Customer Reviews
Best avoided - By: Jon Mason, 15 Aug 2008 
2 good things & a plethora of bad things:
Good thing #1: Rob Bell is an excellent communicator, & is very easy to read.
Good thing #2: He has some interesting Jewish/Greek background information that sheds new light on some familiar Biblical passages.
Bad thing #1: He has no idea what the Christian gospel is. Or more likely, doesn't like it. "This is what we are all dying for - something that demands we step up & become better, more focussed people. Something that calls out the greatness that we hope is somewhere inside of us." (p169) In other words, salvation is foundin being good people. This is the exact opposite of what the Bible teaches. It's a disasterous liberal falacy.
Bad thing #2: Actually #1 is bad enough not to need a #2. But here's another example anyway: "Heaven is full of people whom Jesus died for. Hell is full of forgiven people whom Jesus died for. The difference is how we choose to live..." (p146) The guy is a heretic. And mixes truth with utter falsehood, like the worst kind of false teachers. Avoid like the plague.
Take him very seriously... - By: M. Welch, 24 Jun 2008 
...when he says you should read this book critically. I have a hard time recommending this book. I found it frustrating, because Rob veers wildly from wonderfully insightful to deeply misguided & misleading. It worries me that he would so casually throw out some of the observations he makesin this book, because he's a figurehead to many Christians who aren't inclined to approach critically anything that fits their preconceptions, & I doubt there's muchin here to challenge anyone of that particular mindset. There are parts of this book which manage to even come across as if Rob were not a Christian at all, & I dread to think of the impact it could have on the developing faith of one of the many teens he's popular with.
If you have set everything about your faith rigidlyin place a good while ago, you could really have something to gain from reading this book, if you are able to approach it with an open mind. Try not to allow recognition of how flawed some of the ideasin the book are to getin the way of the genuine, timely insight shown elsewhere.
If, however, you've yet to have a long, hard look at what you believe, I would urge you to look elsewhere. The last thing you need is something easy to swallow & utterly worthless - & unfortunately, there is muchin here that fits the description.
Why do people rave about this book? - By: D. Lovell, 14 May 2008 Rob Bells book is very popular - but I simply cant see why. Its popularity massively outstrips its ability to edify. He labels inflexibility over fundamental doctrines as "brickianity". A lot of his arguments dont stand up to scrutiny. It just seems like another book motivated by an anti-church attitude or anti-conservative evangelical a attitude. For a good review of the book go to the web site of the "alliance of confessing evangelicals" & download the review their.
The book is worth reading so that you know what peoplein the church are being influenced by, but if you want to be edified I'd recommend you read something like "Future Grace" by Piper or "Salvation belongs to the LORD" by John Frame.
Velvet Elvis - Don't Panic! - By: Sharon Verona, 12 Mar 2008 
I have read through some of the previous reviews & been struck by the sense of alarm, & at times, panic induced by reading this book.
What concerns me most about that, is that it indicates that as a church (in the widest possible sense) we seem to have forgotten the art, nay the responsibility of studying, questionning & debating our beliefs.
It seems over the course of time we have been taught to simply accept whatever we are taught from the pulpit, without necessarily chewing it over a great deal. We simply swallow it wholesale. Literally. And without question.
I think a mark of maturityin a Christian is being able to reflect on new/very old ideas & perspectives, without feeling threatened or defensive.
Bell takes a look at some common & less common aspects of the Christian faith & puts them under the spotlight, asking some searching questions. I found the book to be exciting, challenging & thought-provoking.
Please, let's not turn off our God-given intellect when we walk into church & sit down.Let us instead ENGAGE with the issues facing the church & the society with which we are inextricably linked. Let us debate & discuss, & perhaps be brave enough to admit that sometimes our nice 'pat' answers aren't always enough.
If we can dare to be real & honest enough with our non-christian friends & workmates, so that they can see we are normal people, who have faith, rather than perfect, pious, 'untouchables', then perhaps Jesus might just become a little more accessible, & little less far away?
Good stuff but.... - By: Mr. A. J. Thomas, 02 Mar 2008 Excellent read. very thought provoking.
The key is doing what Rob Bell suggests... talk about the book with friends & church leaders. Don't take things on board without checking them out.
Rob Bell made me realise that it is ok to question what you believe & why you believe it.
I realised that loads of what I believe is based on a western view of Jesus & also based on the beliefs of the churches that I have attended. I want my beliefs & faith based on the bible & the way Jesus went about doing things. Make sure you question & find answers with the help of Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, christian friends & church leaders.
