Shame on you, John Piper

I normally steer clear of major religious talk on my blog.  Because even though I am a Christian, I don't feel equipped to share deeply.  But something happened on Saturday in the Christian world, that still has my blood boiling.

If you weren't around this weekend, I'll give you a brief synopsis.  Rob Bell, the pastor at Mars Hill Church in Michigan, and even more well-known for his intriguing Nooma series, books and messages, has a new book coming out this month that has already been touted as highly controversial. 

 Justin Taylor, a blogger, wrote an article detailing his disdain for Bell and his book, which he hasn't read.  He based it off of the publisher's words about the book and the video promotion for the book.

 Twitter basically blew up.  I was watching it happen, as Rob Bell's name was suddenly trending on Twitter - something that doesn't happen to Christians, or people of note, unless they die.

I'm not the biggest Rob Bell fan in the world, actually, I'm not a fan of very many preachers, but I have been blessed by him.

There have been many times, where I couldn't stomach another Sunday in church, or didn't want to bother being identified as a Christian, because I am SO embarrassed by the way we treat each other and the way we view the world.  Rob Bell has reminded me in those times to center with my Jesus, my God and His word.I've seen several of Bell's Nooma videos and one in particular, still plays in my mind, even now.  I don't agree with him on everything, but I haven't found one person that I agree with 100% theologically.  Have you?

As I read Justin Taylor's blog, I was saddened.  Not by what he was saying about Rob Bell's book so much, but for several other reasons.

 OK, for one, Taylor didn't read the book. That is a big point in itself.

And secondly, anyone who has ever watched of heard Rob Bell, knows he is edgy for a reason. He leaves many things open-ended, and leaves the opportunity for you to delve into the Scriptures. For the most part, he doesn't tell you how to believe. He leaves you thinking. I prefer his ambiguous nature to that of many teachers who are 'so assured' in their hermeneutics.

Without question, the description of this book is meant to leave you thinking and also shelling out the cash to read it when it releases. 

Mission accomplished.

 I'm not here to argue Rob Bell's theology or question the universalist tone (that is another post) that has been set by Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived.

 But what has irked me the most was this post on Twitter:

@JohnPiper

John Piper

Farewell Rob Bell. (link)

Really, John Piper?  That's what you have to say to Rob Bell, someone who has done great work in bringing a wayward generation closer to our God?  Really, John Piper, that's all you have to say to a brother?  You chose to publicly humiliate him?  Or did you ask him to coffee and discuss this?  Or maybe you called him on the phone and heard his heart?  Or at the very least, did you send him an e-mail, telling him you would pray for him?  Or maybe you read the book?

And hundreds of other Christians jumped on the Hatewagon, and tweeted and blogged and made a laughingstock of Christianity.

Shame on you, John Piper and others who vaunt and are so quick to dismiss and judge.

THAT DISGUSTS ME. 

Why are we as Christians so eager to watch and condemn?  Why do we want to see Rob Bell fall?  Why do we huff around and pridefully proclaim, "Yep, I was right!"  Why are we so quick to judge?  Why do we give Rob Bell more of our time and greivances than we do some of the big dilemmas of the world?

Shouldn't our hearts grieve if our brother is off?   Shouldn't we be sad?  Why the self-righteous attitudes?  Why the pious comments?  

If Rob Bell is really that off, it greatly concerns me that these people are more excited to gloat in their 'rightness' (not righteousness), while they pat each other on the back for their sleuth skills, than feel the heart of God towards this situation. 

Apparently, they forgot humility, grace, prayer, compassion and love, the stalwarts of our faith, while consumed with the degradation of potentially many human beings.  They are more concerned with smearing Rob Bell's name, in order to jack their name one mark higher in the Kingdom of this World.

I once heard a very wise man say that we should NEVER rejoice when a scandal (or perhaps erroneous theology) is discovered in the Kingdom of God. 

The last thing we need as Christians is another name-calling, judgmental, mess to drag the name of Christ through the mud one more time, so the world can watch and laugh.

But it seems that that is just what has been created, by those who call themselves spiritual. 

If it breaks my heart this much, I can't imagine what God, our Father feels.