A work in process

The discussion of what constitutes a Christian worldview in the emergent church is a conversation rich with “layers and depth and texture.” And Rob Bell’s contribution is no exception. His central metaphor borrows from the language of art as he insists that when it comes to communicating and living out the Christian faith, it is always a work in process. Just as the reformers and historical revival movements sought to plumb new depths of passion and different facets of God’s character, Bell asserts, “We will always be exploring and discovering what it means to live in harmony with God and each other.”

Like a velvet painting of “the king of rock and roll” that now sits in a dusty basement corner, our faith has a tendency to become time-bound if not evaluated and repristinated for each generation and culture in which the gospel takes root. Bell’s task in Velvet Elvis is to see how the kingdom of God might be lived out in today’s world and how followers of Jesus can engage with suffering, serving, doubt, biblicism and culture from a posture of joyful learning and careful evaluation.

Those familiar with Bell’s Nooma video teaching series will find in his written work a familiar, yet more nuanced style. In Velvet Elvis he expounds upon themes like mission, atonement, environmentalism, church planting, and rabbinical tradition with compelling ease, if not always sufficient depth. I struggled at points with some of the vague and numinous language Bell employs, but his heart for the centrality of the Scriptures and their passionate application to our lives shines through on every page. His refreshingly authentic discussion of how success in ministry as the 28-year-old founding pastor of one of the fastest growing churches in North America (Mars Hill Bible Church, Grandville, Michigan) waged war against his soul is worth the price of the book.

For those looking for language to describe what it means to follow Jesus in the 21st century, Bell is an excellent instructor. As Anabaptists, we will find many of the historical values we embrace (such as a community hermeneutic) strongly affirmed and given fresh import for today. Overall, Bell paints an extraordinarily compelling and passionate picture of what the Christian life and faith can look like when people who love God are committed to “dreaming of new ways to live lives of faith and creativity and meaning and significance.”

Brad Sumner is campus pastor at Jericho Ridge Community Church, a satellite of North Langley (B.C.) Community Church.