"Velvet Elvis"

I just finished reading a great book entitled "Velvet Elvis" by Rob Bell, the pastor at Mars Hill Church in Michigan. It is a great book; I highly recommend it (here's the Amazon.com link if you need a little push, Velvet Elvis). It is such an insightful book. I am heartened by the movement that I see in the evangelical church. The movement is to a very happy place that I like to call the "extreme center" (of course it is going to be something that I advocate). Bell's book takes seriously the identity of Jesus as Christ, the bible, the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the kingdom of God. He is a good scholar, a good theologian, and an inspiring writer. But, enough about Rob Bell. What about the message? I hear you.

He says something that I think is profound about the cross, something that those seeking to use Jesus as nothing more than a "ticket to heaven" often forget. He writes, "The point of the cross isn't forgiveness. Forgiveness leads to something much bigger; restoration" (p. 108). That is important. Because the church is not just in the heaven business. We are in the restoration business.

But, what does that look like Pastor Jon? Great question. Later, Bell writes, "For Jesus, the question wasn't, how do I get to heaven? but how do I bring heaven here?" (p. 147). And that is the business of the church, to be about bringing heaven here, because Jesus has already given us a taste of it in his life and ministry, he has freed us from the grip of sin by taking ours to the cross, and he has won the final victory over sin through the power of the resurrection. Can I get an "amen?"