Do you all remember that one movie, Office Space, and in particular Tom Smykowski’s invention of the “Jump To Conclusion Mat?” Well, I have a Shiny idea; as gift of love to those at the Gospel Coalition and Desiring God, how about we take up an offering, and send them a “Jump to Conclusions mat.” Why? Because every time an emerging or emergent Christian says something they do not like, potentially will not like, they will jump all over him or her before even reading the article or book. Yesterday, on twitter, I went over the #1 rule for theo-blogging/ biblioblogging, and it is for all the dilettantes out there: “Rule No. 1 for biblio-blogging/theo-blogging: dont post and rant versus a group of people you have never met, or read 1 of their works.”
I was first made aware of this by Amanda , and then later Christian and Joel, and Carson T. Clark’s updated Open Letter to Justin Taylor & Co.
Really, the two accusing bloggers, here & here admit that they have not read the book (they cannot, for it has not even come out yet). So why go through the trouble of questioning Bell’s salvation when you have yet to read his work on the matter of hell and heaven? Hmmmmm. Jump to Conclusions Mat. Regardless, there are some very wise commenters and readers of both blogs mentioned who wrote that they are not going to comment until they first READ the book, and that these posts were unnecessary.
Maybe TGC should learn from their audience.
I do not know Chad’s view on the subject, but my views of Universalism can be seen here & here.
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If you carefully look at Justin Taylor’s update you will notice that he has read some chapters of Bell’s book, which were sent to him.
Perhaps you need to do some research on Taylor and DeYoung before you accuse them of breaking your #1 rule. They know of what they speak regarding Rob Bell and the emergent movement.
Hey S from Canada,
I did read the updates, and yes I see Taylor did read a couple of chapters that were sent to him. But if I read two chapters out of a book, does that mean I can judge the whole book? Say I did that with Scripture or any other text? I do not believe so, so my critique still stands– he hasn’t read the whole book regardless.
At one point and time, I shared the views of Taylor and DeYoung. Really, I think the TGC and the new US Calvinist movement speak of straw men when they talk about the emerging movement, personally. I think they are breaking the rule only in this instance, however, having not read Bell’s book, Love Wins.
Hey Rod,
I agree, but 2 chapters out of a book, in the light of many other books and teachings by the same author is easily enough to ask some significant questions.
A bite of a piece of rotten deli meat is enough to throw out the entire bag.
Of course it will come to what is really in the book. But if DeYoung proves true, then maybe he isn’t completely using the ‘jumping to conclusions mat’ but the ‘helping others keep their eyes open’ glasses.
Really, I still believe this was a TGC publicity stunt,and they were jumping to conclusions. I really can’t see anything around that.
Only thing it’s caused me to do is pre-order the book.
Not everyone who opposes Rob Bell’s mythology are Calvinists; e.g. like me: http://apprising.org/2011/02/25/rob-bell-out-of-the-closet-for-universalism/
The 2 posts in question, plus Piper and Driscoll’s response belies the calvinist theological bias of most, not all of Bell’s detractors.
Man…it’s fascinating to me that Ken Silva and Apprising show up everywhere…but don’t allow people to openly post on his blogs…LAME.
HMMM. Interesting. I had never seen him around before.
You should check out his site. It’s…interesting.
I wonder if I should trust Craig’s definition of interesting…. Oh! j/k!
An Open Letter to Justin Taylor Regarding His Condemnation of Rob Bell
http://bit.ly/fLawpU
Thank you Carson for the link, and I do not know why you weren’t on my blogroll before, but now you are!
Excellent post.
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Here is what I think is going on: Poeple today don’t know how to handle criticism. We misinterpret it as hate, instead of asking this question: “Why does this person think I am wrong?” Ask them to show them where you are wrong, so that you can be a better person becasue of it.
Now I know that there are WAY too many comments on Justin taylor’s blog, (over 1,000)
But is shows how many people are concerned with this issue. and it also showssome who are unwilling ot admit that someone they have looked to for wisdom to need correcrtion from higher authority. such as the words of GOD through the Bible.
But I think what is going on here is a sort of “chicken” theology, such as, “God can do anything he wants, so if i want to be a “chicken” then God will turn me into a “chicken”
So , the false logic follows: “God can reveal truth anywhere, because nothing is impossible, so there must be truth here, God will do it becasue I want him to”
see the error?
The fact is, God has already revealed his truth in the Bible, we cannot manipulate God to reveal it anywhere else, despite a so called “positive message” that we like. Its not about what we want, Its about what GOD wants.
We should heed the words of St. peter when we correct fellow brothers in Christ:
1 Peter 3: 14-16
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats, do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
William,
“Here is what I think is going on: Poeple today don’t know how to handle criticism. We misinterpret it as hate, instead of asking this question: “Why does this person think I am wrong?” Ask them to show them where you are wrong, so that you can be a better person becasue of it. ”
Actually, I do not see that as the problem. The problem in Christianity, historically particularly in the United States, is that there have been groups of Christians in the name of ‘love” have set themselves up as the infallible gatekeepers of the faith. In fact, the Gospel Coalition, from their past posts related to Christian history and theologians whom they disagree, have done exactly this. If you do not share the Calvinist neo-reformed hermeneutic, you are considered a heretic. Not only is this approach arrogant, i believe that through reason and experience, that the Reformed tradition is wrong, flat wrong, and both wings, whether its liberal or conservative Reformed. But I am open and hospitable enough to allow 1, and after tomorrow 2 persons within the Reformed tradition to blog with me. I used to be a die hard calvinist, even as i attended a liberal progressive seminary. it was going back to the scriptures, learning the original language of New Testament Greek, as well as reading sources outside of Calvinism that convinced me of my error. Justin, John Piper and others have no room to talk when it comes to “praying for Rob Bell” since they need to pray for themselves, especially their arrogant triumphalist views of history and their veneration of the English Standard Version (which is just another form of King James Only).
If anything, the Gospel Coalition sees itself as beyond criticism.
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If there is such a ‘place/state’ as eternal torment in hell, than poor, insane Andrea Yates had it exactly right and all the rest are just B team player wanna be’s.
The real issue is, what happens at THE END? The scriptures on my website GreatestStoryTold.com bear out that GOD WINS in the end through Christ Jesus. If there is a ‘hell’, it can not be ‘eternal’. End of story.
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