Relevancy22: Contemporary Process Christianity: Post-Evangelic Topics and Theology: Rob Bell - Everything is Spiritual 2015 Tour, Podcasts, & Films

Over the years I have been writing here at Relevancy22 how we might reach out to both believers and non-believers alike who have been turned off by the church. Recently, Jeff Cook's new book on the non-churched "nones" and the formerly church-involved "dones" was published describing what it means to be "none" or "done" in the world of church refugees. In a word, we have a spiritual responsibility to both the "nones" and the "dones" to think how we, as the church, might reach out in missional witness or pastoral care to a turned off, skeptical crowd composed of both disbelieving skeptics and jaded Christian believers.

And this is what Rob Bell does best as he lifts up Jesus to the masses and not to the "somes" who espouse church dogmas over God's outreaching love having nothing to learn from discussions like these except to feel irritated and upset as if someone had raided the kitchen refrigerator and left nothing to eat. (Don't believe it? Just listen to contemporary media reports, the preachers on the airwaves speaking up against Rob's tour, or even postings on Facebook.)

Unfortunately we get too caught up about perceptions and labels when we should be concentrating on minding the open message of Jesus to the "nones and dones" of his generation against the "somes" of the temple refusing not only Jesus' destestable message but even Jesus Himself eventuating in His unjust judgment by the councils of man and incongruous death by crucifixion as God's unblemished Lamb.

And yet, unfortunately, this categorical description of the church's "gate keepers," however sincerely believed and followed by its congregants, is how many outside of today's churches perceive Christian assemblies - not as welcoming and embracing fellowships but as an insiders club requiring qualifying mindsets and approving actions.

However there are movements afoot working to break down this public perception by learning to discern and place good biblical doctrine outside of bad church dogmatics. "What's the difference," you ask? Dogma always leads out with legalistic judgment coupled with personal bias whereas doctrine leads out with loving judgment against personal bias. There is a difference. One is a closed system, the other open. One has a closed bible, the other has an open one. One sees self, the other sees Jesus.

So then, when we talk of everything being spiritual... it is. Not some things are spiritual. Nor those things I select because of my religious preferences. Or because of my religious feelings or beliefs. But all things are spiritual. Everything. To know that we are a part of a larger fellowship. A fellowship that spans the entire cosmos of the universe as well as our own very human assemblies here on this earth.

We are not alone. We are together as a brotherhood. And that brotherhood starts with those next to us who need to see God through Jesus and not through our closed-minded church beliefs however desperately we wish to cling to them as unnecessary anchors to the gospel of Christ.

Peace,

R.E. Slater

June 15, 2015

For more information go to Rob's website -

http://robbell.com/portfolio/tour/

Everything is Spiritual Tour 2015 [1.27 min]

Everything is Spiritual [78 min]

With new discoveries right and left, more and more people are asking bigger and bigger questions about just what kind of world we’re living in and what that means for our hearts, our souls, and our spirits.

On the Everything Is Spiritual tour, Rob Bell does what he does best, making surprising connections between the universe you’re living in and the life you’re living, showing us how science and spirituality are long lost dance partners.

Wherever you’re coming from and whatever you’re wrestling with, let the Everything Is Spiritual tour experience inspire, provoke, challenge, and give you hope as we together explore and enjoy this beautiful, mysterious, and endlessly fascinating world we call home.

Everything is Spiritual 2015 Tour Schedule

6/24 Los Angeles, CA – The Regent TICKETS

6/25 Los Angeles, CA – The Regent TICKETS

7/6 San Diego, CA – Observatory North Park TICKETS

7/7 Phoenix, AZ – Orpheum Theatre TICKETS

7/9 Tulsa, OK – Brady Theatre TICKETS

7/10 Austin, TX – Paramount Theatre TICKETS

7/11 Dallas, TX – Majestic Theatre TICKETS

7/12 Houston, TX – Cullen Performance Hall TICKETS

7/14 New Orleans, LA – Civic Theatre TICKETS

7/15 Nashville, TN – Rocketown TICKETS

7/16 Atlanta, GA – The Tabernacle TICKETS

7/17 Miami Beach, FL – Fillmore at Miami Beach TICKETS

7/18 Jacksonville, FL – Terry Theatre at Times-Union TICKETS