I know this is a year or so old and not many of you might care, but here is a link to BW3 appraising Rob Bell’s Nooma videos. 

On the surface, some might be tempted to accuse Rob of serving up chicken soup for the soul, or pablum for the masses, or what passes for Christian pop psychology, but in fact on further review there is much more Biblical substance to these videos than might appear on first glance, and one needs to bear in mind that Rob is speaking to a post-modern generation that even if church attending are largely Biblically illiterate, and Rob is not. Indeed his teaching, including in his books tends to be consistently grounded in the Word, and those who keep complaining that this is not so: 1) need to lighten up; 2) need to consider the audience and level of discourse Rob is dealing with, especially in these videos.

Rob has learned the truth that you have to start with people where they are and lead them somewhere or persuade them to go on a journey of discovery. It is no good starting with them where you would like them to already be. And yet there needs to be enough challenge and impetus in the message and presentation to motivate a response, a change, a repentance, a recommitment.

I have to say that I agree with BW3’s appraisal and the necessity Bell’s overall approach.  As my wife is fond of saying, “Books like Jesus wants to save Christians are perfect for adult new believers to give them a holistic vision of the biblical story.”

We often critique Bell for being too simplistic, but a close reading – nay, a close listening, reveals not only many embedded biblical truths but subtle spurs.

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