Brian McLaren

[struggling89]

I've been reading A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren; I've read bits and pieces of some of his other stuff and I have to say I'm fast becoming a big fan of his. What do you guys think of Brian and his work?

[Zecryphon]

I've been reading A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren; I've read bits and pieces of some of his other stuff and I have to say I'm fast becoming a big fan of his. What do you guys think of Brian and his work?
What is it about McLaren's work that you like? What does he say that really speaks to you? Also, does what he say line up with the Bible?

[struggling89]

As far as whether what he says lines up with the Bible to me, yes very much so. He, as I do, believes in holding the Bible in the highest regard (although not a literal interpretation in the classic sense). McLaren humbly realizes that no one, save for God, has all the answers and seeks a "third way" of sorts between fundamentalist and liberal Christianity. Although I'll have to admit, most conservative Christians may not like a lot of what he says. Still, I think an extremely worth-while read.

[DeanM]

Thanks for the heads up. I have never heard of him, but I'm always looking for a good read.

Lawson Alan is a favorite of mine. Dunno if you've read anything by him yet. Again, conservative Christians might want to steer clear of this author, but I found his theology insightful and heartwarming.

Blessings

[Zecryphon]

As far as whether what he says lines up with the Bible to me, yes very much so. He, as I do, believes in holding the Bible in the highest regard (although not a literal interpretation in the classic sense). McLaren humbly realizes that no one, save for God, has all the answers and seeks a "third way" of sorts between fundamentalist and liberal Christianity. Although I'll have to admit, most conservative Christians may not like a lot of what he says. Still, I think an extremely worth-while read.
"McLaren humbly realizes that no one, save for God, has all the answers and seeks a "third way" of sorts between fundamentalist and liberal Christianity."

I'll agree with this in part. What I've heard about McLaren, and from what I've heard McLaren say in interviews, is that he believes that no one can ever know the absolute truth and that all truths are equally valid. I don't fully understand this "third way" that you speak of. There is only one way to be saved and that is through Jesus Christ. See John 14:6. That is an absolute truth and you can find it in the Bible, along with a lot of other absolute truths that the world likes to ignore and cast doubt upon.

[struggling89]

As far as all paths being equally valid I don't think McLaren says that at all. From what I get, he believes in the fundamentals (which to both him and me is to "Love the Lord with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself; not the traditional "fundamentals" laid down in the early 20th century) the divinity of Christ, the vitality of the Bible for the Christian community etc. And I (and McLaren from what I've gathered) would agree with you 100% in saying that no one is saved except through Jesus Christ; but that doesn't mean that one has to be a "professing Christian" to be saved. He certainly doesn't claim to be a universalist either. What he does say is that we're so preoccupied with hell that we forget a lot of Jesus' message.

[Zecryphon]

As far as all paths being equally valid I don't think McLaren says that at all. From what I get, he believes in the fundamentals (which to both him and me is to "Love the Lord with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself; not the traditional "fundamentals" laid down in the early 20th century) the divinity of Christ, the vitality of the Bible for the Christian community etc. And I (and McLaren from what I've gathered) would agree with you 100% in saying that no one is saved except through Jesus Christ; but that doesn't mean that one has to be a "professing Christian" to be saved. He certainly doesn't claim to be a universalist either. What he does say is that we're so preoccupied with hell that we forget a lot of Jesus' message.
"As far as all paths being equally valid I don't think McLaren says that at all."

He does seem influenced by post-modern thinking. I mean, why has he basically tried to found yet another denomination? 20,000 isn't enough? He's leading the charge of the emergent movement, along with his partner in crime Tony Jones and a few others.

"From what I get, he believes in the fundamentals (which to both him and me is to "Love the Lord with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself; not the traditional "fundamentals" laid down in the early 20th century)"

What are the fundamentals laid down in the early 20th century?

"the divinity of Christ, the vitality of the Bible for the Christian community etc. And I (and McLaren from what I've gathered) would agree with you 100% in saying that no one is saved except through Jesus Christ; but that doesn't mean that one has to be a "professing Christian" to be saved."

If you deny Christ on earth, God will deny you in Heaven. We have enough "half-way" Christians as it is, don't need anymore.

"He certainly doesn't claim to be a universalist either."

No one in their right mind would claim that. The guy would be labelled a heretic if he claimed that.

"What he does say is that we're so preoccupied with hell that we forget a lot of Jesus' message."

Jesus spoke more about hell than He did about Heaven. He spoke of repentance and faith. Law and gospel. Not just gospel only. Without the law or the 10 Commandments, the gospel makes no sense. People do not know why they need a savior.

[struggling89]

Yes, but how much more did Jesus speak about the "Kingdom of God" or the "Kingdom of Heaven" than He spoke about hell?

And what McLaren is advising is all about humility and repentance. What he (and I, and many others) would like to see is for both conservative and liberal Christians to admit their many flaws and admit that maybe they don't have everything right, that maybe they have made some huge mistakes; that maybe a social gospel lacking an emphasis on a personal relationship with Christ is not the right way to live but neither is a personal faith in Christ gospel that does not lead to many of the great parts of the "social" mainline Protestant gospel. it's all about having all Christians: Catholics, Orthodox, Mainline Protestant, Evangelical Protestant, Liberal, Conservative sit down at the table of brotherhood. Again, I know this is not a desire of many fundamentalist circles (just as I'm sure it isn't in some liberal circles as well; there are plenty of liberal fundies, I'm sure, who would rather get teeth pulled than sit down with conservative fundamentalists at a "table of brotherhood"), but I sincerely wish it could be.