Rob Bell, the Elvis of Emergence Christianity, has taught:

It’s interesting how many traditions (pause) When you read the great enlightened ones; meditation, centering prayer, reflection—in every tradition you can find the mystics—and what’s always at the heart of the spiritual lives, the everyday lives of the great ones was always a period of time. Whether it’s prayers, chanting, meditation, reflection, study—whatever you call it—what is it essentially; it’s taking time to breathe. Because when you’ve been breathing, (slight pause) in a proper sort of way, you’re far better equipped to handle what life throws your way. (I will say it again, and again, and again,  [5:41-6:23])

But God the Holy Spirit, through His inspired Apostle Paul, has informed us with crystalline clarity:

For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. (1 Corinthians 2:10-14, NASB)

Did you catch what God said above in contradistinction to the mystic musings of Rob Bell? God Himself teaches us that a natural man — one who is not born again — does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and — what is more, no matter how devoted to any spiritual discipline, actually — he cannot understand them.

So, here’s a question for the postmodern to ponder: What exactly is an unregenerate “great enlightened” mystic, from whatever pagan religion you wish to choose, supposed to teach the Christian with the mind of Christ (see-1 Corinthians 2:16) about God? Answer: Nothing.

For those being taken in by dreamers like Rob Bell, as noble as his humanitarian efforts may be, note carefully the following. Pay careful attention to how the Apostle of Jesus Christ, one enlightened by the only God there is, pits the worthless wisdom of man e.g. the so-called enlightened Gnostic mystics against the powerful Wisdom of God: 

And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5, NASB)

So why don’t you do yourself a favor; toss away the books of Bell, and once again pick up the Book. Trust me; you’ll be glad you did…

See also:

IS ROB BELL EVANGELICAL?

ROB BELL, DIVINE DIRT CLODS, AND THE COMING GLOBAL FAMILY OF “GOD”

ROB BELL IN A NUTSHELL: THE BIBLE

ROB BELL RESOURCES FROM APPRISING MINISTRIES

EMERGENCE PASTOR ROB BELL TO HAVE FRIEND PETER ROLLINS IN CONFERENCE

PETER ROLLINS AND PHYLLIS TICKLE ON THE EMERGENCE OF A BRAND NEW RELIGION

THE EMERGENCE GOSPEL OF GOOD DEEDS