Arrogance or Apostasy?

In the last year or so, I've mainly been focusing on using the blog to relay information about the kids to family members who don't live close by. Working in a controversial area of law, I try to keep my personal time (and personal blog) free from argument and controversy and anything that is going to draw nasty comments, or bring me down, or else I will be ineffective in my work.

But.

There are some things that I just can't stifle... Like when someone leads people away from God.

So at the risk of looking like a "fanatic" to some of my friends, I must say it: I have never liked Rob Bell. [Sidenote: Why is it that when Christians stand up for Truth, it always seems to be other Christians that label them as fanatics or hateful? Just musing here...]

The video for his new book is treacherous. There is so much I could say on the theological side, but I thought I would just post a few things here that I shared on facebook last night:

I'll be honest... I've never been a Rob Bell fan. It always bothered me in his "Rain" video that, according to his story, it took him so long to take his son off his back and hold him in the storm...anyway, from a mother's perspective, he seemed like a terrible dad!

I've known for a while that I don't agree with him theologically, but he's never been so apparent about it. Before, I would have accused him of watering down the truth; from these excerpts from the book, he totally denies the Truth.

And on a separate but related note, I COULD NOT BELIEVE the way he treated someone in his congregation in his "Love Wins" promo video. He basically called out the person who wrote the note about Gandhi as an idiot. Did he say so? No. But that's never been his style. He implies. And the condescending attitude in that video, about whoever wrote the note: totally not fit for a pastor. What it says is, "Don't question me. I will make a fool out of you." He has effectively placed himself in a position where no one in his church can ever question him or hold him accountable. Regardless of what he believes, placing himself in that kind of a position makes him akin to a cult leader.

If you haven't seen the video, you can see it here.

And there is an excellent review of his book (along with excerpts) here.

And now I am done. For now. :)