Emergents & Academics Questioning the Virgin Birth

[inf0dump]

So if a woman has a baby out of wedlock she's a "whore"? Good to know this guy's a misogynist.

[craigrmeyer]

Not "lying whore", but a girl who was raped by a Roman soldier, which happened all the time back then.

[LettersFromAStranger]

"Educated beyond their humility"

in other words, these men are educated, smart, and know what they're talking about, therefore, don't listen to them...

Stay ignorant, stay blissful...just whatever you do, don't investigate for yourself...

[JamesPrescott1977]

Driscoll has proved he's not read Rob Bell's book. It was a hypothetical analysis in the context of his book - and later on in the same chapter he affirms the virgin birth and the nicene creed. What Driscoll says here is presumptious and judgemental, and misrepresents Bell.

[donlaxner]

In a letter from Thomas Jefferson to John Adams on April 11th, 1823.

"The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter." Thomas Jefferson

[espyd21c]

Am I wrong in saying that only a true Christian will resolve in themselves to kill if god commands?

[8DamienKing8]

broken, defending the faith once given to the saints does not mean that you are necessarily promoting hatred, perhaps you at least in some cases, are mistaking hatred for righteous indignation. It seems to me a very shameful attitude among Christians who refuse to Defend our God and Savior, and the Gospel He preached... People tout how much They love Jesus, and will not even raise a single protest against those who openly malign Jesus Christ and the Bible... it is sad and wrong.

[InsaneGoonRules]

Rofl, imagine people actually worrying about some woman getting knocked up thousands of years ago. You can bet this clown would have no problem with the USA bombing her if she was in Iraq now..

[Brokenjarsco]

My last comment here. 1 Corinthians 13:1-5 and 1 John 4:19-20. I just think that we should chew on the question or leave it alone but love and don't throw stones. I am truly sorry If anyone here took my comments as me looking for a fight because I am not. I am tired of fighting.

[norqvader]

I'm not fighting. I'm sharing the viewpoint from which Mark's comments are coming, it is not motivated by hate. I apologize if that seems unloving. My identity is in Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. His death and ressurection are the ultimate expression of love. 2 Timothy 3:16 pretty much sums up what the Bible is. There is nothing mentioned about a "narrative". I totally agree that repentance needs preached IN the church, as well as out of the church. Peace.

[4thstreetstudycenter]

Your lengthy rant is like a filibuster.

[Brokenjarsco]

I work for family christian stores, and have attended a christian university for many years and been a part of the church for quite some time and I have met some of the cruelest ugliest and most hateful people in those places and all claim to be christians. This is not a directed at anyone here but just to say that I am tired of the hate and the fighting. I thats why I transfered from the university and stopped going to church. I just want to know jesus. In the places I should find him I don't.

[Brokenjarsco]

My comments don't deserve stones.

[Brokenjarsco]

"[The Bible] has to be interpreted. And if it isnt interpreted, then it cant be put into action. So if we are serious about following God, then we have to interpret the Bible. It is not possible to simply do what the Bible says. We must first make decisions about what it means at this time, in this place, for these people."

[Brokenjarsco]

This can make the Bible a very difficult book to understand if you are reading it as a citizen of the the most powerful empire the world has ever seen. Without careful study and reflection, and humility, it may even be possible to miss central themes of the Scriptures."

[Brokenjarsco]

"Most of the Bible is a history told by people living in lands occupied by conquering superpowers. It is a book written from the underside of power. Its an oppression narrative. The majority of the Bible was written by a minority people living under the rule and reign of massive, mighty empires, from the Egyptian Empire to the Babylonian Empire to the Persian Empire to the Assyrian Empire to the Roman Empire.

[Brokenjarsco]

what conversation though? I make a comment that I enjoy listening to pastor mark and I like that he speaks the truth butt he does use that same comment over and over again in many sermons and he really takes the opportunity in many instances to attack bell with his words. Would you like to know bells response? In a service his response to people calling him names, "love wins". Pastor mark should meet rob and maybe he might gain a greater perspective and then people start throwing stones.

[Brokenjarsco]

I wasn't calling anyone an idiot. I was only making a statement. I am not a person that chooses to take what someone tells me even rob bell and accept it without question. "The moment God is figured out with nice neat lines and definitions, we are no longer dealing with God." I find it funny though that everyone here is tearing rob bell down with their words and calling him names even attacking me. I don't think Jesus would say those things though because his message was of love right?

[norqvader]

Broken, namecalling ("idiot") is no way to engage in a "conversation", btw.

[Brokenjarsco]

As a response to themonument's comment I would say: I have a little brother and if someone was picking on him I would defend him, would you do the same?

[Brokenjarsco]

I choose not to be an idiot and allow myself to be spoon fed some else's interpretation of what God wants from me or is saying every sunday morning. I don't think asking the question is heresy. I know for a FACT that Bell affirms the virgin birth but he is asking a question and that is ok. I think it is funny how people take blind ignorance and call it faith. My you should take a hard look at where you theology is coming from and not be so willing bash someone else's perspective.

[8DamienKing8]

Brokenjarsco, you choose to be spoon fed By an apostate... The Bible says Jesus was born of a virgin, Rob bell is calling that into question... only one can be right, so while you have just called everyone an idiot, you should be concidering the origin of your theology...

[norqvader]

I'm sorry, you question the Bible? The virgin birth is not open to interpretation or questioning. It's one of the prophecies fulfilled by Jesus. If believing tha BIBLE is idiotic, you need to spend more time in the Bible, than reading Rob Bell, or any other Pastor. I've read Bell's book, twice. I have LOTS of notes in the margins, of agreement and disagreement. What would possess one to question something that is plainly settled IN the Bible?..not some council or commitee, but it's in the Bible.

[norqvader]

Mark has a great way of puting things into context. The loss of the virgin birth would also negate some of the 300+ prophecies fulfilled by Jesus.

[mrzohansanler]

mark is really blessed preacher he says thing clearlly

[willmurr]

Pastor Mark gives a great brief overview of what Rob Bell has to say ....those that are posting saying otherwise haven't read or are projecting what they think Rob Bell is saying..

[aelkins02]

Uh dude, Rob Bell has made lots of unbiblical statements. Velvet Elvis is a printed copy of what Paul calls "Damnable Heresies."

[passkubalon]

he unamed pastor who denied the birth is Rob Bell in the book velvet elvis

[Brokenjarsco]

I would have to say he hasn't read the book because that is not what the book says. If he has read the book then he is taking what bell says and twisting it for his own purposes, which is what most christian leaders and fanatics do with scripture anyway. It is more than just "referencing". This is the same comment that he has been making for quite a while. It seems he has a problem with arrogance and not being able to slow down and think things through before he says them.

[themonument]

I have problems with Rob Bell, but the most telling thing about him and his ministry is that his disciples will defend his words more passionately than they will defend the Bible.

[Lukewil86]

What a brilliant comment. Seriously, that's a good point, and one that I had never thought of before. Nice.

[aelkins02]

Agreed!

[chism1985]

are you serious?, dude Rob Bell is a heretic Velvet Elvis is full of apostacy, and hell worthy trespasses...Calvin and Arminis would have him burned for half the crap he says in his books, and he did say that the virgin birth is unimportant

[norqvader]

Velvet Elvis p.26: "What if tomorrow someone digs up definitive proof that Jesus had a....biological father named Larry...discover that 'born of a virgin' meant the first child after the mother has inter course..." Answer to this crap? It negates the fact that Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit and is NOT God the Son(That's in the Bible...not a man-made theology). How's that for context and not twisting?

[Brokenjarsco]

I really like listening to mark speak and I think for the most part he speaks truth and doesn't apologize for it. I would like for him to stop bashing rob bell though. I would think that to criticize someone you would first need to meet them and know what they are about and maybe not make back handed comments based and second or third hand knowledge. Hey, pastor mark do you think you could get to know rob bell first? It could be that there is a tiny bit of miscommunication.

[whereiskeven]

he's read the book, the book says what it says. if it's wrong and bell doesn't really believe what it says, why is it still for sale?

how is referencing published material, without even referencing by name the author of the book, 'bashing rob bell' or a 'back handed comment based on second or third hand knowledge'?

[tboladave]

well he doesn't name him so, i would say, that comment was fine. personally

D x

[bunncat40]

Pastor Mark knows Rob very well, they used to travel together and preach before Bell branched off into his own stream of the emergent church

[therealdrag0]

He's met other emergents. Must we meet everyone we disagree with?

[hardfael]

Rob Bell's headache.