Before I decided to read this book my friends kept telling me, "If you're comfortable with your faith, don't read this book," to which I replied, "If you're comfortable with your faith then something is wrong." If we don't challenge our faith, then how will we ever develop spiritually?

That's exactly what this book is about: challenging and questioning our faith. Bell takes us into the world of questioning ALL THINGS in search of truth. Question yourself, question the church, question your beliefs, question religious principles and doctrines, question culture, and even question the Holy Bible and how we use it.

Along with Bell's profound insights and wisdom, he provides an abundant list of commentary, references, resources, and literature to explore certain points more in depth. This book will challenge you. It may even change you. Above all else, this book will help bring you more in-tune with God.

Througout his book, Bell reiterates the theme that ""One of the central assertions of the Christian worldview is that there is `more.' " (19) Over and over he gives us deeper and deeper ways to think about the gospel, evangelism, denominational differences, and how we live our lives on a daily basis. No matter which side of the postmodern issue you are on, you will find much food for thought. He writes in a casual, yet profound style that keeps the interest of the reader and draws that reader into a more relevant understanding of being a Christian.

Timm Oyer [Hastings, MI, USA]
Rob Bell never fails to elicit a response from his readers, which probably tells more about their theology than his. His theology at times
seems either incomplete or disconnected. As a fellow pastor, I expected his book to have a central theme running through it, but couldn't discover one unless it was that we need to always be seeking to know God more. I would have felt much more fulfilled if he had stuck with one theme instead of initiating a number of them and leaving for another thought before the previous one was developed. It was sort of like riding around a neighborhood and his telling you what kind of home he's looking for only he won't know it until he see's it.

I understand the use of metaphors to get a point across, Jesus certainly used plenty of them to great effect, but Jesus knew how to make a metaphor stay in the background rather than become the focal point of interest. Rob is a devoted Christian, and though there were times we took opposite sides, his desire to see the church love the world is to be applauded. If you are reading his book as a theological work you will be sorely disappointed, however, if you are reading it hopeing to be introduced to new views your plate will be full. You owe it to yourself to read his book with an ear to the Spirit, so that you don't become unnecessarily defensive or unrealistically accepting.

Christianity doesn't need a new coat of paint; sorry, Rob.

I enjoyed Velvet Elvis. Bell writes with delightful style and enthusiasm. I believe he is a good Christian and a good man. I believe he is a young Christian and a young man. He may always remain young; that may be a good thing for the rest of us, we'll see.

Velvet Elvis has fresh, heart-felt insights and mind-stretching, sometimes self-contradicting illustrations. Therefore Velvet Elvis is not for the sour-hearted or the weak-minded. I enjoyed chapter 2 a great deal. To be reminded that Jesus was a Jewish rabbi teaching Jewish people of his day is good reading. To be told that Jesus is the "best" way and not the "only" way is not endearing.

Those who have a vaunted opinion of their own selfhood, who believe they know of a path to God and not of the path from God, might find comfort, peace, direction, delight and fun in Velvet Elvis. Those who understand what the phrase, "I surrender all" actually means, might also enjoy the romp through Bell's book as I did. I also enjoy reading the Bible while munching a chocolate bar. But Jesus Christ is LORD. Proclaiming the lordship of Jesus is by far the best way. I did not see a confession of Christ's lordship in Velvet Elvis, although I delighted in Bell's colorful splatters of paint.

I consider myself theologically conservative. While some reviews portrayed the book as a liberal treatise, I did not see it in this way. What I took away most from the book is the need to continuously challenge, re-think, and revisit doctrine. Bell also did a good job of putting things in context.

If you are dogmatic about your interpretation of the Bible, whether liberal or conservative, this is not a book with which you will agree. But the biggest point in the book is challenge and thinking. Bell gets this point across well.

This book is provocative and well-written (and likeable for those reasons). You can't help but enjoy Bell with his edgy, self-consciously authentic, loose-cannon style. He raises some good questions about lots of things and makes you think outside the box, which is always good for me (and usually a bit uncomfortable).

But he's also a bit careless. Some of his questions leave you with big questions about what he really thinks about some pretty important core doctrines. He's also unfair - in using analogies that misrepresent what a lot of good, solid theologians of a more traditional ilk really say or think. (If you've read it, the brick wall vs. trampoline analogy is a case in point.)

Finally, he sends confusing signals. It boggles my mind that he give an unqualified recommendation of books by John Piper on one hand and makes positve, unqualified references to J. Dominic Crossan, on the other. That just seems careless to me. I can't imagine giving an unqualififed recommendation of something written by a member of the Jesus Seminar.

Velvet Elvis is Rob Bell's first book. In his own words, it is "for those who need a fresh take on Jesus and what it means to live the kind of life he teaches us to live." It was with this book that Bell introduced his writing style, which is not unique per se, but is original when compared with the rest of Christian nonfiction.

This book is a fresh look on faith, and some people don't like that. Honestly, this is my least favorite of Bell's books, but he does make several good points. People often say that he isn't a very deep writer and his ideas are shallow, but I would dispute that statement completely. Yes, Bell is not a theological behemoth. But most people are not concerned with theology. They are concerned with having peace, and Bell shows that Jesus is the way to have that peace (there is a section called "Yoke" for instance, in which Bell describes what Jesus actually meant when he said my yoke is easy). I don't feel as if he needs to apologize for not being systematic and concerned with definition of terms.

Bell gives a very short history of his church, and some personal break downs of his own. In the end, this book is a fresh look at Jesus and the Christian faith, and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

What good will it do if you mix truth and error, and present it to a child in the faith to feed on? Why are we doing this to the little ones in the faith ?

One quote from this book says a lot about Rob Bell's attitude towards the Good News of Jesus Christ. Even if he doesn't believe it wholeheartedly, it opens him, his students and followers up to tolerating all kind of future heresies. The history of the faith teaches us that it takes one concession to evil for errors to creep into the church and end up ruining lives. Doctrines are walls to protect the believer. They're neither prison bars nor optional guideposts. Creation in 6 24 hrs days is different than the Virgin birth. You can still have atonement and salvation without 6 24 hrs days creation, but you can't if Jesus had an earthly father!!!! God is His Word, and His Word is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. We know about Jesus Christ through the historical Christian faith. Hence we can't have God without the Christian faith, because without it we don't have Jesus Christ who is the only way to the Father. While God is beyond all description, we can't be with Him without His historical self-revelation of Himself. He chose to become what He is not by nature, that we may become what we are not by nature (but by grace). If God chose to become man, that men may become like God, then that means that God who is beyond all description chose to confine Himself that we may experience Him. Now Rob Bell wants to downplay the importance of this confined description of God, which is our only means to move from what is limited to what is beyond description. He wants to do away with the bricks of doctrines which guide our way and protect us from wandering aimlessly, the incarnation of God, the voluntary self-confinement of God, His self-emptying, for the God who is beyond description but can never be accessed. He takes away the bricks of historical christianity, the narrow way to heaven, to give you a trampoline to jump on which will never get you up enough to God. God had to come down to you.

I saw it mentioned in one of the posts. Rob Bell relies too much on Rabbinic interpretation that he forgets that the Rabbis rejected Christ and still do. This means that many of his views about the Gospels will be tainted with anti-Christian views, resulting in confused paragraphs like the following on page 17:

"What if tomorrow someone digs up definitive proof that Jesus had a real, earthly, biological father named Larry, and archeologists find Larry's tomb and do DNA samples and prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the virgin birth was really just a bit of mythologizing the Gospel writers threw in to appeal to the followers of Mithra and Dionysian religious cults that were hugely popular at the time of Jesus, whose gods had virgin births? But what if as you study the origin of the word virgin, you discover that the word virgin in the gospel of Matthew actually comes from the book of Isaiah, and then you find out that in the Hebrew language at that time, the word virgin could mean several things. And what if you discover that in the first century being "born of a virgin" also referred to a child whose mother became pregnant the first time she had intercourse?"

Throughout the centuries Church fathers and apologists answered definitively these claims. To even speak this way about the apostles, the disciples of Christ and the New Testament reveals hidden doubts in the soul of the author. Even though I know that he's trying to prepare his readers for future "definitive scientific" proofs against the faith, I'd like to remind him that if these claims are true, then there is no need to prepare them for it's better for them to lose their faith in that "lie" and to move on with their lives. But what if the faith is not a lie, as all the faithful throughout Church history found out, and it is the only way for a true relationship with God, and for this reason Satan keeps on slandering it to keep people captive. If this is the case, what is Rob Bell doing exactly ?

If you want a fresh look at the Christian Faith as was always believed, check out the lectures of Cyril of Jerusalem which he gave to the new converts in 4th century Jerusalem. It's free on the web or you can buy the church fathers' volumes here on Amazon.I promise you you'll find all the good things that Rob Bell said in his book (honey) without all the poisons, in fact in those lectures you'll find the antidotes to those poisons. For the Christian faith has been around for so long now that every objection has been answered by the people who actually lived in the early centuries, who spoke the original languages and even died for what they believed.

Two things I like about this book are (1) it does a great job of encouraging people to be more like Jesus, to live the way Jesus taught us to live, and (2) it brings some new perspectives and makes the reader think.

Velvet Elvis is difficult to review because it bounces around a lot of topics and it is hard to tell where Rob Bell is going with it. The difficulty starts with the title. There's no Velvet Elvis in the Bible, and there aren't other books about Velvet Elvis. The best clue you can get from the title is that sometimes Bell is not going to just come out and say, directly, what he has to say. The title comes from a painting in Bell's basement that is dated. Bell asserts that a painter can't paint a velvet Elvis, then say "No one can ever paint anything again because I painted the velvet Elvis and there is nothing left to paint." No theologian can write a book on theology, then say "No one can ever come out with a new interpretation of the Bible, because all of the true interpretations have already been written." There are always new painters making new paintings. In the introduction and first chapter, Bell says that from time to time someone comes along and presents new interpretations of the Bible, and now Bell is that someone. In about 30 A.D., Jesus was that someone. His authority was established at His baptism, by John and by God (the Father). Bell bases his authority on Matthew 16:19 (and 18:18), "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Velvet Elvis has an introduction, seven chapters (Bell calls them movements) and an epilogue. It is difficult to discern a unifying theme. It is like a bunch of thinly related (sometimes unrelated) essays. In most of the essays, you learn that a lot of Christians have it wrong, or do it wrong, but usually the solution is not clear. The most frequent theme is that we should be more like Jesus, we should want to live our lives according to His teachings, because that is the best way to live. The trouble is that Bell does not teach a high view of the reliability and authority of the Bible, and he injects doubt in theologians that have gone before him, so we are led to doubt what Jesus really taught. For example, "They aren't first and foremost timeless truths" and "When people say that all we need is the Bible, it is simply not true." (Page 62, 68)

Rob Bell is angry with a lot of Christians. Christians whose faith is like bricks - hard and solid. Bell prefers a faith that is like trampoline springs - flexible and able to make us jump higher. Bell says that belief in the virgin birth of Jesus is a brick, and what if it could be proved that Jesus had a human father? Maybe the Bible lies about that, or maybe the word virgin, in the first century, meant a woman who became pregnant the first time she had intercourse. But on page 31, he quotes Mary, from the Bible, saying "But how can this be? I'm a virgin". There can be no doubt about the meaning of the Greek word that is translated as virgin. Mary affirmed that she had never known a man, so she can't see how she be pregnant. This is the low point of the book. I think about the apostles. Didn't they have faith that was more like bricks than trampoline springs? When Paul was beaten and stoned and shipwrecked and imprisoned, yet kept faithful, didn't he have some bricks of faith? If faith is all trampoline springs and no bricks, you can pick and choose what you want to believe, perhaps using some Bible verses as a guide, and you can create your own religion. That is really close to what the Old Testament calls idolatry, something that man creates and worships. I tried to find out what denomination Bell's church is, and it appears to be non-denominational. Which means there is no earthly authority over Bell's teaching, so he has enormous freedom to interpret the Bible. Maybe Bell teaches the truth, but I worry about a pastor who has so much independence.

Maybe you don't think Bell is angry. And maybe he isn't. But he says "sometimes when I hear people quote the Bible, I just want to throw up" and "this view of the Bible is warped and toxic, to say the least" and "it leads to a very destructive reading of the Bible that robs it of its life and energy" and "drop once and for all the Bible-as-owner's-manual metaphor. It's terrible. It really is." (Page 42, 53, 54, 62.) I wonder why it sometimes makes Bell want to throw up when people quote the Bible. He doesn't tell us. There are lots of points he starts to make, and then just doesn't follow through. He leaves it vague enough that the reader can understand it to mean something that he agrees with.

This is a complex book and requires some Christian maturity to sort it out. It is best read by those who have a broad and deep understanding of the Bible and Christian theology. It should not be the first Christian book you read, or it will bewilder you and might lead you to conclusions that even Rob Bell did not intend.

Bell writes enthusiastically about his Christian faith and ministry. Although this book may read like a stream-of-consciousness trope at times, it is well-measured and often insightful and revelatory. Bell shares personal anecdotes from his own faith journey and events from his ministry to make his points. He also shares many Scriptures and helpful commentary on Scriptures. I think what makes this book so effective is that it is appropriate as an introduction to the faith and as a meaningful, forceful message to mature Christians and ministers.

Bell's writing style or rather his ministry style is edgy and relational. He walks the fine line of engaging the culture while maintaining his Biblical, Christian grounding. He uses illustrations and metaphors to convey Christian truths. And he does emphasize Christian truths. He preaches the good news of Jesus fully. What he calls good news for believers and unbelievers, and he shows why it is just that.

I think he makes a significant mistake early in the book by trying to side with post-moderns by saying if somehow it was proven that Joseph was indeed the DNA-proven father of Jesus it shouldn't shipwreck a person's faith--he then says that if one's faith could be undermined by the failure of one issue like the virgin birth then it is really not faith. This is a poor attempt to "relate" to those whose "enlightened" presuppositions prevent them from believing such things. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not the good news if he is not conceived by the Holy Spirit. Bell seems to deny the fact that their are non-negotiable truths in Christianity. Following this poor example, most of the book is orthodox and Scripturally-based.

I think his message is an important one for Christians to constantly hear. Some main themes are that we are forgiven and made righteous and holy by Christ's work on the cross--not our own works or goodness. This forgiveness is the begining point of what is to be a relationship with God through Jesus that is increasingly enjoyable and intimate. Bell encourages honesty in looking at oneself and asserts that all of us need God's complete healing to function in God's image through Christ. This is a book about God's grace and God's purpose for us--his desire for us.

Bell opens up the Scriptures through his illustrations and commentary, often from Jewish sources, on Biblical texts.

If there is any criticism to levy at Bell, it would perhaps be his snarkiness at times toward Christians who he may deem too fundamental, orthodox, old fashioned or not hip, etc. He may come across as being be overly critical of other Christians who are in fact just as sincere. The "post-modern" approach of questioning and engaging culture is working for Bell in his context. It could at times lead to inferences by some that Christianity is ambiguous and has no clear tenets that are non-negotiable. However, some Christians must engage in defending the faith against very real heresies. For these Christians, clarifying the answers to the questions against heresies is important. Without them, Christianity gets confused with other religions and philosophies like gnosticism. A "take what you like and ignore the rest," cafeteria style approach to Christianity is incongruent with Scripture's message. Bell doesn't necessarily promote this but could perhaps be read as such. And he does disparage those who do real battle over the authority of Scripture with those who would liberalize and undermine it. Without such as these, the church would have become completely heretical long ago.

Bell's message is effective for his purpose and ministry. Readers need to see it larger context of the Christian worldview and ministry. Bell himself advises readers that he is writing his story and contributing to the discussion--not trying to sum it all up. Some reades will certainly disagree with his downplaying conversion and traditional evangelism.

This overall is an exceptional book that I think ought to be taken up by all Christians and viewed as a whole.

Craig Stephans, author of Shakespeare On Spirituality: Life-Changing Wisdom from Shakespeare's Plays

Bell writes enthusiastically about his Christian faith and ministry. Although this book may read like a stream-of-consciousness trope at times, it is well-measured and often insightful and revelatory. Bell shares personal anecdotes from his own faith journey and events from his ministry to make his points. He also shares many Scriptures and helpful commentary on Scriptures. I think what makes this book so effective is that it is appropriate as an introduction to the faith and as a meaningful, forceful message to mature Christians and ministers.

Bell's writing style or rather his ministry style is edgy and relational. He walks the fine line of engaging the culture while maintaining his Biblical, Christian grounding. He uses illustrations and metaphors to convey Christian truths. And he does emphasize Christian truths. He preaches the good news of Jesus fully. What he calls good news for believers and unbelievers, and he shows why it is just that.

I think his message is an important one for Christians to constantly hear. Some main themes are that we are forgiven and made righteous and holy by Christ's work on the cross--not our own works or goodness. This forgiveness is the begining point of what is to be a relationship with God through Jesus that is increasingly enjoyable and intimate. Bell encourages honesty in looking at oneself and asserts that all of us need God's complete healing to function in God's image through Christ. This is a book about God's grace and God's purpose for us--his desire for us.

Bell opens up the Scriptures through his illustrations and commentary, often from Jewish sources, on Biblical texts.

If there is any criticism to levy at Bell, it would perhaps be his snarkiness at times toward Christians who he may deem too fundamental, orthodox, old fashioned or not hip, etc. He may come across as being be overly critical of other Christians who are in fact just as sincere. The "post-modern" approach of questioning and engaging culture is working for Bell in his context. It could at times lead to inferences by some that Christianity is ambiguous and has no clear tenets that are non-negotiable. However, some Christians must engage in defending the faith against very real heresies. For these Christians, clarifying the answers to the questions against heresies is important. Without them, Christianity gets confused with other religions and philosophies like gnosticism. A "take what you like and ignore the rest," cafeteria style approach to Christianity is incongruent with Scripture's message. Bell doesn't necessarily promote this but could perhaps be read as such. And he does disparage those who do real battle over the authority of Scripture with those who would liberalize and undermine it. Without such as these, the church would have become completely heretical long ago.

Bell's message is effective for his purpose and ministry. Readers need to see it larger context of the Christian worldview and ministry. Bell himself advises readers that he is writing his story and contributing to the discussion--not trying to sum it all up. Some reades will certainly disagree with his downplaying conversion and traditional evangelism.

This overall is an exceptional book that I think ought to be taken up by all Christians and viewed as a whole.

Craig Stephans, author of Shakespeare On Spirituality: Life-Changing Wisdom from Shakespeare's Plays

I love the way Rob writes and how he conveys his love for the Word of God. This was much more enjoyable for me than other books of postmodern thinking.

Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell, has to be one of the greatest inspiring books that can even teach a Christian who is strong in His walk. Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell, first goes into asking God questions is a good thing, as when we ask God questions we find answers, and those answers helps us to grow in the Lord. Rob Bell goes into talking about Gods' creation and how the Lord wants us to use it. The best section in this book is about the Jewish history of Jesus Christ. This section of the book really got me to be in awe of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There are seven topics in this books that Rob goes into. He calls them movements. Velvet Elvis, has brought me into a new understanding of passion. I've been a born again Christian for three years with a fire and this book just kept my flame going if not made it go higher.
I recommend this book for any Christian of any age, in fact get two copy's of this book one to keep and one to pass on. This is a book that will change your walk for ever, and even put you in tears of how beautiful our God is. Your Pastor would even enjoy and get inspired by Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell.
This is a spirit filled book, and I look forward to reading more by Rob Bell.

It is so refreshing to read of someone dealing with the basics of our faith and attempting to practice what he preaches.

Christianity is claimed by so many, yet few actually do what Jesus taught or try to live as the Bible teaches. Thought provoking and easy to read, a must read for all thinking Christ followers.

The most damaging sins evolve from truth mixed with untruth. Mr. Bell has masterfully woven these half-truths into a book that sounds true but leaves a lingering doubt in the mind. This is the essence of false statements and unfortunately leads people awry. My hope is that people are given the wisdom from Him to discern the facts from fiction.

This is the most intelligent book on Christianity that I can recall having read in years. The old "painting" that hung on your parents wall (the "velvet Elvis") was fashionable in its day, but now is viewed as a cliché by today's generation who would never hang that picture in their living room. The challenge for today's church is to take the never changing good news of Jesus Christ, and present it in a way that can be understood and appeal to the people of today (paint a new painting). The Christian message remains unchanged, only the art work hanging on the wall is appreciated as relevant.

To equate Bell with the Reformers is like comparing the living and the dead. Bell is a Pelagian in his understanding of sin and redemption. People will love this book who have no clue about their own depravity and of God's demands of justice. The cross of Christ is meaningless to Bell and his followers.

Just take a look at his little talk with the Dahli Lama a few ago. Luther would have had more to say, and would have taken Bell's little [...] out for a serious whipping.

Give us a break Bell. This sheep has another Master.

It's funny how something that seems to be stating the obvious can seem so new. It's also unique to have a book that so firmly kicks you out of your comfort zone, yet somehow makes the landing soft and the flight - dare I say?- fun. This book has my small group thinking and churning and I love the deer-in-headlights looks they get on their faces as they work through the material. Some ideas are easy and are savored as affirming and freeing; others are a struggle and cause discomfort, in the best sense. Bell's education, study, compassion and insight illuminate the many pitfalls we fall into as Christians. He educates, encourages, frees, challenges, and comforts the reader. The sense of humor is a great bonus:) It's a must read for anyone who doesn't want to be one of those Christians that make people stay away from church.

great book. It will challenge you... Don't just take it in whole. Dissect it.

I think Rob has a great understanding of the love, grace and mercy the Lord shows us. I felt like Rob was cheering me on to be the best 'representative' for God. It was contextualizing the Christian faith for this decade/century. Very easy read.

This is not a book that will produce a mild response, and depending on your current theological/philosophical tendencies will more likely entrench them one way or the other, rather than change them. A great example is the Tag Suggestions I'm being presented with: either "spiritual growth" and "bad theology" can coexist in the same text, or people are bringing wildly divergent viewpoints to the table.

I have to admit, I was looking for more scholarship than the book provided: the propositions presented are better stated elsewhere, or largely unattractive and unconvincing. The exegesis tends to be spotty and unorthodox. And by unorthodox, I mean catholics and protestants will find themselves bedfellows on numerous occasions.

Rob Bell is indeed repainting, and your reception to it will be a matter of taste.

Based on a careful reading of chapter two "Yoke" of his "Velvet Elvis," it is clear to me that Rob Bell is working with a weak doctrine of Scripture and a truly bizarre theory of interpretation (the latter a misapplication of the concept of "binding and loosing"). As a result Bell can essentially read his own meanings "into" Scripture with impunity. In this situation the biblical text is no longer the touchstone of the conversation, even when it is cited. For the uninitiated reader, therefore, it may be difficult to discern when truly biblical ideas are being presented, and when those ideas are more attributable to other influences (modern and postmodern, cultural and counter-cultural, not to mention Bell's own "creative" proposals).

This chapter lays out foundational issues. It seems to me that if the foundation is not sound, the building that stands upon it has less chance to stay true. One can hope that this influential pastor's theology will improve with time. But the beginning, as represented here, is not auspicious.

OBJECTION #1: "Why bring up those dusty concepts like doctrine and theology?"

Response: It is true Rob Bell writes in a contemporary (almost stream-of-consciousness) style and avoids certain theological terms. However, that does not mean that Bell does not HAVE a theology, it just makes it more difficult to discern what that theology is - for his readers and perhaps even for himself.

OBJECTION #2: "We all interpret the Bible with our own biases; some of us like Bell are just honest about it."

Response part 1: True, we all have our own biases but the point is to have those biases challenged and changed by the objective meaning of Scripture. What Bell seems to do here is insulate himself from that kind of correction. Response part 2: There is less in the Bible that is truly "open to interpretation" than is normally assumed. See, for example, Mark Thompson's A Clear And Present Word: The Clarity of Scripture (New Studies in Biblical Theology)

This book was an awesome tool during group discussions with some young adults. It opened conversation and allowed for some deep personal insights to be discovered. Rob has a way of giving information and allowing you to discover your own truth. Thanks Rob!

Rob Bell is an author that makes you angry while reading his stuff - in a good way and a bad way. This is because he says something that seems so off the wall, but then he writes to show exactly what he means. So usually you are left with thinking, "Okay, I think I see the point he is trying to make." And other times he just seems flat-out wrong. This can make it a frustrating book (that, and also the fact that the book jumps around so much that there is not a lot of cohesiveness).

Also, Rob Bell makes some bold claims that seem to go against Christian thinking. Others have pointed out that he talks about it doesn't matter where there was a virgin birth or not, and that the translation may be wrong. This is a pretty bold claim, and he really has nothing to back it up with. If we are to believe the Bible, and hopefully not just pick and choose, then it seems pretty obvious that the Bible refers to a virgin birth. Read Matthew 1:18-25. In verse 18, it says that Mary "was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit." And in verse 25, it says "he [Joseph] had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus." So if there is a wrong translation on the word "virgin," then I think those two verses clarify it, making his argument pointless.

Also, Rob Bell goes on later in the book talking about why he thinks that Jesus was a Rabbi. He makes very good points and illustrations as to why he believes this. I enjoyed learning how Jewish boys in villages became rabbis and how only the brightest and the best were selected to continue. I liked his connection to how if Jesus was a rabbi, how much more that would have meant when he summoned Peter and Andrew to become fishers of men. He points out that they would have not been chosen to be rabbis and thus entered the family trade as fisherman. So for Jesus, a rabbi, to choose them to follow them, would have meant everything since rabbis had proteges. It sounds all well and fine, except for one problem. The Bible talks about how Jesus was a Carpenter, like Joseph. And in Matthew 13:55, people in the synagogue asked, "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?" So if he was a rabbi, why did the crowd question where he got his wisdom from and see him as a carpenter and not a rabbi. It is points like these in Rob Bell's book that I see as off-base and wrong. These are two pretty big, glaring errors in his book.

So Rob Bell is repainting the Christian faith, but doing it in a very dangerous and irresponsible manner. Although I still enjoy some of Rob's teachings and insights, I think that this book was more miss than hit.

Not since Daniel Taylor's 'The Myth of Certainty' (InterVarsity Press) has a book been so encouraging to Christians with critical brains. Both authors contend that rational certainty is impossible, implying that everyone has faith in something - whether in the god(s) of a particular religious system or in the supremacy of reason and logic over metaphysical speculation. Where both Taylor and Bell use honest questioning and story telling to illustrate their points of view, Bell adds the use of scholarly exegesis to help paint a portrait of Jesus' message that challenges a host of the theological assumptions that many contemporary Christians hold (intentionally or unintentionally) without question. He presents his material in a way that invites those of us who are unsure about Christ and/or the church to see the good news of the Kingdom of God from a different (and more accurate) perspective. Bell's writing is accessible, which, when considering the weight of some of the concepts he attempts to convey, is quite a feat. 'Velvet Elvis' has the potential to be mutually encouraging to those who follow Jesus and those who do not. Needless to say at this point, I highly recommend this book.

One of the best, most refreshing Christian books I've read in a long time. Unique perspectives.

I hope there are more guys out there like Bell before the Church ends up more broken than before Luther rattled it's cage

Time magazine recently called Rob Bell "The Hipper-Than-Thou-Pastor" (Thursday, Dec. 06, 2007). This, along with the fact that his influence seems to only be growing, led me to read his book Velvet Elvis. Since it has been done, there seems to be little need for a comprehensive book review. But as I read Velvet Elvis I became personally motivated to do my part and duty as a pastor and expose some of the dangerous content lurking behind Bell's hip veneer.

Pleasantries
Based upon what I read in Bell's book, he is both funny and hip. I say this because he made me laugh and because he does cool things like play in a punk band and surf (even the infamous Trestles!).

Continuing on with the positives, Bell seems sincere and appropriately calls for Christians to love those in need (not just fellow Christians) as is called for in the second greatest commandment. This is a great point and something that needs to be said and re-said before being said once more.

Anger Management
So with a hip rock dude writing a book addressing the need for Christians to act more like Jesus, why the anger on my part? Here are some of the reasons:

Rob Bell makes me mad because he preaches an anti-gospel. He craftily does this by portraying the essence of Christianity as following Jesus and treating people the way Jesus did. While this is important, living the "Jesus life" is not the essence of Christianity and neither is obeying the commands of Jesus (as important as that is). The essence of Christianity centers upon the work of Christ on behalf of sinners (i.e. substitutionary atonement). This is the matter of first importance (1 Corinthians 15:3) that was the prioritized message of Jesus' apostles (e.g. 1 Corinthians 2:2). Missing this is no small oversight by Bell. It is missing that which is of first importance! Over and over again he talks about living the way of Jesus and being like Jesus, but without the essence of the gospel, which is Jesus' work! This is scandalous.

Rob Bell makes me mad because he writes off the virgin birth of Jesus as non-essential (pp. 26-27). You heard right, he writes off the virgin birth of Jesus as not essential! To state the obvious, this is entirely out of step with the Bible. Sure, one can redress and then mimic once-trendy quasi arguments by unbelievers about the word used for virgin in Isaiah 7:14 possibly meaning young woman. But the New Testament leaves no wiggle-room on the intent and therefore meaning of the word. We know this because the Isaiah text is quoted and essentially interpreted in the New Testament. In Matthew 1:23-25 the word virgin is used twice and shown by the context to mean virgin in the classic sense of the term. To ignore this is to show gross negligence which seems to depend upon an assumed biblical illiteracy by his readers. Far from being not essential, the biblical reality of Christ's virgin birth is vital to His unique status as the sinless God-Man. As troubling as this unorthodox teaching by Bell is, he commits a more dangerous foul. Bell continues with arguments against the virgin birth of Jesus followed by an attempt to defuse would-be critics by slipping in a token affirmation. Bell professes to be a Christian. But given his disregard for Christian doctrine, the name "poser" comes to mind (borrowing an old title from the punk rock scene).

Rob Bell makes me mad because he downplays the vital role of conversion. In a horrible overreaction against professing Christians wrongly not being compassionate, Bell says "the most powerful things happen when the church surrenders its desire to convert people..." (p. 167). He then proceeds to establish a supporting argument that would surely set well with most anyone who is either ignorant of or ignoring what Jesus says in John 3--unless someone is converted, they will not see the light of day in the kingdom! Bell's tactic is entirely unacceptable and irresponsible, but dare I say, fits with his mimicking the likes of the quintessential theological liberal Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969). Certainly Christians must love those in need if they are going to truly follow Christ. But such love is to augment the need to proclaim a gospel of repentance which calls for conversion according to Jesus.

Rob Bell makes me mad because he does violence to the clear words of Jesus. On page 21 for example, when he talks about Jesus' claims of exclusivity in John 14:6, he spins them to mean something other than what they clearly say and have been recognized as saying by Christians throughout the ages. At first I was surprised at how much Bell sounded like a radical theological liberal like Marcus Borg, but then I saw that the very first endnote in the book was an unqualified recommendation of a book by Borg! Bell's recommended reading on his church's web site promotes reading by John Dominic Crossan, the former co-director of the Jesus Seminar, so endorsing Borg is not a matter of isolation. Such men have a reputation for shamelessly doing violence to Jesus and His gospel.

Rob Bell makes me mad because he is the pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church. I am not suggesting that churches with "Bible Church" in the name are anything special per se, but historically they have not been places where things like the virgin birth is considered non-essential. In my estimation this is downright deceptive.

A New Dress
Simply put, Rob Bell is a theological liberal resembling the mainline denominations of the early 1900s. The difference is that Bell is sporting a fashionable new dress or in his case, a new pair of geek-chic glasses.

If J. Gresham Machen were alive today, I suspect he would do what he did with Bell's theological predecessors. Machen would remind him that while he has the freedom to start a new religion, he really should call it something other than Christian given that his religion does not resemble what Christ actually established as recorded in the Christian book, the Bible.

Causes
In my opinion, the reason this book is resonating with so many is because we have seen the evangelical church abandon the Evangel Himself. Yes, much of evangelicalism is empty because the Evangel of our evangelicalism is gone or as David Wells so aptly put it: He has been dislodged from its center. Couple this with a general ignorance of the Bible and church history and you have a book like Velvet Elvis actually seen as publishable by a "Christian" publisher and selling as if it were something novel and good.

Because I love the Evangel of the Bible and therefore historic Christianity, I guess it is off to anger management class for me.

Patrick Abendroth

While I am one who was less than impressed with the writing style, that's more of a personal preference than a real critique. Rob Bell hops around, not really landing on complete sentences all the time, though I imagine that's for the "this is how my mind works" feel. However, that's not my real complaint about this book.
As with his other book, "Sex God," Bell's "theology" is shallow -- soft on basing anything on Scripture and using more of a "touchy-feely Jesus" than anything else. He's certainly a speaker/writer who knows how to craft words, but that just means that readers must read carefully so that they won't fall for well-said stupidity, or worse yet, error.
Shelve Bell's books in the "be careful what you read" section.

Velvet Elvis was recommended as another in a growing list of books published today on Progressive Christianity. I could hardly wait for it to arrive and began reading the day it was delivered.

I noticed from the start that the writing had a "preachy" tone. No doubt, much of what is in this book came from sermons at the good Pastor's church. Though I found it difficult to identify the intended direction of the author, I enjoyed the fast reading pace made possible by this undersized book with a chatty style of writing. This book may be an attempt to "Repaint the Christian Faith" but it is be done with heavy brush strokes of "fundamentalism".

When I read deeper there was a growing recognition of disappointment. Easily recognized were mis-statements of fact and claims of events occuring 2,000 years ago that are questionable. The book is well footnoted by chapter in the back; however. It is painfully obvious that the footnotes are intended to encourage further study into areas very close to fundamentalism. Though footnotes abound for each chapter, when it was time to provide scholarly verification of events among the early followers of Jesus, Bell provides no souce justifying his claim. It lead me to believe that he is simply parroting fundamental principles with a liberal slant.

The author claims "Gentiles is his (Paul's) word for people who don't follow God." That is incredibly naive. The word "Gentile" originates from the Hebrew word "Goy" and means anyone that is not Hebrew, Israelite or Jew. It has nothing to do with "those that don't follow God". Paul established what evolved to be the Christian church future among the the Gentiles. Had it not been for his work among these people there likely would not be a Christian following today.

Pastor Bell claims "law is his (Paul's) word for the Scriptures". Of couse, no clarification of the term "Scriptures" is provided. Don't mistake the "Scriptures" as meaning anything from the New Testament because it did not come into existence officially for 300 years after that time.

Later, in the same chapter, Pastor Bell talks about the world "God created". His view is pointedly creationism, which is unsettling for a Progressive's mindset. Throughout the book the good Pastor uses the phrase time and time again, "God has spoken, and the rest is commentary.? Simply put, this is no more than parroting the same line of fundamentalism that has been pushed at us for centuries. He gives it a slightly liberal spin, no doubt to appeal to the growing list of church "alumni"; nonetheless, this book is basic fundamentalism with a chatty, sugar coating.

I had hoped to add this book to my library of uplifting titles on Progressive Christianity that I could recommend to others. Instead it will go in the stack that says "Christian Fundamentalism with a slightly liberal spin.

What a refreshing and enlighting book - not just on Christianity, but on one's relationship with God. This book is such a easy read, but you'll wnat to read it two or three times because there are things that will jump out at you each time. Mr. Bell writes in such a way that even a young teenager can understand the points he's trying to get across. It challenges your mind--NOT your faith. This book was just the encouragement that I needed.

I must admit that when I first heard of the book I dismissed it as a feel good book before even reading it. Velvet Elvis as a title for a book on God? Come on. That is why when I did read it 6 months after I bought it, I was blown away.

Although his writing style is a bit quirky, the stories he tells brought new meaning to Bible passages in ways I never thought of before. When he describes the passage where Jesus says "his yoke is easy", Bell's explanation of what a yoke was in Jewish rabbinical tradition made this verse explode with life. He does this frequently in the book.

Another thing that was driven home was his humility. When he was discussing about how he battled against wanting to be accepted as "super pastor" and how that almost destroyed his faith. That was real and quite applicable to my own life. John Ortberg has referred to this as one's shadow mission where one's purpose is distorted just enough to change it completely.

One thing you cannot say about Rob Bell is that he conforms to the typical criticism of the Emerging Church movement as being feel-good, wishy washy and watered down. His call is real and his call is strong. The challenge to impact the world is one that should be heard in all churches. His calls to action are found throughout the book. One cannot deny that Rob Bell believes in God and his role in the mission of the church. He not only believes but lives it out to its fullest.

I really liked the "Velvet Elvis." While many have pointed out the various elements that are problematic, I liked it mostly because it truly sparks discussion and commentary in an honest and respectful way. So dig into this book and discuss it with others. God has spoken and we are all commentators.

Bought this for my father, as I had previously read it and LOVED it. It's a must-read for a growing soul. Rob Bell has not let me down yet.

I bought it as a Christmas gift and it came very quickly and was just as they described it.

Don't come to this book to be trained in theology.

Don't come to this book to get a treatise on Biblical exegesis.

Come to this book to get a fresh perspective, a reminder of the reality and rawness of the Jesus of the Bible, and an exhortation to continue seeking Him.

Rob Bell has put together a great set of thoughts here, loosely strung together in a vaguely Donald Miller kind of way. They flow from someone who has a love for Jesus and a desire to follow Him, but who recognizes that he doesn't know all there is to know. In the meantime he wants to share what he is discovering through his journey and to encourage others to continue on in their own journeys.

Where the book is flawed is not in what it says, but what it *doesn't* say. To someone who is grounded in solid theology, Bell's words are a refreshing exhortation to keep on keepin' on. He fails, however, to provide any sense of boundaries to keep someone who is less grounded from taking his ideas and running with them in the wrong direction. For example, he talks at length about the importance of each of us coming to the Bible and engaging it with the work of interpretation. Nowhere in the discussion, though, does he ever provide any type of hermeneutical guidelines -- or even hint that such a thing might exist, for that matter. These types of omissions are dangerous, in my opinion, and are the only thing keeping me from fully endorsing an otherwise excellent book.

Rob Bell writes in a winsome way. He appeals to my generation of many levels and this book is one of his best.

Yet, between the lines I found great skepticism concerning the Christian faith. I can't really get into his challanging the trinity, virgin birth and other staples of Christianity. I'm not even sure that's where we need to be spending our energy.

My generation is tired of fighting against historic Christianity. This book was helpful, though, in that it shows us a pastor who is thinking about theology. This book prepares us for other books that help us abandon ourselves completely to God.

Bell's book is a great read, and I look forward to other books coming from his pen.

Shameless plug--check out my new book Sex, Sushi, and Salvation: Thoughts on Intimacy, Community, and Eternity

Velvet Elivis is a very well written, easy to read book. While Rob Bell makes some great points throughout his book, specifically about letting Christ heal you from past pains and sufferings, much of this book deeply troubles me with the direction it takes the reader.
Rob Bell leads the reader to believe that the interpretation of the bible is somewhat guesswork and can't ever be known for certain. Rob also questions many essential doctrines and teachings throughout the book along with doing a very poor job of interpreting the bible correctly, which YES can be intepreted correctly and its actual meaning can be known. Some of the doctrines and teachings that are questioned by Rob Bell include The Creation account in Genesis, the Trinity and the Virgin birth. With the Creation account Rob Bell suggests it should not be taken literal, which I disagree with but I know he is by no means alone on this view, but what bothered me most was the way he tried to dismiss the creation account. He questions about how there was light when the Sun wasn't created until the fourth day. This was somehow supposed to serve as a reason for discrediting the creation account in Genesis. This is a question Creationists have provided answers to for many years. Some of the possiblities include that Jesus served as the literal "Light of the World" as the book of Revelation says he will be in the future and also the fact that the Sun is not the only light in the sky.
Bell's states in his book that if we were to find out that Jesus had a biological father named "Larry" that this would do nothing to the Christian faith. This is absolutely heretical and it would be detrimental to the Christian faith. He also does a poor job of researching the issue of weather or not the Virgin birth really needed to be a virgin birth or just a birth from a young lady. The context makes it clear it had to be an actual virgin. Also, while the Hebrew prophecy makes it clear through context if not by actual word usage, the Greek clears it up even by its word usage.
And then finally the Trinity, whose essence and being is described through out the entire bible. Of course as humans we may not have a full understanding of it but to suggest it is simply made up by man is just terrible.
After reading the book I honestly do not think that Rob Bell is a bad guy or someone who is deliberately trying to mislead people. Unfortunately, I think his oversimplistic view of Christianity and scripture is leading down a very dangerous path and it's gaining momentum.
I do not recommend reading this book unless reading it with the intent of discussing its problems with friends and family who have read and enjoyed the book. Rob Bell has heresy wrapped up in good ideas and great writing.

Loved this book and have given away many. Rob Bell brings a refreshing perspective to Christianity and the love our God has for us. One of the best books I have ever read.

Once, when I was attending a Nazarene university, and going to a Baptist church, a theology student asked me what my denomination was. I replied by telling him that I chose not to associate with a specific denomination. He proceeded to tell me that that was worse than being a Baptist. Now, that could have been a funny moment if either of us had laughed, but it was meant in sincerity and disrespect. Where is this animosity coming from? I kept playing that memory over and over again in my head as I read Velvet Elvis. This book really challenged me to think about how easy it is for us, for me, to make brick walls with my faith. But for all the doctrines we write and learn, and the theology classes we take, maybe we have missed the point. It seems we forgot the most important thing: God wants us to love. But what is this love? What does it look like, and what does it mean as a Christian? How do we live in harmony with others and still be faithful to Christ? Those questions opened up into more questions. Am I simply spending all my time defending a brick wall that I have built, or am I spending my time loving my fellow Christians and non-Christians? Is it all right for me to say that my faith is flexible? I don't know many things, but will that shake my faith? Is it all right to have a God that is so great, He continues past the reaches of my mind? Once again, Rob has exposed so many crucial questions with a unique style of writing and phenomenal storytelling.

This is a wonderful book about rethinking and repainting the faith! I am 73, and still learning, growing in my faith. Each year in February a pastor-friend and I lead a Women's Retreat, and I would love to have used this book to push the envelope of our faith. However, the print is too small. This is my only complaint. Please, Rob Bell, create a Large Print edition! Thanks

As I started to read the one-star reviews, I started to rethink my initial reaction to the book... and it remains the same. I do agree with the critics- nothing can ever replace or come close to the Bible. But I never saw that trying to be accomplished in this book. I am a part of a new generation in the Church, one that is tired of all the church drama, one that wants to get back to the actual living Word and what Christ has called us to do here in this life. I find that Rob Bell gives his reader a wealth of historic information about Jewish traditions, which gives the reader a new prespective and clears up many questions. For example, I never really understood why people wanted Him dead; I mean He was a good guy, never hurt anyone. After reading the chapter on the Rabbi tradition it made a lot of sense. Putting history into context is the only way the Bible can make sense to us and actually be put to use today. There is nothing wrong with questioning your faith. Without questions your faith is stagnant and not growing. God does not want us to follow blindly; that is why He gave us freewill to make up our own minds. This book brought up a lot of great points that really make you think and wonder. It is one person's opinion and should never be taken for gospel, but it shouldn't be ignored either.

im reading the book for the second time bc many people have approached me with concerns about the ideas of Rob Bell. The book has GREAT inspiration and ideas. however, i urge you to read it carefully take what is GOOD but definitly feel free to leave some behind. I can assure you that if your mind set is already "this guy is a herotic" then you will want to throw the book out when you are finished. It is easy to read between the lines of this book and assume Rob Bell is crazy. However, ive decided that the book leaves room for alot of personal interpretation where you can insert your beliefs into his ideas(if that makes sense?). I was raised very conservative when it comes to christianity but have found that this book and my faith can coexist without compromising my fundamental beliefs in Jesus and God. i just wish Rob Bell would come out and the tell confused readers exactly what he means on some of the more controvercial topics in the book. my last and greatest concern is this: the book is not for everyone it can easily lead unrooted christains to believe in the "emergent church" ideas that are simply not Bible based beliefs. (the "emergent church" ideas are never directly addressed and have to be read into the text)

if you like his style and are interested in some of his less controvercial products, Try his NOOMA videos. They are amazing.

This is definitely new theology and it is wholly un-Biblical. If you are looking for a book to satisfy your itching ears to hear what you want to hear and to create your own religion - this is the perfect book for you. In addition, perhaps you would prefer to try Buddhism or Hinduism, which is closer to the theology of this writer. There you can build your own path to whatever you want to call god, Brahma, Buddha...

If you want to be a Christian and learn about how to live in the Truth and fullness of Christ, you have only to turn to the clear-cut paths of the Holy Scriptures. Contrary to the disgusting teachings of this book, the Bible is not ambiguous about the Way to Life, Liberty and True and Lasting Happiness. Truth is not relative and it is not pliable-that is not what the Bible teaches! Truth is found in the simple Gospel - which should never be up for debate, as it is here. Trust and Obey for there is no other way!

Yes, there is mystery in living for Christ, but it is NOT ALL mystery! Please do not replace your diligent study of the Scriptures for "embracing the mystery for all it is." How firm a Foundation is laid for our faith in His Word!
"...ask for the old paths where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. ..." Jeremiah 6.16

People have died (in the past and present) defending the truths of the Bible and this man is trying to create "Christians" who have no idea what Truth is or what it means to be a Christian, much less live as one.

This book might be considered well written for what it is (even that is debatable), but I am incredulous that this book should be placed on the Christian bookshelf. Leave it to the ecumenical movement, if that is your fancy. But be careful - should the Bible be true (and it is)!

Garbage in, garbage out.

Serious Christian - don't waste your time with this book. Kick the world out before it suffocates your faith. Do not be a Proverbs fool with the theology of the "adulterous woman" of biblical ambiguity.

I know this a firey review...but I am tired of all these *feel good*, broad-way books. I fell for them once upon-a-time, but the scales have fallen off my eyes.

In "Velvet Elvis" Rob Bell makes a needed call to the Church. He asserts that we need to rethink the implications of Christian truth on the lives of us those who follow Jesus, and on those who are not following Him. With a flair for making history and theology meld together understandably Bell guides the reader through a process of questioning and affirming what Christians believe and hold dear, then applying what he learns to life, friendships, politics, the environment, and an assortment of other issues. This is not a comfortable process, but many will find it useful.

However, a weakness of this book is Bell's penchant to use the poor illustrations of people he disagrees with (like Christian truth being a brick wall in which if you take one piece of truth out, like the virgin birth of Christ, it weakens the entire wall) and replacing them with equally weak illustrations (like Christianity being like a trampoline that will survive even if you take out a spring, like the virgin birth) and building an argument on them. What you get is what seems to be sound observations that can lead to some pretty bad theology if taken to their logical conclusion. Think about it, if you deny the virgin birth you weaken the Church's claims for the divinity of Jesus, and even though that may not weaken the faith of some, it sure would lead to the weakening of the underpinnings of "the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). Use caution, keep your bible close to hand, and keep your brain turned on while you read this.

As far as presentation goes, if you have heard Rob Bell speak then you will recognize the cadence of his spoken words in the text of this book. It is packaged in an unconventional style that is cool and comfortable, unless you are stickler for grammar and format in which case the physical presentation and writing style of the book will annoy you.

Over all I give this book a three b/c it needs to be read by mature Christians as a wake-up call to re-engage in their questioning of what they believe. However, this is not something I would recommend to seekers or young Christians b/c of the dangerous places this could lead them.

Whoops!

Are we searching for 'truth' in all the wrong places?

Is 'truth' found in theology itself or is theology a way of 'doing the Rabbi thing?' Jesus said HE (a person) is the way, the 'truth,' the Life, the living picture or demonstration of the Father.

Is 'truth' found in the Bible itself or is the written Scripture a testimony (via history, law, example, instruction, poetry, promise, good news, and marvelous stories) that opens a window to God? Paul mentioned that creation itself is a window that provides clear evidence of God. Jesus told some of his God-honoring brothers that they diligently search Scriptures in vain in order to own eternal life, (life in another dimension beyond time and space, the life of God himself -- full, complete, abundant). Jesus also told them that Scripture testifies to himself, Jesus, and all they really need to do is come to him. (John 5 39-40)

I am not sure we can certify 'truth'.....

This is a good introduction to Rob Bell, and to Emergent Thinking in general. If you've been reading Brian McLaren and Leonard Sweet and Alan Hirsch and Doug Pagitt and Dan Kimball and Donald Miller. . .then there's not a lot of groundbreaking stuff in this one. But for people new to the conversation, and for people wondering if there is Christianity outside of fundamentalism, then this book is a must.

I didn't know what to make of Velvet Elvis when I first heard the title, so I borrowed it from a friend instead of buying it, at first. But after reading one chapter, I knew that this was a book that I would read many times and mark for future reference.

Rob Bell offers insights and new perspectives on Christian thought that are refreshing and thought provoking. One of his observations: "Doctrine is a wonderful servant and a horrible master."

This is an excellent book for anyone wanting to stretch and deepen their faith.

Rob Bell's overall points are good. However, there are times when I wonder whether or not he is correctly lifting up Jesus Christ. Some of his illustrations concern me.