{"id":436,"date":"2010-06-04T10:39:09","date_gmt":"2010-06-04T16:39:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/raincitypastor.wordpress.com\/?p=436"},"modified":"2010-06-04T10:39:09","modified_gmt":"2010-06-04T16:39:09","slug":"brians-song-confusing-words-on-a-slippery-slope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/richarddahlstrom\/2010\/06\/04\/brians-song-confusing-words-on-a-slippery-slope\/","title":{"rendered":"Brian’s Song: confusing words on a slippery slope"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

I\u2019ll start by saying that many of Brian McLaren\u2019s books have been great reads. \u00a0I read \u201cthe church on the other side\u201d<\/a> years ago, which gave voice to some important cultural shifts as \u201cpost-modernity\u201d was becoming a common phrase in theological circles. \u00a0Two things stood out in that book as important and true:<\/p>\n

1. Brian didn\u2019t challenge the notion of absolute truth. \u00a0Instead he challenged the human capacity to apprehend truth perfectly, and communicate it accurately, so that it might be perceived with perfect clarity by other recipients. \u00a0The problem isn\u2019t in the in the existence of truth, but in our fallen human capacities. \u00a0This posture gives a much needed humility to our declarations.<\/p>\n

2. Brian challenged churches to love people unconditionally, suggesting that out of this would come a more natural invitation and sharing. \u00a0People shouldn\u2019t be viewed a projects, or worse, sales calls. \u00a0We need to love everyone, whether or not they ever share our deepest beliefs. \u00a0This too was a breathe of fresh blowing in after the religious right\u2019s sometimes combative arrogance of the 80\u2019s and 90\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Both of these declarations were creating much needed shifts in some churches. \u00a0Brian kept writing. \u00a0His audience kept growing, and continues to grow. \u00a0His tune has remained the same: love people, make God\u2019s reign visible by caring for the poor, and the earth, and celebrating justice and beauty. \u00a0It\u2019s a good tune, deeply rooted in, to use Brian\u2019s words, \u201cthe story God is writing in the world\u201d.<\/p>\n

In his most recent book though, it\u2019s: same tune, different lyrics\u2026disturbing lyrics<\/strong><\/em>. \u00a0I love his \u201cquest for honesty\u2026and a faith that (makes) more sense.\u201d (p6). \u00a0The trouble is, his words make less<\/strong><\/em> sense, at least to me. \u00a0Here\u2019s what I mean:<\/p>\n

1. Brian\u2019s entire case is built on the assumption that we tend to read the whole Bible through a Jewish lens, calling into question the \u201cGreco-Roman narrative\u201d. \u00a0The G\/R narrative leads to dualsim: in\/out, material\/spiritual, saved\/lost etc. \u00a0If we\u2019d only read the whole Bible through a different lens, a Jewish lens, these categories would disappear. My response:<\/strong> Since the New Testament was written in the thick of a Greek\/Roman culture, and since the gospel is good news for all, \u201cthe Jew first, and then the Greek\u201d (Romans 1:17), shouldn\u2019t we be reading parts written by or for Greeks through a Greek lens? \u00a0For example, Paul\u2019s letter to the Romans was written to Jews and Gentiles, so Paul wouldn\u2019t assume all readers to be thinking like Jews. \u00a0His dualisms: \u00a0life\/death, enemies of God\/reconciled, etc. are real, and should be read as real.<\/p>\n

Much of Brian\u2019s \u201cNew Kind of Christianity\u201d<\/a> makes sense if his assumption that we must discard Greco\/Roman thinking is true. \u00a0But if the assumption isn\u2019t true, then he made a wrong turn on the road, and the wrong turn will take him farther and farther away from the destination. \u00a0How far?<\/p>\n

2. \u00a0Brian writes, towards the end of the book, that he envisions an evangelism is \u201ccalling people to a kingdom that transcends and includes all religions.\u201d<\/em> This statement seems nonsensical to me. \u00a0If you read here regularly, you know that I believe we\u2019ve things to learn from Buddhists, Muslims, and Pagans. \u00a0You know that I\u2019m quick to point out the shortcomings of institutional Christianity. \u00a0But I hope you know this too:<\/em> Everything hinges on Christ<\/strong> because, as Paul said, there\u2019s no other foundation.<\/a> Paul even has the gaul to get all dualistic, many times, by saying that Christ will be foolishness to some, but salvation to others. \u00a0When people reject Christ, Paul has no problem shaking the dust off his shoes and letting them know that they\u2019re missing the boat.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t get me wrong. \u00a0God\u2019s mighty generous when it comes to salvation. \u00a0Christ\u2019s death on the cross absorbed all wrath for all sin<\/a>. \u00a0But if I reject the gift, or refuse to even believe there is a gift, or that I have need of a gift, then what more can God do, without impinging on my own will and making me a robot? \u00a0The reality is that people do reject the gift.<\/em> They deny that Christ\u2019s death is worth anything, or that He lives now. \u00a0Some deny the notion of sin, declaring that evil and good are false categories. \u00a0People are free to do this, but in Brian\u2019s song, it seems as if it doesn\u2019t matter; \u00a0Reject Christ, deny his existence, or his deity, or his resurrection \u2013 it\u2019s not important. \u00a0You can join God\u2019s story without any of that.<\/p>\n

Really? \u00a0I don\u2019t buy it. <\/em><\/p>\n

In Brian\u2019s past writings he seemed to be calling the church to make certain that we moved beyond simply declaring right beliefs about Jesus (orthodoxy) into actually living like Jesus (orthoproxy). \u00a0Thanks for that Brian. \u00a0I couldn\u2019t agree more, and the message was, and still is needed.<\/p>\n

In this last book though, the obsession with orthopraxy has destroyed all notions that orthodoxy matters, because when you invite people in \u201cthe way of Jesus\u201d and quickly add that\u2019s it\u2019s available \u201cwhatever the new disciple\u2019s religious affiliation\u201d, (p216) you\u2019re saying that I can remain embedded in a community that denies the deity of Christ, or the value of his death, or the reality of his resurrection, or the reality of sin, and still adhere to the way of Christ.<\/p>\n

What saddens me most, is that this book will lead some in the emergent church further away from historic orthodoxy. \u00a0I\u2019ve applauded Brian\u2019s role, along with his emergent friends, in the reformation and restoration of missional emphasis, of actually loving neighbors, of resisting the objectification of people that so often happens at the hands of the church, of confessing or materialism, greed, and pride. \u00a0But I\u2019ve applauded all this to the extent that this reformation is built on the \u201csimplicity and purity of devotion to Christ\u201d<\/a>. \u00a0 All<\/strong><\/em> of Christ matters: \u00a0his deity, his humanity, his atoning death on the cross, his empowering resurrection, his love of his neighbors, and enemies, his care for the poor and marginalized. \u00a0Brian seems to applauding half of that and saying the other half doesn\u2019t matter. \u00a0But half a Jesus is no Jesus at all<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 as the left and right have proven for centuries.<\/p>\n

If you catch wind of this Brian\u2026 I welcome your thoughts.<\/p>\n

As always, I welcome everyone else\u2019s too.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ll start by saying that many of Brian McLaren\u2019s books have been great reads. \u00a0I read \u201cthe church on the other side\u201d years ago, which gave voice to some important cultural shifts as \u201cpost-modernity\u201d was becoming a common phrase in theological circles. \u00a0Two things stood out in that book as important and true: 1. 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