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Faith

Which Famed Christian Pastor Just Issued This Shocking Gay Marriage Endorsement?

Mar. 19, 2013 7:56am Billy Hallowell

Controversial faith leader Rob Bell spoke over the weekend at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, Calif., where the former pastor openly endorsed gay marriage. When asked about the controversial issue by The Very Rev. Dr. Jane Shaw, who was moderating the event, he offered up a clear and concise response – one that will serve as a surprise to many conservative evangelicals.

“Yes, I am for marriage. I am for fidelity. I am for love,” he said, going on to get more specific. “Whether it’s a man and a woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man — and I think the ship has sailed and I think the church needs to just — this is the world we’re living in and we need to affirm people wherever they are.”

You can listen to his endorsement at the 42:30 mark in this podcast.

Rob Bell signs copies of his new book “What We Talk About When We Talk About God” for Rebecca Ward, Sunday, March 10, 2013 at Schuler Books and Music on 28th street in Grand Rapids, Mich. Credit: AP

Bell also addressed the political association that is generally attached to American Christians. Rather than embracing the notion that most believers are conservative in nature, he said that dynamic no longer holds true.

“I think we are witnessing the death of a particular subculture that doesn’t work. I think there is a very narrow, politically intertwined, culturally ghettoized, Evangelical subculture that was told ‘we’re gonna change the thing’ and they haven’t,” Bell said. “And they actually have turned away lots of people. And i think that when you’re in a part of a subculture that is dying, you make a lot more noise because it’s very painful. You sort of die or you adapt.”

The pastor and author went on to say that some of the methods that Christians have used to discuss God have not been inclusive and have done little to bring people into the fold. He even called some policies that Christians have embraced “destructive” and he called for believers to “repent.”

Credit: YouTube

News of Bell’s gay marriage endorsement was reported on Greg Carey’s HuffPo blog. Carey is a professor of New Testament studies at Lancaster Theological Seminary. In writing about Bell’s shocking claim, he said, “To my knowledge, Bell’s interview marks the first time that he has openly supported marriage equality and perhaps the first time he has definitively separated himself from politically conservative evangelicalism.”

This won’t be the first time that the pastor makes headlines, though. In March 2011, TheBlaze first covered Bell’s questioning of hell. In September of that same year, Bell announced that he was stepping down from his pastoral position at Mars Hill Church in Grandville, Mich.

The announcement about Bell’s gay marriage views comes as Hillary Clinton made a similar public proclamation on Monday. In January, Steve Chalke, senior pastor at Oasis Church in the UK, also endorsed same-sex marriage, sending shock-waves through the evangelical community.

(H/T: Greg Carey’s HuffPo Blog)

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Comments (547)

truemedia
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 9:26am
Jesus paid for every sin even homosexuality but that doesn’t mean one (as Paul states) CONTINUE to embrace it. Romans 6:16 is clear to who one make himself a slave to, to it he will be slave! Jesus covered our sins but their is still Satan and natural laws that bring diseases, death and destruction and satan into your life to steal, kill and destroy!

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- snooop1e
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 8:14pm
  @TRUEMEDIA – Are you saying that Rob Bell is not saved by FAITH ALONE in Jesus Christ? Are you saying that in order to be be saved, one must believe in Jesus Christ AND stop living the homosexual lifestyle? If so that is FAITH + WORKS Which makes Rob Bell a modern day Martin Luther and you a modern day Catholic. If Rob Bells is saved by FAITH ALONE in Jesus Christ what gives you or anyone else the right to sit in judgement of a SAVED Christian? Doesn’t seem like you’ve really given this much thought, in attacking Rob Bell you are denying FAITH ALONE and ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED. Rob Bell confessed with his mouth but according to you he also has to agree with YOU in order to be SAVED. Protestants believe that ALL sin is the same in Gods eyes so how is homosexuality somehow worse than the sins that you commit? Is that what you are saying? Is a homosexual MORE of a sinner than you? Is a homosexual less deserving of Jesus redemption than you? Don’t you think it’s hypocritical to profess being saved by FAITH ALONE and ETERNAL SECURITY and then turn around and condemn a fellow CHRISTIAN simply for having a different point of view than you? How is this any different than the Sadducees and the Pharisees?
  
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UBETHECHANGE
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 9:24am
We are to not participate in the sins of the world. Instead, we are to avoid them. We are not to be violent to anyone since the old theonomic, covenantal system has been done away with (Heb. 8:13). Instead, we are to be kind to them (2 Tim. 2:24-25) and show them love (1 Cor. 16:14; 2 Cor. 5:14). But the moral condemnation of immorality still stands — as is clearly taught in 1 Cor. 6:9-10 and Rom. 1:26-28.

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Listen_then_think
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 9:24am
I think the church needs to just — this is the world we’re living in and we need to affirm people wherever they are.”

There in lies the problem. Gods laws never change or God would cease to be God. You can’t change Gods church just because people want affirmation. Gods laws are set, endless and unchangable. How egomaniacle of this “pastor” to think he can change the boundaries God has set. Same goes for any church.

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- snooop1e
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 8:28pm
  Tell me about it, who does this guy think he is? Martin Luther? This guy is saying that we are all saved by FAITH ALONE. What’s he trying to do, there are traditions and rules in the Church and you can’t just throw them all away and just focus on Jesus fmercy and forgiveness and act like nothing we do matters, this guy is acting like all that you have to do is believe in Jesus and you will be saved, preposterous!!! what is this guy thinking, what a MARTIN LUTHER!!!
  
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truemedia
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 9:21am
Can anyone name a single society, secular or religious, that advocated and or practiced homosexual marriage? ZERO not even the most hedonistic. Yet sudden;y its politically correct?

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truemedia
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 9:19am
There is a REASON he is a FORMER PASTOR…This is no news!

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carl_in_ohio
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 9:15am
In pushing their agenda so hard, they are willing to (try and) destroy the very culture that they so desperately want acceptance from. And its not happening.

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Diane TX
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 9:14am
I have no respect for “Christians” who refuse to obey God’s Laws. Two males and two females can not mate. That’s called reality.

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LucyFurr
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 9:14am
The church should adjust……..THE CHURCH SHOULD ADJUST….? Are people out of their freaking minds? NO,No, no. The church does not adjust to God’s teachings. Humans are the ones who adjust if they want to follow in God’s light. Give me a break!

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- snooop1e
  Posted on March 22, 2013 at 8:51pm
  LUCYFURR – Luther, Calvin, Knox, Zwingli, King Henry, King James, Nelson Darby, Taze Russell, Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Gould-White, Semple-McPherson, Chuck Smith and many many others (Over 33,000 and counting) all believed that the Church needed to “ADJUST” and PROTEST-ANTS agreed. Ever noticed that we have a tendency to pick and choose our “ADJUSTMENTS” ? For over 500 years PROTESTANTS have been shooting an arrow at the wall and then painting the target around it and saying “See, we hit the bulls eye” No you didn’t you decided what scripture meant to you and then you either found a church that agreed with your interpretation or you started your own church. If the church that you found or founded moved away from what you believed or your understanding of scripture “ADJUSTED” you simply shot another arrow and painted another bulls eye. Nothing new here, another PROTEST-ANT breaking from tradition and instituting “REFORM” it’s the nature of being a PROTEST-ANT and it will never cease because although the words of scripture NEVER change the interpretation of those words is CONSTANTLY changing, because humans are not perfect. The only ASSURANCE we have is in Jesus promises in MATTHEW 16. If you want true ASSURANCE come home to the ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC and APOSTOLIC church founded by Jesus Christ, only in Jesus church do you know that the gates of hell will not prevail. ROMANS 2:13
  
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AlthenArtren
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 9:07am
There are 5 city nations under the Dead Sea that say homosexuality is a bad idea. Anybody remember a nation called Sodom?

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- LucyFurr
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 9:15am
  Amen!
  
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One Man Mormon Blues Band
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 9:06am
The narcissistic modern America has completely lost any contact with reality. The purpose of marriage has never been about personal satisfaction and love. It has always been about a stable society, protecting children, and mutual support. Love grows out of those commitments. At it’s root, marriage is a biological and economic arrangement. This is why there are marriage laws in the first place; society has a vested interest in the stability of the family. Same sex marriage is simply unnecessary for the good of society and so need not be recognized. Individuals can already achieve all the rights of marriage through other legal means to satisfy their own personal desires.

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soldierofthecross
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 9:05am
Romans 1:32 – Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
If you want to know what all this verse is referring to start reading at verse 18 of chapter 1.
If you even agree with them you will be lost just like them. The world will promote anyone who agrees with their agenda. I will not bend to their evil beliefs. This man is not a preacher of the word, he is a wolf, that is led by the spirits of hell that has come to steal, kill, and destroy.

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Diane TX
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 9:04am
One man, one woman. That is not my rule, but God’s rule. Creation between two men and two women is impossible. It just can’t be done. i believe that this is called human biology. This opposite compatibility also extends to the plant world. Stamen and pollen equals a new plant. Isn’t it nice how this all works out?

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watashbuddyfriend
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 8:55am
“Famed Christian Pastor.” Never heard of him! I am very familiar with those who know, and teach Bible Doctrine!

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- iampraying4u
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 12:01pm
  And God will say i know him not
  
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SilentRunner
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 8:54am
“I think the church needs to [ad]just ”

And while we’re “adjusting the church” let’s change a few other things in God’s law to make it more comforable for mankind.

1) Do away with the sin of divorce.
2) Dismiss the personal responsibility of caring for the poor.
3) Abolish everything a person must do to save his soul.
4) Make murder a fun thing to do.
5) Make theft a crowning achievement.
6) etc.

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- Diane TX
  Posted on March 19, 2013 at 9:09am
  Wow, who knew that you would accidentally describe the core beliefs of today’s Marxists?
  
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hillbillyinny
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 8:53am
As far as this guy, he’s writing his own “gospel”!

He doesn’t like that “someone else” has made the rules, so he’s re-interpreting them or even changing them.

Follow him or follow God, you’re choice and the choice of everyone. But, think about the consequences if Bell’s wrong. . .

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TomSawyer
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 8:52am
Rob Bell and God seem to be in disagreement.

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Via Dolorosa
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 8:48am
Bell isn’t a “famed Christian pastor”. People shouldn’t be so gullible when it comes to a blog author’s choice of wording.

Bell is “famed” though – in a sense. He is part of prophecy – the Bible tells us, in the end days, there will be false prophets carrying false doctrine.

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mbck1491
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 8:47am
Never heard of this guy, but I guess he just made himself even that much more irrelevant.

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VaderActs
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 8:45am
THE WORDS OF A REAL SKY PILOT…..
Isaiah 5:18-20 (KJV)
Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it! Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Sounds like he’s about ready to come out da closet!

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Sargeking
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 8:35am
I admit that I never before heard of this guy but there again I try to avoid the Elmer Gantry types. Basically, what he supports or doesn’t support is therefore meaningless to me.

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BehindBlueEyes
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 8:35am
Sounds like this guy tried to make his opinion in a very demeaning manner towards those who don’t think the same. He sounds like a bitter liberal but then I don’t care what this guy thinks. I’ve never heard of him til now.

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jsparks1
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 8:35am
This is no surprise to anyone who used to attend his church in Michigan. His non-biblical teaching is why my family left his church (Mars Hill Bible Church) 8-9 years ago. This is also the guy that says there is no hell. Rob Bell is no Christian. As a “preacher”, he is leading people away from God’s word and will pay the eternal price for that.

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grimjack3791
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 8:34am
I’m in love with three women, a man, my grandmother, and my dog. We all plan to marry each other simultaneously.

Problem? You ARE for “love”, correct?

Get back to me when you have a coherent opinion which scores higher than a 6th grade intellectual level. “I’m for love” indeed.

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termyt
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 8:33am
I think Bell is right that we are far to quick to condemn folks for bad lifestyle choices. It cuts people off from a message they need to hear and understand. You don’t need to stop sinning to come to Christ. Come and He will transform you.

That said, it also doesn’t mean we abandon the Godly lifestyle to appear more accepting. We can’t change God and the lifestyle He laid out for us is the one that breeds love, peace, and gentleness. If we abandon it to be more inclusive, well what’s the point, then?

The Gospel message is one of inclusion – all can come. It is not one of comfort or acceptance, though. We can all come, but the path is one of radical transformation away from he way we were before. It is not a continuance of the same old lifestyle choices only we get to add “Christian” to our business cards with all the other things we fill our lives with.

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truthranger
Posted on March 19, 2013 at 8:30am
The “very reverand?” sounds like love of self to me. All the false prophets will have their place in the lake of fire. To not warn someone of sin is negligence, but to justify sin makes you guilty before God.
This man like the other anti-christ preachers will face God for his lies. God loves the homosexual and will readily save them.
Those who condone sin will also share in the consequences.

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