Brian McLaren
Brian McLaren is a liberal pastor who writes books that upset conservative Christians. My Christian friends who prefer democrats tend to like Brian, and my Christian friends who prefer republicans tend to think he is a heretic.
I don’t really have an opinion about him. I’m probably more inclined to disagree with him politically, but the one thing I know is that my friends who read his books love God and do more to help the poor than the friends who call him a heretic.
Last night, I watched a video of a group of conservative theologians sitting on a stage tearing Brian’s latest book apart. They seemed to really enjoy themselves as the repeatedly called Brian out on hermeneutical errors. The smugness on that stage looked and sounded much more like the religious leaders who wanted Jesus killed and out of the way than the ones who wanted to do what He said to do.
I’m not good at the thing I think we’re called to do as Christians yet, but I’m working on it. We’re called to love and take care of hurting people. Jesus didn’t say the world would know us by our spot on theology. He said they’d know us by our love. Disagree or agree with Brian all you want, but don’t get dressed up and turn on cameras to spend an evening on a stage talking about him. I guarantee that there are people those guys on that stage could have been loving one-on-one like Jesus did, but instead they turned the gospel into sideline commentary to make themselves feel superior.
I’ve been more guilty of emphatically believing what I believe than anyone. Being right isn’t all that important. Sharing the transformative love of God matters more than politics and it matters more than hermeneutics so let’s just get over ourselves.
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Neal, although I don’t 100% agree with you about the importance of our theology (the New Testament’s being replete with warnings against false doctrine and false prophets), I do agree that it must play second fiddle to our love for our fellow man. And that’s hard for me, by the way, as I’m more predisposed to extreme justice than to extreme mercy. Working on that.
I do agree wholeheartedly that it can get ugly when those who assume that they have a corner on theology, hermeneutics, apologetics, etc. go on the attack. I was, unfortunately, reared in such a tradition, and the scarring is still there.
Thanks for your insights. Great to hear from you. Best wishes for you and Cali.
-Sean
Neal, I think it is important to remember that Chris hung out with the unpopular folks of His day; dined with tax collectors & was even (gasp) in the same room as prostitutes. Yet, instead of bringing up their faults so much, He told them and showed them how much He loved them. He probably, therefore, would not be on this TV show.
Just my .$02 – (in the process of becoming a recovering Pharisee.)
Doug
We need the doctrine cause Jesus promises that we will see tribulation. Our emotions will fail us and we need the solid truth of God’s Word to anchor ourselves so we are able to withstand the storms.
Know what you believe as opposed to feeling what you believe. I hope that makes sense!
Blessings!
Neal,
I appreciate that you post what is tugging at your heart.
I do the same. And from the beginning of my life in Christ I’ve felt a strong sense of discernment regarding Biblical truth and teachings that “feel” good but aren’t scriptural.
Not that I’m arrogant regarding my understanding of the scriptures; but because I know I too am easily persuaded to believe what “feels right” and have to study to know the truth that I stand on is Biblical & sound.
“There is a way that seems right to a person, but eventually it ends in death.” Proverbs 16:25
Feelings are subjective and the Word (our Lord) never changes.
So I take heed and lots of time trying to rightly divide the word of truth and yes I do spend some time “exposing works of darkness”. God has indeed called me to love at all times and He’s called me to be careful not to be deceived.
“Be careful not to let anyone rob you [of this faith] through a shallow and misleading philosophy. Such a person follows human traditions and the world’s way of doing things rather than following Christ.” Col 2:8
Hey brother you have just returned to the Lover of your Soul and I don’t want to spend time seeming to disrespect your heart of “unity” and concern for GRACE. And anyway this is your blog- I’m only enjoying the pleasure of commenting.
So you’ve spurred me on and I’ll work on my own blog post about how “against the grain” it is to be a Watchman on the Wall.
Love you.. and my Love for Jesus has increased as I’ve watched Him work in you.
Your making an assumption that is based on what u see. Jesus constantly asked the Pharisees and others, “have you not read what the scriptures say?”. Paul wrote to not believe another gospel. Paul also wrote In Romans that the people can not be saved, except through hearing the gospel.
Brian mcClaren is preaching a gospel built on what people do and not by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. And he freely admits it. I have an excellent podcast to point u to where Doug pagett talks with Chris Rosebrough on the gospel. It is the same belief that Brian has.
Christians are called to bear fruit and all Christians will. Some more than others. But to decide what u believe about God based on something other than God’s word is dangerous.
The Bible calls for people to repent and believe in Christ and what he did by dying for our sins. Brian doesn’t even believe you must believe this. He is basically a universalist in a round about way.
I’m late and this will be mostly redundant, but thanks for posting the video link and bringing this up Neal. Christians can learn some valuable lessons from Brain, despite his severe errors in doctrine.
Just look at the “Farm” and “Serving Locally” pages on the website for the church Brian founded (http://www.crcc.org/groups/get-involved) and you’ll see that they are innovative and passionate when it comes to making relationships with their community and demonstrating Christ’s love to others. If we can’t meet our neighbors where they are and show them God’s love in our actions, we won’t get a hearing to share the truth of the Bible.
I definitely agree with the seminary panel in their assessment of Brian’s teaching, but their wordy, smug, and stodgy condemnation is a very repulsive image of Christianity to show to layman and non-Christians. Granted, their video is posted for the benefit of seminary students and theologians who dig this kind of discussion, and I wouldn’t want them to mince words when it comes to the truth of the Gospel, but surely they could show a little less self-satisfaction while they sit in their high-backed chairs like a throne room of supreme court judges.
@Michael A. made the point my heart wanted to make much better than I did. I’m not in Brian’s camp and I don’t have any personal interest in whether he is right or wrong. The Christians I know who appreciate Brian are committed to helping the poor and the hurting to an extent that it makes me want to do more.
Those friends, and I guess Brian, also think government should do more. I disagree with them on that, but it’s my friend’s personal giving that convicts me to do more by supporting groups like Heifer International.
My point about those theologians on that stage really is that they may have been having a fun night, but they weren’t doing anything more for the Kingdom of God than I am when I sit in my home theater watching a movie, even if that movie has Kirk Cameron in it.