Velvet Elvis - Rob Bell - Book Review

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis - Repainting the Christian Faith (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2005) 194 pages + notes.

Rob Bell writes, somewhere in my basement sits a Velvet Elvis - a painting of the King himself, air-brushed onto black velvet in a wooden frame. What if the painter of my Velvet Elvis announced there was no more need to paint, that he had painted the ultimate painting? We would think he had lost his mind because of our instinctive understanding that art is never done - it's the process of learning, exploring, shaping, and forming. And it's no different with faith. The Christian faith will never be complete. We will always be exploring and discovering what it means to live in harmony with God and each other. If we don't, our faith may end up in the basement. Velvet Elvis is about the endless need to keep painting ...

THE CHURCH has nothing to say to the world unless it holds better parties. Parties in backyards, basements and porches, not with confetti and clowns. This is one of Rob Bell's themes in his book, Velvet Elvis (VE).

Bell uses creative imagery to freshly illustrate a myriad of points in VE. The book has the flow of a series of homilies and this reflects Bell's obvious gifting in the pulpit (the pulpit of the hugely growing Mars Hill church in Grand Rapids, Michigan) - both his messages and medium are cogent. It's new in a '2005' sort of way, but it's a 'new' that remains new.

Bell argues we need to be constantly reforming our faith. He insists that Luther's contemporaries used the word reforming and not reformed for their approach to theology. We never 'arrive.' Faith build on 'brickianity' is fraught with danger; one brick gets removed and the whole wall crumbles. Our faith needs to blossom in truth.

Unfortunately, many people today and also in bygone eras, have conjured up images of Christianity that have nothing to do with Jesus. Some paradigms of the faith served well a generation ago, but are now dated and well past their use-by date.

We all search for God. No matter whether we are who we are, or we are a Barth or a Bloomberg, a Gundry or a Green, we search for God, we all search for truth. The search is abandoned when we cease painting. God is bigger than any wall. God is even bigger than the Christian faith.

Bell presses us to claim truth. Truth is God's, so it's also ours, if we claim it. Truth is found beyond our faith. When we find things that are true beyond the Bible we should be humble enough to recognise and accept it. When we find truth, it is not new - it is simply 're-branding' that's occurred.

Key truth: Jesus saves all. VE commences with trampoline imagery - Jesus invites everybody to jump. We don't defend the trampoline. We jump and we're thrilled when others want to jump too. The truth needs no defence - we must simply live it for others to see. Salvation is now. The cross is not so much about forgiveness, it's about restoration.

Salvation is living more and more in harmony with God. Jesus is the ultimate reality. He is the ultimate truth. His truth (the truth) saves us, and it is good news for anyone associated with us. Our Godly mission is to bring more heaven situations to earth.

The church is at its best when it gives itself away. When there are no agendas for converting people, and the church gives itself away in love for anyone in need (Acts 4:34-35). That is her role in the world.

Salvation is now. We need healing now, we need help now, and we need God now. Jesus died for all. We are already saved before we realised it. The choice is ours as to whether we accept it. The choice: Our reality or God's? Death or life. Hell or Heaven. Salvation is beyond human existence. God saves all of creation. Through Jesus salvation begins now. "The Christian movement ... is about rocks, birds, trees, swamps, ecosystems ... God's desire is to restore all of it."

Bell has a lot to say about Bible interpretation - a lot of good things. Everyone brings their own interpretation to God's Word. Interpretation is needed, but we get it awfully wrong at times.

VE is raw and smacks you in the face. It is particularly Jewish in flavour in certain parts, presenting a faithful retelling of the rabbinical way in Hebrew tradition. The point here? Rabbinical disciples were the best of the best. Yet, Jesus' disciples were the rejects of faith life. We're all 'not-good-enough's' and he accepts us - he has faith in us, more faith than we often have in him or ourselves.

Bell takes us into the inner sanctum of his own life and his drivenness to the point of burn out. He kills 'superpastor.' He shares the saving truth in his dealing with this issue.

Bell implores us... Christ needs you. The church needs you. The real you, not a second 'someone-else.' God needs the first 'me' to help bring his salvation to the world.

VE is an attractive product, packaged for today. For instance, it features cool headings and colour scheme, and page numbering reminiscent of Eugene Peterson's The Message. This book is exhilarating. It is a breath of fresh air for Jesus, Christians, the Church, and the world. It covers the basics very well. It cuts to the chase on the basic things that the mature Christian often overlooks, if they are honest. It is a perfect book for those seeking gospel truth; for those who don't presently call Jesus, "Lord," but also for those who do.

PS. Don't miss the Epilogue!

© Copyright 2008, Steven John Wickham.

Steve Wickham is a safety and health professional (BSc) and a qualified lay Christian minister (GradDipDiv). He is also has training and leadership Diplomas. His passion in vocation is facilitation and coaching; encouraging people to soar to a higher value of their potential. Steve's interest in psychology is matched by years of experience in the psychology of safety in workplaces. Steve's key passion is work / life balance and re-creating value for living, and an exploration of the person within us. An advocate for a fair and just life, Steve implements wisdom strategies to his life through a passion for Proverbial wisdom. His highest goal is doing God's will, in enhancing his life, and the lives of others.