Issue: Rob Bell’s new book, entitled ‘Sex God’

Slice/CRN’s take: They hadn’t even read it yet, and they were willing to trash it for its topic (after all, Christians shouldn’t talk about sex, let alone engage in it, right?), and to tackle Bell for an incredibly brief ‘tour’ where he signed the book and did a Q&A session (For the Univrsity of Kentucky stop on Feb 15, flights from MI to KY were cancelled, and Bell decided to make the 10-hour drive.), which prompted the ever-hysterical Ken Silva to compare Bell to Marilyn Manson.

My take: The book has been out more than 3 weeks now, though, and there’s been nary a peep at CRN, so I figured I’d get out in front of them on this one…  As for the criticism of the ‘tour’ – to a handful of colleges within driving distance of Grand Rapids on a Thursday night, and one mid-week flight to the west coast – I thought it was very laid-back, and small for a book promotion (which a number of publishers require, anymore).  Maybe when we see Johnnie Mac go on the road with his current/next smear-fest, he will be compared to Mr. Manson (though, somehow, I doubt it)…

I published my review of the book last night here, with a few excerpts here:

This book is an exploration of a number of issues which we may initially see as mostly dealing with sex or the relationships between the sexes.  However, Bell delves into each topic to show that each issue of sexuality (’this‘) is really more about an issue of spirituality (’that‘), which he does in a highly-engaging, but yet tasteful manner. 

Chapter One, “God Wears Lipstick” is still available online in PDF format, for those interested.  It deals with humans being made in the image of God, and the ways that we treat other image-bearers (’this‘) through objectification or abuse, and how this reflects upon our view of their Creator (’that‘).  The chapter title comes from an anecdote from the liberation of Bergen-Belsen in 1945 which hauntingly demonstrates both sides of the coin of treating the creation in a manner that respects (or disrespects) the Creator.

Chapter Five, “She Ran Into the Girls’ Bathroom” is a beautiful lesson on God’s love for us and the choice we have to accept or reject that love (and is, thus, the chapter most likely to be criticized and reviled by hyper-Calvinists of the blogosphere).  Bell starts with a story of a girl he asked to dance with him at a Junior High dance (with the result given away in the chapter title), and the nature of the power to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ – but how it takes even more nerve/power to become vulnerable to give someone else that decision.  He also tells a very haunting story of a friend who left his wife and the cry of a broken-hearted lover.  In this chapter, Bell gives one of the bext expositions on the Song of Songs I’ve ever read.

This is a great book, and will be required reading for each of my kids before they get married (and my girls before they date)…