Ragamuffin Soul - Latest Comments in Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

Ryan — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:36:17 -0000

Rob Bell is a heretic. To anyone who buys into his feel good, all positive "gospel," please re-read Scripture. The unsaved need to know that they're are wicked sinners, just as we were, before they can realize a need for a Savior. I really feel sorry for those that you are "leading to Christ." It's a false christ that those people are following. My prayers are with you.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

Joey — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:19:32 -0000

Victor
No...You're not way off. They are both trying to take a deep idea, and share it in a short period of time. There is far "more" to both of them...

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

Victor — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 22:52:45 -0000

I'm not sure Bell and Friel are even coming from a similar point of view on what the gospel actually is. From what I've heard from Bell, "the gospel" isn't a formula that you speak with words in order to get somebody to believe a certain set of beliefs. Friel's motivation for "sharing the gospel" seems to be an escapist view, with most of the emphasis on going to the good place instead of the bad place when you die. Bell comes from more of a restoration angle on the Scriptures. It seems to me that these two videos are simply the tips of each man's theological iceburg; a discussion on the videos might be able to progress further when these things are taken into consideration. Am I way off?

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

D Rho — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:31:24 -0000

Great post Carlos!

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

D Rho — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:30:43 -0000

Juxtapose.

Could they both be right?

I think if you mash these 2 ideas (love and wrath) together somehow you're getting nearer to the heart and passion of God.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

ally — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:54:05 -0000

i had this going on in my shop!! i manage a christian bookstore and some folks took exception to bells nooma dvds! Boy did they decide that they would slam me for selling his dvds & books!!
what can you say really.............bullhorn is not one of my fave noomas but i dont know what all the fuss is about...........but then heaven forbid that we might "preach" the Gospel differently that our great grandparents did!
I have encountered some of the most angry & vicious people who attack Bell's ministry, Brian Mclaren, Steve Chalke, Erwin McManus, Mark "macho man" Driscoll and the list goes on........they are full of love!!

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

chris g — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 08:23:53 -0000

that second video is about 10 minutes and 11 seconds too long!

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

Billy Chia — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 02:46:26 -0000

Los,
The first time I saw Bullhorn my wife and I were in a Christian bookstore where they continually loop Nooma videos all day. We just stopped and started watching this one and just cracked up every time Bell said, "Hey Bullhorn guy."

I ran across not funny sarcastic guy's vid on youtube about a week ago, but in all honesty the thought didn't occur to me to post it or that it might inspire 40 or so comments on my site.

I have to give you props for finding just the right kinda random stuff around the web and putting it here are ragamuffin soul.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

Los — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 01:55:28 -0000

Probably a dictionary.
Los

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

the bear — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 01:20:52 -0000

My wife calls me Dr. Feelgood

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

Not From California — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:54:40 -0000

I kept waiting for the sarcasm. When exactly is it supposed to start? Perhaps you need to see some real sarcasm so you can recognize that the "lame-o" guy wasn't being sarcastic. Or maybe you just need a dictionary.

Sarcasm: A form of irony in which apparent praise conceals another, scornful meaning.

"lame-o" guy didn't ironically praise Bell. He was up front and said what he thought about Bell. He was sincere the whole time.

And for the record, I think the best response to a bullhorn guy would be to kick him in the nuts.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

Albee — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:53:00 -0000

My wife calls me Dr. Love.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

Boyd — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:33:59 -0000

Andy Stanley once said, "We want to make Sunday mornings for the people that aren't there on Sunday mornings." He was saying that to reach lost people we must identify with them. Paul said that in order to reach people he became like them (1 Cor. 9:21).

To reach non-Christians today, we must reach them in the context of their culture. Try this: talk to ten people on the street about street preachers and see what they say. I have tried it and 10/10 in downtown Atlanta in Centennial Olympic Park said that it turns them away. It is something culture looks down on and we keep doing it.

For example, I would respond negatively if some random person came up to me on the street and hugged me, as would 95% of Americans. That is odd in our culture (whether non-Christian or Christian culture). Then why are we using something that turns people away to win them for Christ?

Now there is always that 5% with street evangelism that it will work for, but the damage it is doing/has done to the 95% is unprecedented, especially among the younger upcoming generation. Entire ministries have made it their goal to help those turned away by hellfire and brimstone street evangelism and similar tactics. And it is a painstaking process for those ministries to do their work because of how deep these wounds go.

What was once effective in the older cultures of America, has long been a cultural taboo and hot button that we ignorantly continue to press. Street evangelism was a tool that brought in converts in droves in previous generations. But what we have forgotten is that Christians that chose it back then because of it's ability to reach the culture at the time. Street advertising was popular and effective in the 1900's for all sorts of companies and businesses. It was not a "Christian" thing to do, it was a cultural thing to do that Christians adopted because they were smart. But times have changed, let's not be stupid. There are many other better methods that do not carry the negative feelings and baggage that street evangelism does.

Rob Bell is known for his desire to reach non-Christians through culture. He is following in the footsteps of those who adapted street advertising into street evangelism. He is adapting film. We cannot hold on to tools once used to make disciples too tightly. God does not tell us how, only that we must.

Who knows, in 50 years video outreach may be a cultural taboo that some Christians still ignorantly fight for.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

alex mclean — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:15:43 -0000

wow - I wasn't expecting to see this many responses when I came here from my google reader...

I was going to say, "blah blah blah, blah blah blah blah blah blah!" - that's what started happening about half way through both videos...

Just do what God called you to do, I can't even remember the last time I saw a street preacher.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

Vince — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:05:00 -0000

Conversation...It worked.

i enjoyed the responses as much as the videos.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

rick — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:25:56 -0000

loswit... thanks.

Sorry for asking.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

RedByrd — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:49:01 -0000

"10 out of 10 people die" HA statistics are 100% accurate 80% of the time. Nice try "Dr. Reason."

Seriously, that's interesting. Although, Los, I don't think that dude was trying to be funny. I think he seriously believes in his little video and simply hipped it up to compete with Rob's, and that's scary! I totally dig Bell and culturally think he's typically correct. Nothing more to add here really than what ya'll already stated. I got all cheesed out and uncomfortable though when Dr. Reason began sharing the gospel. That was wickedly cornballish and uncomfortable.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

Tom N. — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:07:53 -0000

Talk about a hot topic. I am a worship pastor with a conservative seminiary degree and have read both books of Rob Bells. I actually purchased the Bullhorn video because of it's message. I have never heard Rob downplay sin but rather focus on loving people as Jesus loved them... and letting the conviction of sin take place through the teachings of the Bible instead of being condemned verbally by a by a bunch of well meaning Jesus followers. What it shows to me is that we don't trust that God will reveal himself, teach them and grow them spiritually so we take it upon ourselves to point out and condemn their sins.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

Thomas — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:49:27 -0000

So... I could careless for the emo -ting of Rob Bell or anything else the other guy said. I have never really heard of either. Bell had it better I guess but what does having it perfect matter when it comes to grace. Bell said, "the distinctive characteristic, (attribute, quality) of Christians is Love." He goes on to quote John in the New Test. asking you or Bullhorn guy if you measure up. His angle is flat out wrong. God is Love says John. THEREFORE, love is a person and John says waht you do if that person lives inside you and is coming out.

The distinguishing mark of a Christian is The Holy Spirit (Gos John chaps. 14-17) I think if we allow Jesus in via the HS instead of trying to build the qualities of love in our flesh, we will be fine. We would identify more with the Great Commission too which calls us equally to HEAL THE SICK, CAST OUT DEMONS as well as preach the gospel to all nations.

I don't have an "internal compass." I have the power of the Holy Spirit working mightily within me. It is what Paul said he had and it is what Jesus said we would have in the Gospel of John. It is the reason he went to the cross and died. He took our sins and gave his life to us. We now live on the forgiveness side of the cross and not the intellectual assessment side of our lives any longer.

Post mods and emergents better start accepting the true power of the Gospel and allow for a transformation rather than just defining it and hopefully putting it into practice. Let Jesus be Jesus - he is not a manual. This "greek wisdom" that has infiltrated the church and caused a loss of power and evangelism is getting disgusting, disheartening and becoming a real joke.

I lived in a place where there was a bullhorn guy on the street every weekend with his wife doing the same thing. He wouldn't let his wife speak even. She was only there to pass out the tracks. I would stand on the corner and try to undo Bullhorn guy with my own "love conviction." It didn't work and I went home baffled. The Lord spoke to me and said, "I am love. That is who I am. Allow me to give you the words and actions as you need them and then you will see results."

Obedience over sacrifice. Love is not a characteristic, a quality or an attribute. It is a person. The Kingdom of God is righteousness joy and peace in the Holy Spirit. When we have an intimate relationship with him, we have overflowing and contagious life. Bell got the commandments of Jesus right. We should do the first one more than the second. Matter of fact, out of the worship of God in Spirit and truth the second will come quite naturally.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

Roy — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:17:30 -0000

Chris was it not a response to make fun of rob bell's video style and then a response to what Dr. Reason thinks of Bell's theology? It sure looks like it.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

Chris Rosebrough — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:52:21 -0000

Todd.

I didn't see it as sarcastic at all. It was an illustration to make a point about how not telling the whole truth isn't loving at all.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

Todd — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:37:52 -0000

Chris, you don't think the second video was "smart ass?" The whole description of "Dr. Love" was as equally sarcastic as Bell's description of Bullhorn Man.

Bell doesn't downplay sin at all - he merely recommends taking the time to get to know people before condemning them of their sin.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

Teh Voges — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:32:15 -0000

I saw the "counter" video of this a few months ago and thought it kind of disturbing. Not because I feel that there isn’t a need, but it really felt more on an attack on rob bell. I have had my own encounters with street evangelists. Being yelled at and told I’m going to hell when then don’t even know I’m a Christian. When they learn that I’m a Christian they begin to mock and put people down for not doing what they are doing. I don’t feel the Christian love there at all.

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

Joey — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:14:53 -0000

The problem I have with this video is that he spoke of Dr. Love, and Dr. Reason, as if we are the Dr's. We are not the Dr's. we are patients. God is the Doctor. We are just the patient the bed next store...we all sick...We are all broken fractured people. And to say we are the Doctor seems a little arrogant. Because it is God saves..."by grace through faith" I don't know, I really want be careful bashing someone else...cause that would just make me no better...

just a thought

Re: Ragamuffin Soul » Rob Bell Get’s Slammed

rachel — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 13:34:28 -0000

wow!