Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell: A Review

Rob owns a Velvet Elvis painting he tells us by way of introduction. It's a wonderful painting that properly captures the glory of the King of Rock and Roll. But the intriguing thing about the painting, Rob says, is the way it is signed simply with a letter "R". Because when you're that good, you don't even have to sign your whole name.

As good as it is though, Rob asks us to consider how absurd it would be for "R" to claim that he has done the ultimate job of painting the King and that no one should be allowed to ever paint Elvis again. Rob introduces his book by comparing this scenario with Jesus. Previous generations have painted wonderful pictures of Jesus, (speaking metaphorically now of course), but it is still our privilege to keep repainting the Christian faith.

Rob talks about the responsibility of each generation of Christians to "bind and loose". Many would contend that Jesus' instructions to the apostles to bind and loose was exclusively for the apostles' information, but Rob stresses that the Bible must be interpreted by each generation. So many Christians claim to "just go by the Bible" and yet they come up with vastly different results. The Bible is a hard book Rob says.

Rob urges his readers to look at doctrines not as bricks that build walls between us, but rather as springs that hold a trampoline. Bricks need to all fit perfectly in place and be defended. But you don't defend a trampoline, you simply invite people to come jump on it with you.

Rob goes on to stress what he believes is central to the Christian faith--seeing the narrative as a way of life, understanding that God made all things good, and finding the joy that God intends for us. I highly recommend reading "Velvet Elvis". It is simply Rob's view on how Christianity should play out. Does he get everything right in his book? To pick Rob apart on his views misses the point and goes against the spirit of his lessons. Rob is just doing his best to point you toward the Holy. As he stated, "God has spoken and the rest is just commentary, right?"