Rob Bell is Stronger

The announcement of Rob Bell’s recent decision to leave Mars Hill came as no big surprise to most of us. I’ve gotten used to watching pastor’s writing/speaking careers eclipse their life as a pastor. The demands of speaking engagements, travelling, and writing are not that compatible with the demands of leading a local church. It’s hard to find someone who actually writes really well who stays in their parish (so to speak). Most choose to hit the speaking circuit full time. I always hate it when it happens, although I understand. Still it seems like it somehow injures the church. So many of us assumed Rob Bell – and let’s face it, the guy’s had a target on his back for the past 9 months if not longer – seemed to be the latest to make that move. He’ll go speak & tour & be a big star.

Within moments of the announcement, megachurch pastor Rick Warren tweeted, “Speaking tours feed the ego All applause & no responsibility. It’s an unreal world. A church gives accountability & validity,” a comment which I agree with wholeheartedly by the way. I remember reading the tweet at the time & thinking Bell had bailed on his church. It speaks to a deeper cynicism that Warren would just make that assumption, and I made it, too.

As word came out later that Rob Bell had walked through this very responsibly with his church and is following something that seems much more like a calling and a phenomenal opportunity to move culture, I was really ashamed at my cynicism. I have benefitted from Bell’s vision and generosity many times. I should have known better.

Anyway – here’s a quick article about what Rob Bell is up to. He’s partnering with Carlton Cuse (Lost), to write a new television series called “Stronger.”. Here’s the text from an article at Deadline.com. You can’t make a TV show from Grand Rapids – he had to make the move. You can’t move culture at Mars Hill the way you can on ABC prime-time. So, here’s hoping that Bell will keep chasing his creative passions & using them to benefit the world. Here’s hoping that I’ll be a little less cynical next time. Here’s hoping Stronger is good 🙂