Brickianity

Maybe I should get back to work...but last night I finally started to read "Velvet Elvis" by Rob Bell, and I really wanted to post something that I read...

Rob begins his first chapter with the comparison of our faith like a brick wall vs. a trampoline. It's his out-of-the-box ideas like this that really capture my attention. Rob begins to explain how in his lifetime in ministry & life he has noticed that so many "Christians" are far too preocupied with blindly following doctrine instead of following Jesus. Does that comment rub you the wrong way? In no way does Rob seek to dismiss doctrine, or the blind adherance to it: rather he is searching for a better way of living out our faith than what he calls...brickianity.

Is our faith so serious, so compartmentalized, so fixed that if we were to find out one small detail about the doctrine that we beleive to be true--isn't, would that one brick that falls crumble our entire wall of doctrine/faith/worldview??? Or can we begin to understand the idea of repainting the Christian faith? The idea that God IS--and we are the ones who change. Not that the Christian Faith should conform to the patterns of this world--but the idea that we need to look at the springs--the very things that allow us to bounce on this trampoline of faith.

Rob goes on to say (describing someone who is all about defending his doctrine): Each of the core doctrines for him is like an individual brick that stacks on top of the others. If you pull one out, the whole wall starts to crumble. It appears quite strong and rigid, but if you begin to rethink or discuss even one brick, the whole thing is in danger.

... ... ...

God is bigger than any wall. God is bigger than any religion. God is bigger than any worldview. God is bigger than the Christian faith....one of the things that happens in a brickworld: you spend a lot of time talking about how right you are. Which of course leads to how wrong everybody else is. Which then leads to defending the wall. You rarely defend the things you love. You enjoy them and tell others about them and invite others to enjoy them with you.The problem with brickianity is that walls inevitably keep people out. Often it appears as though you have to agree with all of the bricks exactly as they are or you can't join. ("Velvet Elvis: pg. 027)

So this is the thought that is in my head now...and the reason why I should be working but yet I'm blogging away. Has my faith of 9 years been about defending a brick wall? Have I been a follower of brickianity when I should have been a follower of Jesus?

Are we asking the tough questions about why we believe what we believe?
Questions. Questions. Questions.

Rob goes on to write:
Central to the Christian experience is the art of questioning God. Not belligerent, arrogant questions that have no respect for our maker, but naked, honest, vulnerable, raw questions, arising out of the awe that comes from engaging the living God. (Velvet Elvis: pg. 031)

I'll leave it at that. I encourage you to join me on this journey. Or at least start thinking about whether or not your faith is more of a brick wall or a trampoline.

Long-live the King:

Ty