What is troubling about this message, something that is clearly intended to be a presentation of the Gospel, is not so much about what is said as about what is left out.

The core message of the Gospel is salvation, but not primarily salvation from our brokenness, or a broken world, or any other such unpleasantness, although these ultimately are part of the package. It is salvation from the wrath of God.

The wrath of God is curiously absent from anything I've heard from Rob Bell.

John,

Thanks for your comment. It sounds like you're faith is really wrapped around avoiding God's vengeance and wrath.
To me, that turns heaven and salvation into nothing more than a get out of hell free card.
I really like Brian McLaren's illustration though. He says that we've typically looked at the cross with one or two spotlights shining on it. But we should be looking at the cross from as many different angles and spotlights as possible.
Perhaps that's why I appreciate Rob Bell's message here. It ads another spotlight and angle.
Many people would prefer to only preach the wrath and vengeance of God -- but others would prefer to preach the love of God and his followers. Both help give us a better understanding of the gospel and the God we follow.

At the end Rob Bell says, "may you come to see that YOU are the good news, you are the gospel."

This, in addition to his poor history and other erroneous depictions of who God is, form a clear indictment of this rubbish.

Rob Bell needs to repent. He needs to apologize to his church for bring in people like Phyllis Tickle. He needs to get on his knees to acknowledge his sin against the Holy God. He needs to stop leading people through a wide gate, using ideas and feelings that seem right to me, but lead only to destruction.

Rob Bell is telling a false gospel, which is really no gospel at all.

Steve,

Thanks for your comment. That's an interesting point you bring up.

I can understand how someone could see that as a problem. I'd might be worried too if I only understood "the gospel" or "good news" to only refer to a sacred message that Jesus came to save us and take us to heaven some day. (I don't want to put words in your mouth though - so perhaps you can expound. You used lower case gospel and good news - so I don't want to jump to the conclusion that you see it the same as those who typically use Gospel and Good News).

If I stick with that sole definition of good news then I would have problems with LOTS of things. Such as people using the term "the gospel truth" or "the gospel according to Hollywood" or "the gospel according to U2."

But even if we stick with that limited definition, perhaps we could see Bell's statement another way. If the gospel or the good news is only about Jesus coming to save the world -- then I would hope that we as Followers of Jesus -- who believe that Jesus actually comes and lives inside of us -- should have some of that gospel inside of us as well.

St. Augustine (I believe) said it best - preach the gospel always, use words if necessary. Apparently he believed there was something to actually living out the gospel. Perhaps he believed people would actually see Christ and his good news in our lives. I can't think of a better way to live something out - than for you to become what you're living out.

Spurgeon said that to preach the gospel is...
to state every doctrine contained in God's Word, and to give every truth its proper prominence.
to exalt Jesus Christ.
to give every class of character his due.

Seems to me that would be something I want to become.

Rob Bell is an apostolic "pastor" who should repent for his sins and turn to the true God and not some false idol he is worshipping. 2 Tim 4:1-5 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Kevin,
Thanks for your comment. Although I'm not sure what all your referring to/about.
To me apostolic means an apostle of Jesus. Perhaps you can clarify what's wrong with that (or as you suggested -- sinning).
Maybe you're just making a general statement that we're all sinners needing to repent of our sins?
Also, you quoted a nice verse from Timothy but I'm not sure how or where it relates to this video?
Thanks again for your comments - I look forward to your clarification.

Excellent vid from Rob Bell, as ever.

J

Thanks for the comment and the Twitter love!