Velvet Elvis Lives! It Rocks Too!

Look for comments to come on this title and picture. I think Josh will be pleased.
There is a book out by a man named Rob Bell. He is the pastor of a rather large church called Mars Hill in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The book is entitled "Velvet Elvis" and is Mr. Bell's take on some of the issues regarding how the Body of Christ should do "Church" now and into the future. His idea of Velvet Elvis is that the above shown photo is a painting that has perhaps become somewhat passe. Design, and much of art is that way. When you look at a 1994 Plymouth Voyager minivan it appears antiquated by today's standards, even one that is pristine or completely restored. If you were to look at a Sear or JC Penny catalogue and looked at the fashions of the 1970's you would laugh at the polyester leisure suits. Yet, in their time, the cars and the fashion were exciting, fresh, attention getting, and normative. What happened? Well, time and the progress or change in art and taste in art. So it is with the "visible" church and how it does its corporate life. Mr. Bell suggests that there are aspects of the way we do church that seem to the "world", those he believes we are commanded to reach, to be out dated like an old van or styles that are out of fashion. He also suggests in his book that the very language that we use, that is "traditional" to us and quite understandable, can be a hindrance to reaching the lost for Christ. What Pastor Bell says can be quite challenging to those who have been doing church for some time.

Here are some things to think about:
1. Can some things that we do in the church get out of date or are our ways of worship and study "the way" of doing things?
2. Do you think that sometimes when you talk to someone who isn't a believer that they are confused by little things you take for granted?
3. Are there some traditions at your church that even you are not sure about?
4. When someone writes a book that challenges your way of doing business or thinking is it best to avoid it or try to learn as much about it as is possible?
5. Can your faith be destroyed by the thoughts of other people?
6. If you read and or study a book by someone who challenges the status quo are you necessarily "teaching" that book or are you "learning" from it?
7. If you regularly spend time in God's Word, "The Bible", is it a good idea to go outside of it and get the opinions of others?
8. What is it that makes up a "good" book to study other than "The Bible" if reading other literature and authors is an all right thing?

I look forward to some of your remarks. Have a great week in study, but also in "being with" family, friends, and hopefully those who don't know Christ as their Lord and Savior.