Author and former lead pastor of Michigan’s Mars Hill Bible Church Rob Bell reportedly said he believes the church is “moments away” from embracing same-sex marriage in an interview with Oprah.
Bell was being interviewed alongside his wife Kristen to talk about their new book “The Zimzum of Love: A New Way of Understanding Marriage.”
Oprah reportedly commented that she thought it was “great” that same-sex marriage was included in the couple’s book and asked why the writers chose to include the controversial topic.
Rob Bell said, “One of the oldest aches in the bones of humanity is loneliness. Loneliness is not good for the world. Whoever you are, gay or straight, it is totally normal, natural and healthy to want someone to go through life with. It’s central to our humanity. We want someone to go on the journey with.”
When Oprah asked when the church was going to accept same-sex marriage, Bell said he believed that the church was close and his wife added that the church was “evolving” in that area.
“Lots of people are already there,” he said. We think it’s inevitable and we’re moments away from the Church accepting it.”
Bell also said that he thought the church would “continue to be even more irrelevant” if it continues to reject homosexuality.
He stated his position saying, “I am for marriage. I am for fidelity. I am for love, whether it’s a man and woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man. I think the ship has sailed and I think the church needs—I think this is the world we are living in and we need to affirm people wherever they are.”
Christian News Network reports Rob Bell first stated his support for same-sex marriage in 2013.
Publication date: February 18, 2015
