In the Saturday, September 9th edition of The Grand Rapids Press, Rev. Rob Bell of Mars Hill Bible Church stated the following, in an article entitled, Religious Leaders Reflect on Impact of Attacks:
"9/11 woke us up to the fact that we live in a global village. People are waking up to how many people in the world have a problem with America (and) that some of those feelings are legitimate. We're 6 percent of the world's population and consume 40 to 50 percent of its resources. The central voice of the prophets all the way through Jesus is that it's not right for some to have so much, horde and build up a surplus at a time when others have so little.
"The strongest spiritual current I have seen is an awareness that our consumerism is causing our souls to shrivel. We have too much stuff and we know it.
"If we're really serious about ending terrorsim, we would start with working to end poverty, because that's where it starts. It's hard to drop a bomb on somebody who just fed you. If we want to end terrorism we have to ask, 'Who hates us most, and how do we bless them?'
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Mr. Bell's comments are very interesting considering the fact that Mars Hill Bible Church has been on the receiving end of some really nice blessings from a certain candidate for Governor in the state of Michigan, the son of Amway founder and billionaire Rich DeVos.
The Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation gave Mars Hill $431,000 between January 2002 and December 2004. One wonders where Mr. Bell would be today without such gifts from such capitalist pigs. :-)
And perhaps Rob has forgotten or never knew what an incredible blessing the United States has been to this world since its founding. Perhaps he's never read of how American soldiers sacrificed, bled and died in places like Omaha Beach, Normandy and Iwo Jima to save the world from German National Socialism (Nazism) and Japanese Imperialism. And when the fighting was over, it was America who led the effort to rebuild Europe via the Marshall Plan.
We might consume a very good chunk of the world's resources, but perhaps Rob has forgotten or never knew that most of the innovation in technology, medicine, economics, etc. has come from the incredible American system. We generate so much that we not only have enough for ourselves, but provide more assistance to the nations of the world than any other nation. According to USAID, the United States taxpayer has given almost $6 billion in the international fight against HIV/AIDS since 1986, more than any other public or private organization. Yes, Rob, we might have an awful lot here in the United States, but nobody gives more. Who does the world turn to in times of crisis? France? Saudi Arabia? Canada? No, the world turns to America.
For Rob Bell to state that "People are waking up to how many people in the world have a problem with America (and) that some of those feelings are legitimate." is an absolute outrage and it betrays Rob's ignorance of American history.
And as for this comment: "The central voice of the prophets all the way through Jesus is that it's not right for some to have so much, horde and build up a surplus at a time when others have so little." This one betrays his lack of theological understanding. The central theme of the prophets was their pointing to the coming Messiah who would save men from their sins, not some social gospel that focused primarily on the redistribution of wealth. Sure, it might be easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for some rich American to inherit the Kingdom of God, but it still happens. If we had the same standard of living as the Islamic-controlled nations of the world, this world would be a much darker place indeed.
Karl Marx would love Mars Hill and the warped philosophy of Mr. Bell, for it was Marx who stated: "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need." On the other hand, from the Apostle Paul - one who actually had something meaningful to say at Mars Hill - we have this: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:10
The American church is crumbling. Right behind its collapse will be our civil institutions and our standard of living. We might actually get to see how dark a place this world can be without capitalist pigs like Joe Taxpayer who have been given much, but realize that much is required of them in their giving.
I'll close with some more from Paul:
"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." 2 Timothy 4:1-3