Evangelical Megapastor Rob Bell Endorses Marriage Equality

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Evangelical megapastor, author, and television writer Rob Bell publicly expressed support for marriage equality Sunday, mincing few words as he offered a scathing critique of American evangelicalism.

Speaking before an assembled crowd at Grace Cathedral, an Episcopal church in San Francisco, Bell, an avowed evangelical who has been called the "heir to Billy Graham," responded to a question about his personal views on same-sex marriage with a firm endorsement of the right to marry.

BELL:

I am for marriage. I am for fidelity. I am for love, whether it's a man and woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man.

I think the ship has sailed and I think the church needs — I think this is the world we are living in and we need to affirm people wherever they are.

Bell, who was promoting his new book What We Talk About When We Talk About God, also expressed frustration with conservative strains of American evangelicalism, saying their theologies "don't actually shape people into more loving, compassionate people":

BELL: I think we are witnessing the death of a particular subculture that doesn't work. I think there is a very narrow, politically intertwined, culturally ghettoized, Evangelical subculture that was told 'we're gonna change the thing' and they haven't.

And they actually have turned away lots of people

… We have supported policies and ways of viewing the world that are actually destructive.

And we've done it in the name of God and we need to repent

."

http://thinkprogress...riage-equality/

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

I like what the man is saying and the refreshing attitude but.. It does not agree with the book that is the centerpiece of his faith.

[Calypso 464]

Churches and religions always make up their own dogma, traditions, and rites. To some that includes celibacy in priesthood, clerical marriage, electing males only for papacy, ordaining women to priesthood but not allowing them to become bishops, etc. So if churches and religions easily make stuff up, then other members of the society should have the same freedom that includes allowing same-sex marriage.

[X Factor 1,112]

I like what the man is saying and the refreshing attitude but.. It does not agree with the book that is the centerpiece of his faith.

[X Factor 1,112]

This should have been re-routed to the P&R forum

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I like what the man is saying and the refreshing attitude but.. It does not agree with the book that is the centerpiece of his faith.

Sure it does...

“[The Bible] has to be interpreted. And if it isn’t interpreted, then it can’t 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.”

― Rob Bell,

[^_^ 5,021]

So the part about putting homosexuals to death should now be re-interpreted as giving them marriage licenses. Marriage, death .. close enough.

Edited March 20, 2013 by ^_^

[Caryh 5,206]

[quote name=' timestamp='1363804236' post='6061507]

So the part about putting homosexuals to death should now be re-interpreted as giving them marriage licenses. Marriage, death .. close enough.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

In my own view, Jesus came to break the mold and instruct people where they got it wrong. There are Christians that follow what Jesus did, and those that follow the old testament parts of bible where god was vengeful. Some follow not throwing the first stone, while others are in the crowd waiting their chance to throw one. Both parts are in the bible, but which part do you really think Jesus wanted us to follow?

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Sure it does...

“[The Bible] has to be interpreted. And if it isn’t interpreted, then it can’t 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.”

― Rob Bell,

From the bible:

"Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable." (Leviticus 18:22 NIV)

“If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads." (Leviticus 20:13 NIV)

Maybe somebody can guide us through the logic of interpreting these statements into supporting gay marriage...

Edited March 20, 2013 by OnMyWayID

[X Factor 1,112]

There is no room for interpretation there

[JensJrny2Ray 367]

Sure there is, that was the Old Testament. The 'ol' "eye for an eye" part of the Bible. In the New Testament, Jesus died for our sins and we are saved.

[X Factor 1,112]

Evangelical megapastor, author, and television writer Rob Bell publicly expressed support for marriage equality Sunday, mincing few words as he offered a scathing critique of American evangelicalism.

Speaking before an assembled crowd at Grace Cathedral, an Episcopal church in San Francisco, Bell, an avowed evangelical who has been called the "heir to Billy Graham," responded to a question about his personal views on same-sex marriage with a firm endorsement of the right to marry.

BELL:

I am for marriage. I am for fidelity. I am for love, whether it's a man and woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man.

I think the ship has sailed and I think the church needs — I think this is the world we are living in and we need to affirm people wherever they are.

Bell, who was promoting his new book What We Talk About When We Talk About God, also expressed frustration with conservative strains of American evangelicalism, saying their theologies "don't actually shape people into more loving, compassionate people":

BELL: I think we are witnessing the death of a particular subculture that doesn't work. I think there is a very narrow, politically intertwined, culturally ghettoized, Evangelical subculture that was told 'we're gonna change the thing' and they haven't.

And they actually have turned away lots of people

… We have supported policies and ways of viewing the world that are actually destructive.

And we've done it in the name of God and we need to repent

."

http://thinkprogress...riage-equality/

He is suffering from MES

Moral Equivalency syndrome

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

From the bible:

"Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable." (Leviticus 18:22 NIV)

“If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads." (Leviticus 20:13 NIV)

Maybe somebody can guide us through the logic of interpreting these statements into supporting gay marriage...

So, you want to kill homosexuals. Noted.

Sure there is, that was the Old Testament. The 'ol' "eye for an eye" part of the Bible. In the New Testament, Jesus died for our sins and we are saved.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

So, you want to kill homosexuals. Noted.

Your logic is as sound and accurate as usual..

I didn't write the bible.. I do not think people should base their lives off of its writings.. The person in the article does (he is an evangelical preacher) and says his views are compatible. They are not. That is all I said.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Your logic is as sound and accurate as usual..

I didn't write the bible.. I do not think people should base their lives off of its writings.. The person in the article does (he is an evangelical preacher) and says his views are compatible. They are not. That is all I said.

The preacher specifically says that "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.". What part of that do you not understand that you respond with two select literal quotes from that Bible? There are other quotes in that same Bible that contradict what these quotes appear to suggest. Context is everything. The preacher gets it. You should try and maybe you'll get it, too.