars were raging. Interesting that you say he never quite understood why Calvin did not ‘get it’- I think some arguments are always going to be like this- particularly theological ones.
We don’t quite have the violence that dogged the modern age’s dealing with theological truth, but there are lots of tensions in the Christian world as we head into post-modernism!
As for Universalism- there is a long Christian liberal tradition of ‘all faiths lead ultimately to God’. The great hymn writer and local hero of my town was a man called George Matheson whose perhaps most famous hymn is the wonderful ‘O love that wilt not let me go’, was a Victorian universalist. In the late 19th C thousands would flock to hear this man’s sermons in our sleepy sea-side Argyll town. Most people who sing the hymn have no clue that this was part of his doctrine, and some (chuckle) would be horrified if they found out…
But I am happy to celebrate our similarities, and the uniqueness of Jesus. The rest is up to God!
Blessings
Chris
Chris’s comment regarding George Matheson’s theology is interesting. Actually, our traditional hymns come from authors representing a broad theological spectrum. It’s not likely we would find many that we agree with completely, even on the main points of orthodox doctrine. However, all truth is God’s truth. And sometimes we can agree with the sentiment of a song, even when we have a problem with some of the particulars.
Pingback: Unitarianism and the emerging church? « this fragile tent