Volu m e II - Purdue University Calumet

a “transaction” to “interaction.” Bell furthers this concept with what he calls “the new humanity” (Jesus
Wants 154). Because Jesus preached a radical message that included both Jews and gentiles, Bell believes
that Jesus’ mission was to reconcile the whole world (not just an elect few) to the new covenant. Bell
writes that this concept opens the Church up to an expanded worldview and a more inclusive nature. Bell
poetically outlines what this means for the church on page 155:
“You used to have a rigid stance on a particular issue, but now you’ve heard the other side
and it’s impossible anymore to categorize them all as stupid… In the new humanity our
world gets bigger, our perspective goes from black-and-white to color… A church is the
new humanity on display.”
To Bell, the “new humanity” means a church that involves all ages, genders and nationalities. His vision
almost takes on a language that sounds more like an Eastern religion than a Western one: “In the new
humanity, them becomes us, they becomes we, and those become ours” (Jesus Wants 156). To Bell, the
story of Jesus is a story of inclusion. However, Bell does not use language like being “saved” or “accepting
Jesus.” Rather, it is about becoming part of the Christian story, whether one is “believer” or not. In his
highly idealized view of the world, the church would become a place that welcomes non-believers and
believers alike, solely because they are human and part of God’s creation.
Rob Bell: Anticipated Criticism
It appears that Bell is conscious of the criticism that his books could generate, and asks his readers
to scrutinize what he writes through the lens that he advocates. One needs only read the back cover of
Velvet Elvis to understand Bell’s “opinion of his opinion:”
“We have to test everything. I thank God for anybody anywhere who is pointing people
to the mysteries of God. But those people would all tell you to think long and hard about
what they are saying and doing and creating. Test it. Probe it. Do that to this book.
Don’t swallow it uncritically. Think about it. Wrestle with it. Just because I’m a
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