McLaren’s New Book

I try not to spend too much time endorsing books from popular writers, but Brian McLaren’s latest work, “A New Kind of Christianity” has been the subject of strong negative reaction from Southern Baptists, particularly from the Southern Baptist Seminary. You can read McLaren’s defense of his book here.

I finished reading McLaren’s statements (some of which I read and re-read) and would offer the following:

1. McLaren is a gifted author. He is adept at writing and is no mean scholar. I respect his scholarship and the manner in which he plies the writing craft.

2. McLaren offers what seems to be a cogent, cohesive schematic for re-interpreting Jesus, His message, and the essence of the Gospel. Like John Calvin, hundreds of years before him, he offers a “system” that is defensible only if you buy all the assumptions.

3. McLaren taps the growing “angst” experienced by many younger evangelicals as they become more fully immersed in a diverse culture, influenced by pluralism, and exposed to a “zeitgeist” that is clearly more critical of the traditional biblical world view.

4. McLaren offers an option that transforms the “old time religion” into something more fully compatible with post-moderns who eschew authoritative narratives, specific, black-and-white positions, and are looking for a more inclusive religious experience.

So, how do I really feel about all this?

First, I am saddened by these developments. I am saddened for the following reasons:

1. Much of what post-modern critics of traditional, biblical religion rail against, are the caricatures unwittingly foisted off on society and the world by those of us who were reckless in our speech, careless in our exegesis, and rude in our application of biblical truths.

2. I am saddened by the fact that many religious people are so discontent with the traditional biblical message that they seek revisionist interpretations that water down the essence of the biblical message, more for the sake of making them feel comfortable in a pluralistic, diverse culture, than in reaching the lost.

3. I am saddened by the holiness church’s absorption into popular evangelicalism. Brian McLaren and those of his theological persuasion are the natural by-product of evangelicalism. Evangelicalism has been corrupted and co-opted by liberalizing forces that have been working since the early days of the fundamentalism debates, to reshape it according to the features of what was then called modernism. The holiness churches were truly never in complete harmony with the largely Calvinist/Reformed theological motifs. On the far right were the Dispensationalists with their prophetic/eschatological schematics. On the left were the neo-evangelical vanguard seeking to bridge between the older group and liberal Christanity. In the center, were those whose Calvinism endorsed similar themes as did the holiness churches, with the added elements of eternal security, one-dimensional emphasis on substitutionary atonement, and a modified three-point Calvinism.

4. I am saddened by the loss of vigor in traditional, biblical religion engendered by embarrassed proponents who are so willing to abandon its message for what is clearly a clever, articulate revision of the Gospel, cast in the language and vocabulary of those who seek conciliation with unbelievers.

5. Finally, I am saddened by the feeling that Jesus’ words to the disciples may be finding fulfillment in the discourse offered by those with whom I am supposed to be in Christian fellowship, e.g. evangelicals. Jesus said, “Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)

The Emergent Church seems to be playing fast and loose with the ancient paths. I applaud emerging churches as they seek to engage the culture. I grieve, however, when that is done at the expense of the precious Gospel of Jesus Christ!

In Him,

David Felter