In the book ‘Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith’, Bell (2006, p. vii) focuses on a velvet painting of Elvis Presley that he owns. Bell (2006, p. xi) believes that no artist who has ever painted a velvet painting of Elvis Presley can claim that their painting is a complete representation of the famous Rock and Roll Musician. Bell (2006, p. xii) further applies this argument on Christian faith; he believes that it is not right for Christians to think that they completely understand the Christian faith. Bell believes that each generation should re-interpret and try to improve the “faith tradition”. This paper focuses on Bell’s view of Christianity versus the ideal Christian, as well as Bell’s view of the Trinity and Heaven and Hell.
Bell (2006, p. 1) states that faith is like a painting which is always altering and refining as different painters add their adjustments each time they paint. The true Christian believes that this is not the case because he/she believes that this faith given by the Almighty God is perfect and absolute and this means that it cannot change. True faith is only obtained from what was written down in the Bible which was given to us by God.
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The Trinity refers to a state of three being one. This refers to the Father (God), the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Spirit (The Holy Spirit). Bell (2006, p. 30) states that the Holy Spirit is only a presence and not an individual; he states that people began calling that presence God’s spirit. His proof is that during Jesus’ baptism the Holy Spirit descended on him in form of a dove, which then left the dove and validated Jesus in that presence. Bell (2006, p. 25) also questions the aspect of Jesus in the Trinity; he claims that Jesus only acted like the Father but cannot be the father as the Trinity declares – that it is three in one.
Bell (2006, p. 126) views Heaven and Hell not as actual places where the souls of the dead go to but as places on earth. Bell compares Hell to Rwanda; this is because Rwanda was characterized with famine, debt, corruption and death after the genocide. Bell (2006, p. 126-153) categorizes heaven and Hell as places which are brought about by how humans live on earth.
The book ‘Velvet Elvis’ clearly depicts on Rob Bell’s view on Christianity, he believes that faith is not what it seems or that Heaven and Hell exist as places on the earth and that the Holy Spirit is only a presence and not a Helper that God sent. I disagree with Rob Bell on each and every view this is because all his views are wrong as his Scriptural understanding is low and that only a true Christian will completely understands the Bible. Understandably, faith can be seen as evolving as each individual is subjective on their interpretation of faith. However, Rob’s assertions about the Trinity and Heaven and Hell are inaccurately placed as this is not the interpretation obtained from the Bible. Heaven and Hell are presented as places where the human being goes after death, and not during their lifetime. As a result, only a few points of agreement are found in Bell’s book.
References
Bell, R. (2006). Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith. New York: Harper Collins.
