The fourth chapter of Velvet Elvis is called Tassels. Rob is referring to the tassels on a prayer shawl. He connects this with the passage in Malachi about Messiah coming with healing in his wings (referring to the shawl).
Rob tells the story about the beginning of Mars Hill and how success almost killed him. He had to come face-to-face with who he was and the things that were really driving him.
As an aside- it was great to hear that they had no vision, no marketing, he’d read no books on church planting, no 5-year plan, no demographic.
Where Rob Bell goes with this is to actually recapture a more biblical understanding of salvation. The doctrine of salvation has been reduced in many circles to encompass forgiveness, and a ticket to heaven. Christianity then becomes about following some rules.
He puts it this way: “When we understand salvation from a legal-transaction perspective, then the point of the cross becomes what it has done for us.” I don’t think this is a necessary conclusion. Many who embrace the substitutionary atonement as (in part) a legal-transaction (as Paul does in Romans) recognize that the point is the glory of God in the salvation of sinners. But, yes, many Christians have been influenced by individualism and sinfully make themselves the center of the universe even in salvation.
Our salvation is not less than justification (the pardon of our sins, and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness so we are accepted by God). But we must include sanctification (the transformation of the character so that we are like Jesus). This is more than following a ethical code. It is the transformation of the heart- meaning we begin to dig up our idols.
Rob reminds that our individual salvation is part of the renewal of the entire cosmos that will occur when Jesus returns. It is important to remember this when individualism runs rampant in our culture and churches. It does not deny the salvation of individuals, but recognizes that they are brought into the holy community, the Body of Christ, and receive the renewed heaven and earth.
Where Rob loses me is the end, or rather his process- “go to a counselor”. Okay, I’ve got a degree in counseling, so I don’t think that biblical counselors are wrong. But he seems to view sanctification as therapy. He does also say “Go on a retreat. Spend a couple of days in silence. Do whatever it takes.” He advises things that remove you from community to find healing or restoration. He does not point you back to the community of faith, say like James 5 does. Or Ephesians 4-6. Odd for a guy who beats the drum of community. Sanctification is a community project, not an individual affair. It is more than therapy, but a putting to death of the sin that seeks to take my captive.
Repainting sanctification from total transformation via the means of grace => transformation via therapy. Man, he got so close in this chapter.
Cavman Considers 
Your systematic working through Rob Bell’s book has been a fasinating read and I look forward to the rest. I have read both of his books and use his Nooma videos regularly. I noticed many of the same items as you, and give disclaimers for them. One of the questions I have been asking across the net though, is… has anyone talked to Bell about this (Matt 18:15)? I would really be interested in seeing that enagement, wouldn’t you? Keep up the writing!
At some point I’d like to do interviews- but I’m a nobody. Why would Rob Bell give me the time of day?
As an independent church, Rob is not answerable to the larger body of Christ. As long as people still attend, and people buy his books, only his closest friends will have much input about what he writes. This is one of the problems of independent churches.
If I wrote a book that taught doctrine contrary to the Westminster Confession of Faith, I would most likely be brought up on charges. There is some accountability.