This past week I had the privelege of attending the Exponential church planting conference with my wife, Megan, down in Orlando. During the first main session, Francis Chan apparently made some comments about Rob Bell that were pointed and of a personal nature. (Unfortunately, I wasn't there to hear it since I had unknowingly led my wife to slaughter that morning as we sat through high pressure sales pitch for a time share. After saying "no" no fewer than 12 times to 4 reps over the course of 3+ hours, we both agreed it was not nearly worth the $100 off universal studios tickets. You live, your learn.)
But by the time Megan and I made it to the conference site, the place was already buzzing about Francis' talk. He had struck a chord. By mid afternoon, Francis Chan was a trending topic on Twitter. But those who only sat through the main session or followed the twitter frenzy missed the best part: it wasn't Francis' comment, it was his response to making it. Immediately afterwards, I attended a breakout session with Francis that was supposed to be about prayer and leadership. Instead, a visibly distrought Francis Chan sat down and told us that he didn't have it in him to get up and give another message. What followed was a humble and painful apology for his "flippant comment" he had made about Rob Bell. He went on to explain that although he passoinately disagreed with Rob on some things, and although Rob knows that and the two have been corresponding and will be getting together soon, it was not fair of him to make a comment like that.
Finally.
I have been a fan of Francis Chan's for a while. I continue to learn from him as a man, as a Christian, and as a pastor. I can certainly say the same thing about Rob Bell. And so I can't tell you how encouraged I was to finally see a Christian, and an influential Christian leader no less, apolgoize for letting his emotions get the best of him and making unfair, personal attacking comments about Rob. Listen, it is okay to judge a man's conclusions. In fact, it is wise to do so. But it is not okay to judge a man's motives for reaching those conclusions. That is God's job. Francis Chan modeled humility and repentance by owning his mistake and asking for forgiveness.
He went first. Is it your turn?
I was sitting in the front row of the balcony, and I was heart-broken by the Francis Chan's intro to the Main Session on Wednesday morning. His comment was meant to be humerus and sarcastic, but the point was clear. In his introduction, Francis Chan said that conferences like these have a tendency to put a great deal of pressure on the speaker to continually come up with new and creative things to say... "the next thing you know, we're saying 'there is no hell'..." - cue the appropriate, sarcastic applause from young evangelicals who echo Chan's frustrations with Rob Bell's new book.
But my heart sank.
As a personal friend of Rob, I know that it is exactly this kind of flippancy (ala Piper's "farewell, Rob Bell), that has crushed his heart. I know that this past few months has yielded devastating wounds to the Body of Christ, and to the disposition of Rob and his family.
After the main session (which was otherwise, classically Chan - amazing!) I went forward to talk with him. I was able to just share my heart with him. I told him that Rob Bell was a personal friend of mine, and that the comment was something that I believe had been crafted uniquely in his introduction, to throw Rob under the bus. This, I believed, was not the Way of Jesus. I encouraged Francis Chan to be more Christlike in finding healthier ways to dialogue about our theological differences.
To my surprise, Francis Chan began to well up with tears, and agreed with me wholeheartedly. He confessed this was a "cheap shot", and that he wanted to make it right. He has agreed to reach out to Rob Bell personally to discuss theology together.
And, as you witnessed, in the next session Francis Chan brought an emotional apology to Rob Bell. My heart was truly encouraged by the humility and passion in which he was able to clarify his views and concerns without throwing rocks.
It was a beautiful moment in the dawning story of gospel-driven leadership, and those of us to whom the baton has been passed, are learning (as Matt Chandler said...) "It's just our turn."
- Jay DePoy
Exodus Church, Asheville, North Carolina
Posted by: jay@exodusasheville.com | May 02, 2011 at 05:21 PM
Hey Jay, wow, it is so great to hear about your conversation with Francis and his response to you. It takes an extraordinary man to be able to respond as he did, with humility, class and repentance. (Especially right after bearing his soul on stage. As you know, it is a particularly vulnerable time to receive criticism.)
Simply beautiful.
I pray God grows in us the same kind of rootedness, teachability, and depth of character. Thanks for sharing brother.
Posted by: Aaron Loy | May 03, 2011 at 01:50 PM