Bell, Bartman, and my fears

March 1, 2011 in Books, General, God and Football, Sports with 5 Comments

If you haven’t heard, Rob Bell has a new book coming out, and over the weekend everyone got mad at him, and on Monday everyone got mad at everyone who got mad over the weekend. Most of the angst was in response to this video, a trailer for Bell’s new book Love Wins, in which the bespectacled pastor hints at some Universalist beliefs. Most of the critics haven’t actually read Bell’s book yet, since it doesn’t release until March 29, but this doesn’t bother me as much as it does some. What bothers me is that my book didn’t have this kind of buzz a month before its release.

Anyway, I can’t help thinking what it would be like to be Rob Bell right now, having all your contemporaries call you a heretic. It’s a fear of mine, something I actually worried about before God and Football came out, and I didn’t write anything close to controversial in my book. I think if half the Christian internet world were calling me out for my beliefs I’d curl up in a ball and cry for my mama.

I had the same thoughts when I heard about the Louisville cheerleader who nearly cost the home team Cardinals an upset win over Pittsburgh. Late in the game, with Louisville up three, the Cardinals scored on a break-away dunk as time seemingly expired. Jordan Alcazar, a male cheerleader, took a couple of steps onto the court and tossed the ball into the air. Problem was, time had not expired and Louisville was assessed a technical foul. Pitt made both free throws, and had a chance to tie the game on a desperation shot, but fortunately for Alcazar, and Louisville I suppose, the shot was off target.

The Louisville incident brings to mind Steve Bartman, the baseball fan who cost his beloved Cubs a shot at the 2003 World Series. I feel sad every time I see that video of Bartman, knowing how much he loved his Cubs, and knowing how much the rest of the Cubs now hate him. It was my fear this fall, with Cam Newton riding around Auburn on that stupid scooter, knowing I was one run stop sign away from ending his career and becoming the most hated man in Auburn.

Okay, so maybe the fear of running over Cam Newton was a little far fetched. But as much as I like to think I don’t care what people think of me, disappointing others, even others I don’t know, seems to be one of my biggest fears. Maybe it’s just the peacemaker in me gone wild. When others are upset at each other it bothers me, but to think that someone is upset with me, well, I just about can’t stand it. Lets just hope the internet doesn’t find out one of my favorite Christian authors doubted the historicity of parts of the Old Testament, believed in purgatory, and had some interesting views on salvation.  I’d hate to get labeled a heretic by association.

So, am I alone in this struggle, or do other’s opinions cause you anxiety as well?

  • Gary B.

    If Universalism becomes widely accepted the billion dollar commercial church industry is history. No wonder so many people are upset.

  • JT

    I feel the tension and wish judgment on Bell’s theology had been withheld until the questions asked in his promo video are answered in his book. The saddest part for me is the widening distrust in Christ and his Church that situations like this breed. Bell’s views may be Universalistic and heretical, but that remains to be seen. All he has said so far is that millions of people have misunderstood the gospel of Jesus Christ.

    A simple warning and call to caution regarding Bell’s latest book would have served us all better than bold conjecture and “farewell”.

  • http://www.anyidleday.com Joel Wood

    I as well fear everyone hating me. I remember when I was in 8th grade on the B Team in basketball. Our very first game one of my teammates scored on the wrong basket giving the other team 2 points. My only thought concerning the matter was, “God, I am so glad that was not me.”

    I have been the guy who ruined the big suprise before, you know the one you are supose to keep secret but let slip an accident; after somone had spent massive amounts of money or hours and hours working hard on the said suprise. There are few worse feelings in the world than ruining someone else’s work…hopes…dreams…future…pretty much their whole life by being THAT GUY!

  • Philpepe

    It bothers me when things like that happen too, especially when people start making judgements off a few words without even having the whole truth. In Bell's case, maybe he does believe that everyone eventually makes it to heaven (although I've never seen anything about that in the bible). We still shouldn't judge him though, because only God know's what is really in a man's heart.

    So yea, it bothers me when I see people attacking other people, especially if it's "Christians" attacking other "Christians." If we would focus on loving each other, and loving the world, then maybe we could actually get stuff done.

    Oh, and I never worried about hitting Cam, because I never even saw Cam, and I work at AU!

  • raincitypastor

    respectfully disagree Gary because Jesus actually spoke very little about heaven or hell – much more about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and – (can this be true?) loving one's enemies, even if the enemy carries a different doctrine as their weapon rather than gun. The heaven/hell conversation might have merit, but even if everyone's headed up… the invitation to live large now remains! That the church has often missed this message throughout millenia is tragic. That we're now conversing about the rules more than playing the game is even more tragic.