Brian McLaren: Author Briefing
"Brian McLaren is a postmodernist Christian leader, and that makes him a controversial fellow in a religion with roots in absolutism. He's the author of ten books and (former) pastor of Cedar Ridge Community Church, an innovative, nondenominational church in the Baltimore-Washington region. He's one of the leaders of Emergent, a growing generative friendship among Christian leaders. In February (2005), Time Magazine listed him as one of the 25 most influential evangelicals in America." (http://www.thepomoblog.com/papers/10Q7.htm)
"Brian McLaren's written and spoken words have come under scrutiny and subsequent criticism from figures both inside and out of the emerging church movement. Generally these criticisms note that McLaren's epistemology provides no basis for dogma and that without any basis, dogma is abandoned in favor of 'generosity' and 'conversation.' Conservative Emergents and Evangelicals have protested that McLaren's philosophical posture has led him to entertain and even embrace doctrinal positions that conservatives consider unorthodox." (Wikipedia)
In some of his books, McLaren cleverly makes his points through fictional characters, so the views espoused by them seem less objectionable than they would otherwise. However, in these comments, some see hints of universalism, contempt for biblical literalism, support for evolution, doubts about a literal hell and Satan, and Job being presented as a philosophical work rather than a historical account.
From a 2005 interview with McLaren, this question was asked, "Under their breath, some evangelicals speak of you as a heretic. What's your response to them?" McLaren responded:
Well you know one definition of a heretic is someone who thinks for himself, and I am trying to think for myself. But another definition is someone who tries to cause schism. I'm not trying to cause schism. I'm a pastor. I value unity. Every opportunity I get I encourage people to have generous attitudes towards people, especially people with whom they disagree. The word schism works both ways, and divisiveness works both ways, but I do everything I can to not be involved in anything that's divisive. Although, when I say things that people don't like, that is uncomfortable for both of us.
Also under the word heresy, people often mean people who are denying essential doctrines of the faith. If I'm not on their list of bona fide Christians, then C. S. Lewis certainly shouldn't be. If they're going to say I have heterodox beliefs, they're going to have to eliminate a whole lot of other people as well. What I am saying is not that original; an awful lot of other people have said the same things. (http://www.thepomoblog.com/papers/10Q7.htm)
In 2007, Homiletics asked McLaren, "If you could really turn pastors on to some big idea, what would it be?" In responding, McLaren clearly identifies his priorities in ministry:
Our job is to make disciples. Our job is to actually make people who are followers of Jesus and who have a role in this world similar to the role that Jesus had in this world. Jesus said, "As the Father sent me, so send I you." We're actually preparing people to be sent into the world.
Every Sunday when we say the benediction, we're sending them into the world as representatives of Jesus. And so what did Jesus do? Jesus taught, Jesus asked questions. Jesus loved people. Jesus healed. Jesus spoke up about injustice and exposed hypocrisy. If we had a sense that what the Christian project is all about is actually about sending people a little better prepared week after week to represent Jesus, I think that would be a tremendously exciting thing. And in many ways this is really what this whole emergent conversation is about. How we can actually rise to that mission of making disciples. (Homiletics Interview, May 24, 2007)
For more information on the Emerging Church Movement, please click here.
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