Bob Bell's New Book...

'Jesus Wants to Save Christians' ---

I recently finished Rob Bell's latest book. It is his third. The first one was s huge hit, while the second one, my personal favorite, didn't seem to be as revered as the first.

This latest offering was an interesting read. I am sure some will find it a bit controversial as Bell draws many comparisons to between the United States today and Pharoh's Egypt and later Solomon's reign.

If that becomes your focus I think you will miss what I took away as Bell's main point. He outlines it in this way -

"The Ten Commandments are a new way to be human, a new way to live and move in the world, in covenant with the God who hears the cry of the oppressed and liberates them. Everything about the rest of the commandments speaks to this newfound liberation. God is inviting, God is looking, God is searching for a body, a group of people to be the body of God in the world."

He goes on to say -

"Do you hear the echoes of Egypt in the command? if the begin to oppress on an individual basis basis, God says that when the oppressed cry out, "I will hear." The warning is sharp here: don't become a Pharaoh, because God acts against people like Pharaoh.

They are commanded, "Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan.... Do not deny justice to your poor people."

Bell revisits this theme later in the book -

"And now Solomon is building a temple for the God who sets slaves free... using slaves? This is a major moment in the Bible. In just a few generations, the oppressed have become the oppressors."

And again later -

"Solomon is using his massive resources and wealth to build military bases to protect his... massive resources and wealth. His empire building leads him to place a high priority on preservation. Protecting and maintaining all that has been accumulated is taking more and more resources as attention is given to homeland security."

"Is that maintaining justice and righteousness? Is that hearing the cry of the oppressed? Is that looking out for the widow, the orphan and the foreigner?"

Throughout the book he continues the comparisons of these kingdoms to the United States today. My focus was more about my 'personal kingdom.'

I don't have massive resources or wealth but a lot of times I focus more on protecting what I do have (money, reputation, image etc. etc.) than on the important things. Also a lot of times I don't hear the cry of the oppressed, look out for the widow, the orphan or the foreigner, because I am too caught up in my own stuff.

I found the book to be an interesting read & it served as a good reminder for me...