Rob Bell and Abraham's Faith
I saw Rob Bell speak at "The gods aren't angry tour" in Chicago. I loved the entire teaching and was especially impacted by the context he set for the old testament. He painted the picture that the world is trying to appease the gods by continual and increasingly terrible forms of sacrifice (human). There was a constant concern that you did not know where you stood with the gods. The sacrificial system that YHWH brings - Rob says - was a truly progressive system, one that allowed you to know where you stood with this God. That was revolutionary - according to Rob.
Rob then applies this context to the story of Abraham being told by God to sacrifice his son. Abraham agrees to and almost does sacrifice Isaac. However, human sacrifice was common in that age so Abraham was just doing what was a cultural norm. Therefore, this story isn't about Abraham's faith but God's progressive, revolutionary sacrificial system. Rob points out that many preachers have wrongfully used this story to point out Abraham's great faith. Rob says this idea is not the point. Rob said,
This is very interesting and I have a question. What are we to do
with the passage in James 2:21-22?
Or when the writer of Hebrews says in 11:19 says that Abraham "assumed God would raise Isaac from the dead"! (See: Dan Kent's Blog
It seems that James and Hebrews see it is important to note Abraham's faith in
the Isaac sacrifice story. What do you think? What should we take from this? Is this a both/and situation? Is the story about Gods revolutionary approach to knowing where we stand AND is it about Abraham's faith? What should we take from Rob's perspective?
I think this is a good reminder to make sure the entire bible signs on
to a contextual, historical perspective.
Rob then applies this context to the story of Abraham being told by God to sacrifice his son. Abraham agrees to and almost does sacrifice Isaac. However, human sacrifice was common in that age so Abraham was just doing what was a cultural norm. Therefore, this story isn't about Abraham's faith but God's progressive, revolutionary sacrificial system. Rob points out that many preachers have wrongfully used this story to point out Abraham's great faith. Rob says this idea is not the point. Rob said,
"And sometimes there are Christians that are like, 'See! Abraham man of faith.' .... Ok, somebody help me out here, um, this is good? 'I'll show my son.' That's a religion I want to be a part of. What's that about? Put that on a flannel graph. See, we often hold this up as, 'ooo see, Abraham proved he was a man of faith.' But anyone in the back row - if they are even still there - are saying, 'the testing was if you'd offer your son.' Anyone with a conscience would say, 'No, I'm not [going to sacrifice my son]! Is there a door number two?' The story is not about Abraham. Now, there are many references to Abraham being a great man of faith... and it was credited to him as righteousness and such... but... perhaps the story is not about what Abraham is like... perhaps the story is about what God is like."
This is very interesting and I have a question. What are we to do
with the passage in James 2:21-22?
Was not our brother Abraham justified by works when he offered his son on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works.
Or when the writer of Hebrews says in 11:19 says that Abraham "assumed God would raise Isaac from the dead"! (See: Dan Kent's Blog
It seems that James and Hebrews see it is important to note Abraham's faith in
the Isaac sacrifice story. What do you think? What should we take from this? Is this a both/and situation? Is the story about Gods revolutionary approach to knowing where we stand AND is it about Abraham's faith? What should we take from Rob's perspective?
I think this is a good reminder to make sure the entire bible signs on
to a contextual, historical perspective.
Labels: abraham, angry, aren't, Bell, chicago, faith, gods, isaac, james, Rob, sacrifice, tour
posted by Peterzog at 8:33 AM
2 Comments:
Interesting post Pete! I saw the tour too, and I think Rob was trying to get people to see that this story in Genesis is not just about faith, but more importantly about a God who says "I will provide". If it’s a sacrifice God needs then God will provide; first with a ram caught in the thicket, and eventually with himself...his only son Jesus!
As to the question posed I think we can see that Abraham had faith, or essentially he knew God and trusted that God would be there for him no matter what.
The Christian tradition tells us to believe for the miracle of the ram in the thicket like Abraham did, and God will provide. They preach it as if the ram could be money, physical healing, a spouse, an answer to prayer, WHATEVER you need! Is this really the point of the story? Have we turned it into something it is not? Has the story of Abraham become part of the “genie in a bottle” gospel?
The story really speaks of Abraham and his trust in God's sovereignty no matter what! God will provide period. Either God will provide something to replace Isaac, or God will raise his son from the dead. Abraham knew that God would provide no matter what, and in whatever way He saw fit; and this would be for the good of Abraham, his family, and all that was promised to Abraham…
So in the context of the talk (The God’s Aren’t Angry), this God of the Hebrews, the God of the Jews, was a totally different God that didn’t need to be feared and then satisfied by blind sacrifices. This God is a God that “will provide” even though Abraham could do NOTHING to make Him happy; and in fact had done some things that you would think God would be too happy with…like lying to the Kings about his wife being his daughter, not once but twice, etc. So Abraham went up on the hill with his son Isaac and all of his baggage and imperfection, all along trusting that God can and will provide. All Abraham had to do was respond to God’s instruction and take Isaac to the mountain!
Peace
Tony
The only thing this passage "says" about "God" is that he instructed Abraham to kill his son and that he (God)learned that Abraham had strong faith.
As for God's sovereignty, it only speaks about this specific incident, but it suggests that Abraham's actions had a HUGE impact on God. In fact,God declares he will bless Abraham "because" of Abraham's actions (22:15), not because of some fore ordained sovereign "plan."
I also disagree that there is "NOTHING" Abraham could do to make God happy. I think covenant obedience makes God VERY happy. I think weddings, children riding bicycles, piano ballades, sacrificial giving, penguins sliding down a glacier-side... I think God enjoys all these things.
That's just my opinion, but I what does a God look like that can't be made happy? Unless only GOd can make HIMSELF happy... but that seems like a limited view of God (that God can't make things/creatures that make him happy).
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