Hi Peter

As I often do when I am research a subject, or someone I like to go to the horse’s mouth if possible.

In this particular case, I did just that to find out in the hopes of finding out if there are ties between Rob Bell and Ray Vander Laan.

As you know Rob Bell is Emergent and it isn't hard to find quote's on the internet from his books about what he believes.
I actually sent some quotes from Bell's book 'Velvet Elvis' to Ray Vander Laan.

Here is what I sent him.
"I see the Bible not primarily as God's revealed word but as the expression of the spiritual experiences of God's people down through the ages. ...We have to embrace the Bible as the wild, uncensored, passionate account it is of people experiences the living God. Doubting the one true God."

The Bible is a "human product...rather than the product of divine fiat."
Consequently, the Bible is helpful not primarily as the factual revelation of God's real'
acts of history, but as a metaphor to help us understand our own experiences."

I was actually very surprised to see how fast Ray Vander Laan responded back to my e-mail.

"Thanks for your passion for the text. I consider Rob a friend though I have had no contact with him in several years. I did not mentor him personally though he has credited my work as haveing influenced him. The four statements you make I would completely disagree with. I take the Bible as the inspired infallible word of God. Thanks again. RVL"

Please do not misunderstand me, the fact that he considers Rob Bell a friend actually sends a red flag up for me, but at least this major tenet of the Emergent Church is not one of Ray’s beliefs.

Tom

Last edited by Tom; Wed Sep 22, 2010 8:44 PM.