True or False? - Rob Bell

Rob Bell is the founder and pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan. He attended Wheaton College without any specific goal in mind as to what he would study. At this time, he gained some attention locally from his work with the indie rock band _ton bundle. (That was not a typo). His rise to popularity in the Christian sphere later on was due to the NOOMA films, a series of short ministry films. Recently, he authored two books, “Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith” (Zondervan, 2005) and “Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality” (Zondervan, 2007). As he is relatively young and increasingly popular, many Christians consider his teachings to be useful in youth ministry. As a youth minister, it is highly likely that you will hear of or have already heard of Bell and his ministry.

However, as with all teachings, those of Rob Bell must be compared with the Word of God in order to determine whether or not they are true. Let's look at a quote from Bell in which he discusses the Bible:

The Bible itself, he writes, is a book that constantly must be wrestled with and re-interpreted. He dismisses claims that “Scripture alone” will answer all questions. Bible interpretation is colored by historical context, the reader's bias and current realities, he says. The more you study the Bible, the more questions it raises.

“It is not possible to simply do what the Bible says,” Bell writes. (Online source.)

The idea that the Bible must be "re-interpreted" is one of the most dangerous doctrines in Christianity today. There is only one correct interpretation for each verse of Scripture, and those interpretations do not change over time, just as God does not change. And what does Bell mean in saying that "Scripture alone" will not answer all questions? Sure, it won't tell you which pair of socks to put on in the morning, but answers to every problem a Christian faces can, indeed, be found in the Scriptures. If this is not true, then why even waste time going to the Bible for help?

In his books, the Bible translation primarily used by Bell is the new TNIV (Today's New International Version). Not only is this translation a paraphrase, but it is gender-neutralized, to the extent that it changes the meanings of many Bible verses. If Bell is using this "translation" as his guide, how much can we really trust his teachings to be accurate?

Elsewhere, Bell says, "We're rediscovering Christianity as an Eastern religion, as a way of life." An Eastern religion? Are we going to incorporate Hindu philosophy into our faith, like the New Agers, and thus come up with a mystical, humanistic "new" gospel?

And finally, let's simply look at the title of Bell's latest book: "Sex God". If that wasn't irreverent enough, what about the title of the first chapter, "God Wears Lipstick". How could anyone who truly wants to glorify God through his teachings and ministry ever make light of God in such a vulgar fashion?

Throughout his writings, Bell emphasizes "the glory of mankind" and proclaims a self-centered gospel based upon inaccurate paraphrases of Scripture and the teachings of less-than-Christian philosophers. I have only been able to give a short synopsis of his false teachings here, but I would encourage you to do more research on your own. As a youth minister, you must be zealously careful to analyze each new "fad" in Christianity using the Bible to keep false, detrimental teachings from pervading your ministry. Remember 1 John 4:1: "Beloved, do not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world." (Emphasis mine.)

Note: The views and opinions expressed on sites linked to in this post do not necessarily reflect those of Fishers of Youth.

A Musical Balancing Act

Perhaps one of the most hotly debated issues in Christianity today is worship music. What styles are right and what styles are wrong? Are all of them acceptable? Does it even make a difference?

I think it does.

There are two extremes in this debate. There are people who believe (in essence) that all Christian music written before 1960 should be thrown out and that worship should be done in a completely contemporary style. Others think that only the old hymns are acceptable for worship. Which view is correct? Well, to be honest, neither is entirely correct.

Let's look specifically at how this applies to youth. First of all, it isn't true that all young people despise old hymns, so don't make this generalization in your youth ministry. Don't be afraid to incorporate older worship music into your youth activities. A lot of hymns written in the 17th and 18th centuries (and even earlier than that) have appealing melodies and worshipful lyrics that even young people will like. However, many (not all) of the hymns and even gospel songs written in the 19th and early 20th centuries have lyrics that are somewhat simplistic and trite. It's important to carefully examine all music you're considering using to make sure it's reverent and harmonious, and that it glorifies God.

These same guidelines apply to contemporary worship music. One point that is important to make here is that not all young people like contemporary music. You don't have to use rock and rap in your youth ministry. As a matter of fact, I would not use them at all. You may disagree with me on this. But can you really say that these music styles are reverent and that they give glory to God? Plus, when you bring these music styles into the church, you inevitably bring with them a very sinful culture. That's why many young "Christian rock" groups dress and act in ways that are offensive to many people: it goes with the music. You really don't want to take that risk.

However, there are many, many worship songs that are done in a contemporary style that are not irreverent and that will appeal to most people. These are very good options. Try to choose from this group if you're attempting to bring more contemporary music into your youth ministry.

In general, your music should be within the boundaries of reverence and humility. We are bringing an offering to the throne of God when we worship, not just putting on a show. If our worship is driven by a love for Jesus and a genuine desire to please him, then we are on the right track. Do whatever is necessary to make your worship pleasing and glorifying to the Son of God.

Repackaging God's Word

Bibles written in "contemporary" language. Bibles made to look like magazines. Bibles with metal covers. Bibles with comic strips instead of text.

And the list goes on, and on, and on...

Who are all these "repackagings" aimed toward? In a word, youth. That's the biggest excuse today for any alteration to God's word in its original form. "It's not fresh enough," they say. "It needs to be made new and exciting. Besides, kids just can't understand the Bible the way it is."

Wait a second!

Let's think about what we're saying here - and about how youth respond to it. As a teen myself, I do not take kindly to the broad-brush statement that kids can't understand the Bible. I didn't know that everything had to be translated into so-called "contemporary" language in order for kids to comprehend it. I suppose that means teenagers can't read newspapers or high-school textbooks (or even books in general) either. After all, they're not all in "contemporary" language.

And just what is "contemporary" language, anyway? Well, why don't we take a look at a very popular Biblical paraphrase to see what people mean by that. Let's compare the Lord's Prayer in Luke 11:2-4 in the Amplified Bible (acclaimed as one of the most accurate Biblical translations in existence) and in "The Message" by Eugene Peterson.

The Amplified Bible:

And He said to them, When you pray, say: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come. Your will be done [held holy and revered] on earth as it is in heaven.Give us daily our bread [food for the morrow]. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us [who has offended us or done us wrong]. And bring us not into temptation but rescue us from evil.

The Message:

So he said, "When you pray, say,

Father,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil."

I believe something has been lost in translation here. Did the passage in the Amplified Bible say anything about "revealing who you are", "setting the world right" or "three square meals?" Did it mention keeping us "safe from ourselves", or did it even mention "the Devil"? Does "contemporary" language include using poor grammar, such as in the phrase "forgiven with you"? In a more general sense, does it require us to pray by ordering God around rather than making sincere, reverent petitions?

As a teen, when I read this passage in the Message knowing that it was written with the intention of assisting my age group in "understanding Scripture", I am insulted. This blatant twisting of the very meaning of God's Word is without excuse, and it is certainly unnecessary. In fact, it is condemned in Revelation 22:18-19. I believe we young people can cope very well without having our Bibles reduced to irreverent blather such as the above example.

As a youth minister, you will have all of these paraphrases and "repackagings" thrust upon you by Christian booksellers and even well-meaning Christian friends. Please don't use them. They are not God's Word, and are not "profitable for instruction" (2 Timothy 3:16, AMP). They will not further your ministry in any way; if anything, they will hinder it by teaching your flock falsehood. Use only trusted translations that are in no way paraphrased. The Amplified Version is the best, as it gives every nuance of the original Greek or Hebrew word. The New King James Version is also a good option.

(Don't) Break It Up!

"Mr. and Mrs. Jones, it's so nice to have you in our church. We hope you'll come again. Perhaps you'd be interested in the many programs we have available for families!"

"Well..."

"Mr. Jones, I'm sure you'd be interested in our special Bible study for married men. It meets on Thursdays at seven o'clock at Mr. Dinklemeyer's house."

"Oh, I..."

"And Mrs. Jones, we have a study going on for married women that I know you'll love. It's at six on Tuesdays at Mrs. Feedleburg's house."

"Ah..."

"Oh, and your daughter's around seventeen, isn't she? Well, we have a wonderful study for teen girls on Wednesdays at Mrs. Venderstoop's home at eight o'clock. Her eighteen-year-old daughter leads it."

"Er..."

"And I'm sure that fifteen-year-old son of yours would enjoy our study for teenage boys at Mr. Duckplatz's house at five-thirty on Mondays. Oh, and one more thing, you needn't worry about keeping little Harold with you in the pew during the service. Our nursery is wonderful - I'm sure Harold and Mrs. Pappaklookavitch will get along wonderfully. Well, have a wonderful week!"

This scenario is fictional (as you have probably already guessed as a result of those kooky names I put in), but it actually happens all the time. Whenever a new family enters a church, the various family members are "shunted" into different Bible study groups according to their respective ages and genders. This is done, apparently, because Christians feel that each person needs spiritual help specific to his or her needs, depending on what "group" he or she is in.

But what is the end result of this practice? It certainly cannot foster unity in the family, something our society is in dire need of. Should the church's goal really be to separate the family? I should think it would be more in line with Biblical teachings for the church to unite the family through its activites, not break it up.

One of the most difficult problems youth ministers face is bad relationships between young people and their parents. A barrier often seems to be up between adults and their children, one that keeps them from having true, meaningful relationships. Don't encourage or foster this situation in any way. As a youth minister, you should make sure that you're helping to unite parents and their kids in every way possible. Think of ways to involve parents in the spiritual instruction of their youth by the church. Make sure they're up to date on what their kids are learning, so that they can discuss it with them. Never underestimate the importance of this!

There's more to ministry than just youth. It involves the relationships the youth are forming with their friends and family as well. Make sure you keep this in mind as you seek to bring young people closer to the throne of Jesus Christ.

A Comment On The Da Vinci Code

Although the media frenzy surrounding its release has dwindled greatly, The Da Vinci Code continues to be one of the most read and talked-about books of our time - intriguing young people as well as adults. Its absurd claims about Christianity, though they have shaken the faith of some, have been proven completely false by the great Christian scholars of today.

There is a wealth of information available to the youth minister who wishes to be able to answer the questions young people may ask after reading The Da Vinci Code. For that reason, I won't discuss the actual content of the book here. What I would like to talk about in this post is a question that has not been properly answered by many Christian authorities: "Is it okay to read The Da Vinci Code anyway simply because it's an engaging story, keeping in mind that the things it says about Jesus are false?"

First of all, let me make clear where I'm coming from on this. I have not read The Da Vinci Code, and I would never want to read it. However, I would not be afraid to read it, because I have ample knowledge of the many fallacies promoted in it. It wouldn't affect my faith. My reason for not reading it can be summed up in Philippians 4:8, which says: For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and whatever is just, is honorable and seemly, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them] (Amplified Version).

Does The Da Vinci Code fit the standards set in Philippians 4:8? Nothing that belittles and blasphemes our Savior can ever come close to this Biblical definition of what we ought to allow into our minds. I'm not talking about the book's literary merit. Whether it's well-written or not is not the issue. Some books identified as literary classics are books you would be horrified to know a child or even a teenager was reading. They're skillfully written, but the author has used his God-given gift to serve the devil.

So, regardless of whether or not The Da Vinci Code is a "good story", deliberately reading it even though we know the evil nature of its content is completely against a Biblical command. If, in your ministry, you encounter a young person who has read the book and is confused by its content, show them the true person of Jesus Christ as defined by God-breathed scripture. If they haven't read the book but are considering doing so just because they'd like to read a thrilling story, tell them what the Bible says about what we should "fix our minds on". Living a pure life leaves no room for reading books like The Da Vinci Code for enjoyment.

Church vs. Christ

"I've been so worried about him. He's gotten into the wrong crowd, and he doesn't seem to care about God or salvation at all."

"If I could just get him to church..."

Heard this before? Said this before? Most likely, your answer to one or both of these questions will be yes. Or maybe you've been in or heard of a similar situation. What I'm talking about here is the preoccupation many Christians have with getting unsaved youth to go to church.

So, what's wrong with bringing young people to church? In and of itself, nothing at all. The important thing is how high you have it on your list of evangelistic priorities. If it's a good way down, you're all right. If it's near the top, take a closer look at what's under it. If it's at the top, there's definitely a problem with your approach.

Mind you, I'm not saying anything against churches themselves. But if the first thing you tell an unsaved young person is "you have to go to church", you may lose a lot of ground. Maybe they have a bad relationship with their Christian parents and stubbornly refuse to go to church as a result of it. If so, they'll immediately identify you as being "on their parents' side" and not listen to another word you say. Maybe they've had bad experiences in churches. Maybe they just don't want to go!

In any case, the Bible does not say that the first thing we need to do with unbelievers is make them go to church. Jesus said in Matthew, "For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them." I'm a Christian teen, and I don't "go to" a church building on Sunday - I have church services at home with my mother. We listen to sermons, sing praise songs, pray - in other words, we celebrate the Lord's day by worshipping Him and fellowshipping together as Christians, as the Bible commands.

I don't believe that going to a specific building every Sunday is necessary in order to be a Christian. If you disagree, I understand and do not intend to try to change your mind. But please keep in mind that the first thing you need to do when you approach an unbelieving young person - or adult, for that matter - with the gospel is to show them Jesus Christ in your words, your actions, and your love. If you want to invite them to your church, do so, but don't present it as a prerequisite to becoming a Christian.

Welcome to the Fishers of Youth Blog!

My name is Kyle Shultz, and I would like to thank you for visiting The Fishers of Youth Blog. As this is my first post, I would like to define here exactly what the purpose and mission of this blog is.

First of all, let me explain the “Fishers of Youth” part. I started Fishers of Youth in 2006. Fishers of Youth is a web-based ministry dedicated to offering help and guidance to people involved in youth ministry. (You can visit our main web site at www.fishersofyouth.com.)

I intend for this blog to be an important extension of the ministry, through which I hope to offer advice and encouragement on the topic of youth ministry as often as I can.

Why I started Fishers of Youth (and this blog) is the important part. Over the past several years, I have grown concerned with the approach most Christians seem to have adopted in evangelizing today’s youth.

In a nutshell, this approach is to make the church look more like the world in order to appeal to youth. I was talking with a friend of mine about this idea once. He was telling me about how his church has developed Christian music groups specifically for the teenagers in his chuch, groups that perform all the kinds of music they like, only Christianized (i.e. Christian rock, Christian rap, etc.) He said that that was “the only way to get young people in”.

The only way? So teenagers are just basically robots with sensors that hone in on contemporary music? I try to base my approach to the problem on the assumption that this is not the case. How do I know it isn’t? Because I am a teen (sixteen, to be precise).

For that reason, I feel very strongly about the way kids my age are treated by churches. Although I’m sure Christian adults probably mean well, I know if I were subjected to the popular approach used on youth by churches, I would feel as if they thought I was stupid, a “typical” 21^st century teen, my mind reprogrammed by rap music, my philosophy of life undeveloped, my desires and longings shallow and worldly. I hope I don’t appear that way to people at first glance, but I know a lot of kids my age probably do.

But in my opinion, it’s damaging to the body of Christ to make that assumption. In short, I feel that if you try to lead youth into the kingdom of God by making them think it’s not too different from the world, they won’t really ever understand that the kingdom of God is anything but similar to the world. And if they think this, they’ll either steer away from Christianity because they’re looking for something deeper than simplistic, worldly answers, or they’ll enter the church without ever truly devoting their lives to Christ. Is that what we want?

It’s clear that as Christians, we need to rethink our ideas about what youth need and don’t need. I think we ought to start by presenting Christianity as it really is, a lifelong commitment to Jesus Christ which is radically different in every way from the “do what feels right” philosophy our culture is pushing on young people.

That is the main message I intend for this blog to have, and it’s also the foundation of Fishers of Youth in general.

Hope you enjoy future posts! And don’t forget to check out www.fishersofyouth.com.

Note: Fishers of Youth is NOT just concerned with teen ministry, but with ministry targeting ALL youth, including adolescents and younger children. We include not only trained, certified youth ministers in our outreach, but also anyone with the desire to reach out to young people with the gospel.