tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post3738549010412216343..comments2024-03-10T10:54:59.776-07:00Comments on Ben Witherington: Rob Bell's Nooma Videos 6-10Ben Witheringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-78961351045376515152008-11-01T18:44:00.000-07:002008-11-01T18:44:00.000-07:00I agree 100% with Mike's comments on 'Dust.' Rob ...I agree 100% with Mike's comments on 'Dust.' Rob Bell leads the viewer to the conclusion that Peter had lost faith in himself, reasoning that Peter couldn't have lost faith in Jesus, because Jesus wasn't sinking. But he leaves out the fact that Peter had become oblivious to whether Jesus was sinking or not, because he had taken his eyes off of Him. Peter was mixing faith with doubt--something that Jesus addresses several times in the gospels (Mark 11:22-24, Mark 9:22-24), and which is addressed in the epistles as well (James 1:6). It is possible to have faith (Peter had faith to get out of the boat), and then let doubts creep in (like when he started looking at the waves around him--something we've all done).<BR/><BR/>So, I think Rob Bell's reasoning is faulty and it leads to a faulty conclusion. In addition, his statement about God believing in us is totally unscriptural. God believes is us? Really? John 2:23-25 seems to say something quite the contrary. I cannot think of one Scripture that tells us we should believe in ourselves. Mark 11:22, John 14:1, John 15:5, Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 12:2 (to name just a few), point us to Him. <BR/><BR/>Self is the God of the New Age. I should know; I was raised in a home with a New Age Mom. Self-help, Self-image, Self-improvement, Self-love, Self-actualization--these are all mantras of the New Age. In the New Age, all roads lead to SELF, and Human Potential is the object of ones faith. May it never be that we mix such darkness with the True Light!<BR/><BR/>We must be like the Bereans, who listened to Paul, then checked what he said against the Scriptures.OneOf2Texanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18141822491186137652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-60434766502350628332008-02-12T14:55:00.000-08:002008-02-12T14:55:00.000-08:00Amazing....I've been using the nooma videos at my ...Amazing....I've been using the nooma videos at my church and they seem to strike a chord everytime its played for small groups. Even though somethings in the videos some may not relate or understand it always seems to leave a lasting mark on them. God has spoken and the rest is commentary. Great blog and i look forward to reading more.Dennis Lugohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09713716289867769320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-55802472063476991082007-04-09T03:28:00.000-07:002007-04-09T03:28:00.000-07:00Ben,glad someone is reviewing this stuff because I...Ben,<BR/><BR/>glad someone is reviewing this stuff because I find that Nooma divides opinion: some people love them and others find them slow and slightly patronising.<BR/><BR/>I do not know who they are pitched at, the ones I have watched (probably 5 or so at the moment) lack challenge to be used in an evangelical setting and are really quite basic there is not much depth (which I see you cover in these reviews).<BR/><BR/>I have a problem with Dust in particular at a deeper level in that I do not believe the Bible teaches us to believe in ourselves the way Rob explains it.<BR/><BR/>Peter starts to sink when he takes his eyes off Christ (a verse conveniently omitted), he sees the conditions, the wind and the waves and his faith diminishes - is this faith in himself?<BR/><BR/>I do not believe it is and if God believed in us, believed that we have the capacity to do what Jesus did, to say what Jesus said, to be Jesus (sorry dropped into Nooma mode) then why did he send Christ in the first place? Surely we would not need a Saviour if we all had the capacity to be like Jesus in and of ourselves.<BR/><BR/>There is no mention of the Holy Spirit guiding and leading into Christlikeness and it seems to jar with Paul's experience of living the Christian life from Romans 6-8. <BR/><BR/>What are your thoughts?<BR/><BR/>MikeTheLetchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18291041855333456184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-14367108677933660502007-03-02T19:47:00.000-08:002007-03-02T19:47:00.000-08:00nooma 10 (lump) is my favoritenooma 10 (lump) is my favoriteAbel Márquezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11929840121386840650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-83459101425851613862007-02-25T18:03:00.000-08:002007-02-25T18:03:00.000-08:00Brad here again.Thank you for your recommendations...Brad here again.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for your recommendations!<BR/><BR/>As a side note, I guess I wasn't asking so much about Bell's connection with Eastern Christianity but what was, in your opinion, the prevailing culture of Eastern Christianity during Jesus' ministry and how is Bell diverging from that [in laymen's terms if at all possible]?<BR/><BR/>I know you have hashed out some of these ideas during the previous posts on the Nooma videos so if you would prefer to offer book recommendations, that would be appreciated [I've looked into Nickelsburg, Neusner, and Evans]!<BR/><BR/>Can you also explain why it important to have socio-rhetorical commentaries avail. during bible study? In other words, I've heard of categories such as critical [ICC], popular [Life Application], pastoral [Pulpit Commentary], and exegetical [Baker], but what are the sub-categories [if that is what you call them?]<BR/><BR/>Thx for access to your ministry via this blog!hollyedrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14869136372164698992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-26584919520341677812007-02-24T18:43:00.000-08:002007-02-24T18:43:00.000-08:00Thanks to Yuckabuck for the heads up. I have alre...Thanks to Yuckabuck for the heads up. I have already been talking to the Time Magazine religion editor about this so called sensational find. We've known of this stuff since 1980, and it is highly unlikely it has any connection with the historical Jesus.Ben Witheringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-24776828316602469272007-02-24T18:42:00.000-08:002007-02-24T18:42:00.000-08:00Hi Brad:You might want to read my Matthew commenta...Hi Brad:<BR/><BR/>You might want to read my Matthew commentary on Jesus as a sage and wisdom. You could also read my book Jesus the Sage on this topic as well. The only thing I really see as a tangible connection between Rob and eastern orthodoxy is his mysticism and some of his creation theology. Otherwise, it sounds pretty much like western Evangelical stuff with a social conscience and concern. It is very Christocentric which resonants with eastern orthodoxy.Ben Witheringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-313402534866295092007-02-24T18:39:00.000-08:002007-02-24T18:39:00.000-08:00Oops... I just commented on your review of Nooma V...Oops... I just commented on your review of Nooma Vids 1-5 before reading this one. You ended up answering my questions from that one in this post. Sorry.<BR/><BR/>But it looks like Holly's husband Brad is asking the same kind of questions. If you ever get a chance to look into Dwight Pryor (www.jcstudies.com), I'd love to hear your thoughts on the assumptions behind his theories.<BR/><BR/>Also, you mentioned that you have already critiqued some of Velvet Elvis in an earlier blog. Could you give a date or link? I'd like to read that. Thanks.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14567459117932861916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-55086993243531931182007-02-24T17:41:00.000-08:002007-02-24T17:41:00.000-08:00holly's husband brad here...wondering if you could...holly's husband brad here...<BR/><BR/>wondering if you could do a more in-depth explanation of the types of things rob says are true about jesus' connection with eastern Christianity and how you differ. kind've a point/counterpoint type of thing. i would be very interested in your comments...<BR/><BR/>i've heard rob is a big fan of guys like dwight pryor and ray vanderlaan and i know alot of his inspiration comes from them. is he tweaking their stuff or are the types of things pryor and vanderlaan are saying the same things bell is?<BR/><BR/>are there any books [maybe even some of your own] that you feel better describes the nature of jesus' ministry and how eastern Christianity looked during this time?<BR/>curious about your thoughts...<BR/><BR/>Brad Andrews<BR/>www.relevintage.comhollyedrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14869136372164698992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-87488420995844623082007-02-24T16:04:00.000-08:002007-02-24T16:04:00.000-08:00Here's a heads up-James Camaron has found Jesus' t...Here's a heads up-<BR/><BR/>James Camaron has found Jesus' tomb, along with his whole family. (And they're not empty!) The press conference is to be held Monday.<BR/><BR/>http://time-blog.com/middle_east/2007/02/jesus_tales_from_the_crypt.html<BR/><BR/>(Someone in the comments even points to James Tabor's book as proof, which Dr. Witherington has already blogged on.)<BR/><BR/>Kind of makes me miss the old James ossuary. :-)yuckabuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05286909279733012915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-50255151252222417842007-02-24T14:55:00.000-08:002007-02-24T14:55:00.000-08:00I'm with you Robert. Creative is good-- enough of...I'm with you Robert. Creative is good-- enough of the same ole same ole.....Ben Witheringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-25636999528170174662007-02-24T14:48:00.000-08:002007-02-24T14:48:00.000-08:00Ben,It is great that you are reviewing the nooma s...Ben,<BR/>It is great that you are reviewing the nooma series since I feel they are tremendous teaching tools that have not been seriously reviewed. <BR/><BR/>I have been using the nooma messages in prison ministry with men, women's ministry, small group studies and worhip services. I have given dozens of them to people who are hurting. The nooma RAIN was given to several people who had cancer. They were so moved by them they invited family and friends to watch. <BR/><BR/>In prison ministry, the short nature of the nooma's and the clearness of the message resonates with the men like nothing I have seen before. <BR/><BR/>At a women's retreat attended by women from age 10 to 90, I showed one a day for a week during the devotional times and ALL ages were moved by Bell's presentations. Many wanted to buy them and show to friends and even their pastors.<BR/><BR/>Rob has a great gift of communication and the format is brilliant. Hopefully his work through nooma will lead other gifted Christian communicators to consider using the same format or something similar to reach the world.BobThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13548338111463870002noreply@blogger.com