Rob Bell: Velvet Elvis
Velvet Elvis, however, is not a book of theology, doctrine, church growth plan, or youth trends. It challenges the Church by unveiling our stagnated methodologies that are no longer effective in reaching our own American culture. Christendom is dead. Today, we are as foreign to the people around us as Paul was in front of the Areopagus at Mars Hill. This Hebrew of Hebrews had to convey a message using the arts of Grecian oratory and stoic philosophical references (Acts 17). Paul’s methodology at Mars Hill represents the core story behind Velvet Elvis. Are today’s church leaders ready to do the same?
A velvet Elvis is a picture painted decades ago that took on a fresh approach for depicting what people valued in that generation. It was cutting edge especially under a black light! However, after the painter died and the followers stop exploring new ways of expressing their faith; it does not take long until the velvet Elvis becomes outdated, over studied, iconic, and irrelevant (pg 13). The point, Bell shares, is not the painting itself, but continuing the journey of discovery, expression, and passion by painting a never ending mural of our faith from generation to generation.
As Pentecostal/charismatics, may the Spirit of God provoke within us a burden for the searching souls of Bell’s generation and may we rely on His creative power to witness in this postmodern world.
Reviewed by Robert Huckleberry
1http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/postmodernism
Note: Significant excerpts are available from Velvet Elvis at: http://books.google.com/books?id=kiPBZZd1e5sC
Category: Living the Faith, Summer 2008
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