Charlie Bell. Published by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd, 2024
Bell’s book is both a provocative and hopeful read; provocative because he is not scared to challenge our patterned ways of thinking and being in our modern world, and hopeful because he firmly anchors his thoughts in the story of Jesus. Bell invites us to ‘think deeply about the role of time in your life, and the lives of those around you,’ (p14) encouraging us to prioritise God together during Lent.
Each chapter has a Psalm, a gospel passage, a provoking thought from Bell and a prayer, through which he challenges our need to make Church relevant, encouraging us to anchor ourselves in the Biblical story of Jesus which for him can be explored through the liturgical year of the Anglican Church. As such, his book walks us through Lent, with a chapter for each Sunday and then a chapter for each day in Holy Week culminating in the celebration of Easter Day.
Bell is an Anglican vicar, and therefore not ashamed of including religious language and the collect (prayer) of the day. Although the more traditional language would normally cause me to put a book down, he includes this in a way that is approachable and unashamedly anchored in the hope of Jesus. It has to be noted that, even being a pioneer, I say this as an Anglican vicar myself.
Although this is not his aim, Bell does seem to push for traditional church habits in a way that I don’t think he has fully considered. Those of us who make church ‘relevant’ as he puts it, have our own rhythms that draw us and those who are outside the Church structures to Jesus. It is still a reminder, however, to consider what we change, and why, and Bell’s sure hope in Jesus makes this reader consider what he is saying.
As I read this book, I was warmly invited to search myself, to allow the Spirit to challenge any habits that were drawing my gaze from Jesus and to find myself in God. An example, is one of Bell’s thoughts on forgiveness: ‘If our forgiveness is utterly unearned, utterly free, then the bad news, for those of us who like to hold a grudge, is that others’ forgiveness is utterly unearned, and utterly free too.’ (p41) His words can cut to the soul, much like a double-edged sword. Am I, are we, genuinely living in Jesus’ generous forgiveness both for ourselves and for others around us? As I read Charlie Bell’s Lent book I was indeed searched out and found.
If, like me, you have had a difficult year, you may be thinking that this book is not for you, but Bell makes it clear that it is not a guilt trip or a forcing to do more for God, but an invitation to divert our attentions and affections to God during Lent. To not be ashamed of being Christian and to truly take the time to enter into Jesus’ journey to the cross and his resurrection. Bell’s ability to draw on Christian tradition and to understand our current culture is prophetic and heart-warming.
If you want a light book that takes you through the story of Lent I would not suggest this one, but if you want a book that kindly challenges you and draws your gaze to Jesus, this is for you.
Jo Allen
Rural Ministries
First published in MOSAIC Issue 15, January - April 2025
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