Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith by Rob Bell
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.79 You Save: $10.20 (68%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith
Book Review: Fresh perspectives on ancient concepts
Summary: 5 Stars
Rob Bell does an excellent job applying ancient concepts from early Christianity and Judaism to our modern world. Whereas many recent works on Christian spirituality fall short in substance, Velvet Elvis is strengthened by Bell's scriptural grounding and historical contexting.
For example, my favorite part of the book was the chapter on the significance of Christ's call to "follow me." Bell highlights how rare it was to be worthy of a rabbi asking you to follow him - you basically had to be in the MENSA of Talmud interpreters. In contrast, Christ invites mere fishermen to follow him. Thus, when Christ invites average people like us, he is showing the same confidence in us as the rabbis showed in their selected followers.
By placing in its proper context a portion of scripture that I had previously overlooked, Bell helped shed fresh, new light on my faith. Bell uses this new light to reenforce his ideas on what the church should look like today.
I recommend this to both Christians and non-Christians alike. Bell may convince you that following Christ is actually much different than what you had assumed. I know he did for me.
Book Review: One for the New Generation
Summary: 5 Stars
I spent many years outside the church till I found a church here in NJ called www.liquidchurch.com and found that there is a new generation of Christians moving through the world saying the things about the Bible that I have been saying for years. That God is not angry at you when you "sin" nor does he care that much about your sin, as he cares about you.
Rob's book takes us through a Journey of how God worked through out the Bible to show us that faith is about a invitation, not a declaration. And how we are to be inviting not selective.
Rob writes in an extremely post modern way, so don't think your going to snuggle in and stick to one subject. He moves around and talks about so many different things.
If your a Christian who has been looking for a fresh perspective on God, this is the book for you. If your a non-believer who is curious about the Next Generation of Christianity (some people call it the post moderns) I encourage you to pick this book up. It sums up quite nicely the idea of God, and how it's not all about what you do, but about who you are.
Blessings,
Mike
Book Review: God in blue jeans.
Summary: 5 Stars
A.W. Tozer wrote that "every man has exactly as much of God as he desires". If "Velvet Elvis" is accurate, Rob Bell wants more of God.
His casual, hip style will appeal to Gen-Xers, after all, he is all about relationship. Make no mistake, Bell is hot after God. But this is not the stoic, silent God of empty ritual and dry formalities. Oh no. This is God in blue jeans. This is a God involved in the messy, untidy details of our lives and caring about our responses to all the trauma and drama of our days.
I was very interested to learn about the rabbi's yoke, about the selection process of young Jewish men for rabbinic study, and other Jewish traditions which bring light to our spiritual heritage.
We are called to have faith in God but Bell also says that God has faith in us. An interesting concept which is real meat for the believer. But then again, Rob Bell is like that. He looks at faith and God in new ways and expresses them freshly. Real. Vibrant. Colorful. Freestyle.
This is a book that illuminates God's Word and challenges the believer to dare to desire more of God.
Book Review: A "Must Read" for all Christians.
Summary: 5 Stars
I found this to be an engaging, enlightening, and thought provoking book. There were many historical aspects that I had never heard before. "Real world" explanations of phrases like "...the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
The historical aspects, though fascinating, were not the main attraction. This book is about making following Christ alive and real in this world, and in this time. It's about engaging our culture, our neighbors, and even our planet in a living and vital way...the way Jesus did.
Velvet Elvis will challenge your preconceived notions. It will expand your understanding.
It is not the final word on Christianity, as the author makes clear. We know Jesus has all the answers, but beware of anyone else who thinks that they do.
I've read a number of other reviews of this book. It seems to have very extreme reactions. People really like it, or they label Mr. Bell as a heretic. Of course, the institutionalized church has pretty much always killed the prophets.
Anyway, like it or hate it, it's a very interesting read. One which I highly recommend.
Book Review: Another Look at the Christian Life
Summary: 5 Stars
Just as a velvet painting of Elvis gives us another look at Mr. Presley, so also, Rob Bell wants to paint for us an alternative picture of the Christian life. The Trinity is like the spring of a trampoline that helps us to spring up in faith for a better look at what God is like.
Bell also has a chapter about being yoked to Jesus and His teaching. We cannot simply "make a decision" for Christ. We have to yoke ourselves to Him and submit to Him as ourrabbi and also as our true emperor.
Bell also says we can be true to God by doing whatever we do in life to His glory.
He also has a chapter about the founding of his church and how he got burned out and how he was burning out because he trying too hard to be successful rather than doing his ministry out of adoration for God. He found out during this time he had a soul that needed to be reignited.
Bell does a good job of bringing confusing biblical concepts down to earth,and that is the biggest reason why I like this book.