Sunday, February 21, 2010
"A New Kind of Christianity" - First Impressions
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I picked up Brian McLaren's newest book, "A New Kind of Christianity" from the library this weekend. I've only made it through the introductory chapters and have not yet really started reading the so-called "Ten Questions that are Transforming the Faith." But I do know that the book is already getting some buzz around the blog-o-sphere, not surprising given McLaren's notorious reputation. So I thought I would just share a few first impressions of the book:
First, McLaren is writing/speaking from a place of vast experience and personal interaction with Christians from all over the world. I get the impression that in the past several years he has traveled extensively for speaking engagements. He talks about being in Africa, Central and South America, Europe and East Asia. Because he no longer is a professional pastor, when it comes to Christian speakers/authors, I would wager that few have traveled as much as McLaren.
But even beyond the simple fact that he travels a lot, McLaren is an individual who listens as much as he talks. On the two occasions that I have been able to see him speak publicly, he spent just as much time listening to me. Yeah, that's right!! I don't have much to offer and he doesn't know who I am, but on both occasions, I spent between 30-60 minutes sitting in a small circle discussing various ideas and issues. And McLaren did far more listening than he did talking.
The fact that he is a listener as much as a speaker makes me trust his writings all the much more. When he speaks of a "new kind of Christianity" that is "out on the frontier," "transforming the faith," I believe him! He is traveling the globe, speaking in all sorts of venues to all sorts of Christians and non-Christians, and he has a good feel for what is going on in the world.
Second, he speaks/writes from a place of sincere humility. Throughout the opening chapters of the book, he defers to his critics. Often he admits that he doesn't know it all, and he isn't trying to give final answers (instead he offers what he calls "responses" to the questions). He recognizes that not everyone agrees with him, and that those who critique him heavily have an important role to play in keeping him honest. Who says that in their books? He writes as someone who is working through the process of finding God, as opposed to having already found God and telling others how to get there.
In my opinion, he embodies this humility in person as well. I'll admit that before I saw him speak in person, I wasn't the biggest fan of his books. I thought they were just OK. But his personality is genuine, and he seems to always be wishing the best for everyone. I appreciate that in this book he isn't saying that ALL Christians have to agree on these issues. Again, he is just reporting what he is hearing and experiencing around the world. And the spirit of humility in which he does it is one of the main reasons I love the Emergent community.
Finally, I feel he is really pushing emergent Christians forward. There is very little griping about church experiences or crummy pastors. Instead, he is asking questions and providing responses that will "transform the faith" for the future. Many people critique emergent saying that the movement only says what it is not and offers very little in the way of positive direction. It seems to me that McLaren's book may be another significant offering in saying what emergent Christians do believe, not just what they don't believe. (I would also say that Peter Rollins' books, as well as Selmanovic's do this as well).
The first few chapters speak a lot of a journey, a quest, moving forward in the faith. That's exciting to me. I look forward to reading the rest of the book, given McLaren's thoughtful introductory chapters.
I picked up Brian McLaren's newest book, "A New Kind of Christianity" from the library this weekend. I've only made it through the introductory chapters and have not yet really started reading the so-called "Ten Questions that are Transforming the Faith." But I do know that the book is already getting some buzz around the blog-o-sphere, not surprising given McLaren's notorious reputation. So I thought I would just share a few first impressions of the book:First, McLaren is writing/speaking from a place of vast experience and personal interaction with Christians from all over the world. I get the impression that in the past several years he has traveled extensively for speaking engagements. He talks about being in Africa, Central and South America, Europe and East Asia. Because he no longer is a professional pastor, when it comes to Christian speakers/authors, I would wager that few have traveled as much as McLaren.
But even beyond the simple fact that he travels a lot, McLaren is an individual who listens as much as he talks. On the two occasions that I have been able to see him speak publicly, he spent just as much time listening to me. Yeah, that's right!! I don't have much to offer and he doesn't know who I am, but on both occasions, I spent between 30-60 minutes sitting in a small circle discussing various ideas and issues. And McLaren did far more listening than he did talking.
The fact that he is a listener as much as a speaker makes me trust his writings all the much more. When he speaks of a "new kind of Christianity" that is "out on the frontier," "transforming the faith," I believe him! He is traveling the globe, speaking in all sorts of venues to all sorts of Christians and non-Christians, and he has a good feel for what is going on in the world.
Second, he speaks/writes from a place of sincere humility. Throughout the opening chapters of the book, he defers to his critics. Often he admits that he doesn't know it all, and he isn't trying to give final answers (instead he offers what he calls "responses" to the questions). He recognizes that not everyone agrees with him, and that those who critique him heavily have an important role to play in keeping him honest. Who says that in their books? He writes as someone who is working through the process of finding God, as opposed to having already found God and telling others how to get there.In my opinion, he embodies this humility in person as well. I'll admit that before I saw him speak in person, I wasn't the biggest fan of his books. I thought they were just OK. But his personality is genuine, and he seems to always be wishing the best for everyone. I appreciate that in this book he isn't saying that ALL Christians have to agree on these issues. Again, he is just reporting what he is hearing and experiencing around the world. And the spirit of humility in which he does it is one of the main reasons I love the Emergent community.
Finally, I feel he is really pushing emergent Christians forward. There is very little griping about church experiences or crummy pastors. Instead, he is asking questions and providing responses that will "transform the faith" for the future. Many people critique emergent saying that the movement only says what it is not and offers very little in the way of positive direction. It seems to me that McLaren's book may be another significant offering in saying what emergent Christians do believe, not just what they don't believe. (I would also say that Peter Rollins' books, as well as Selmanovic's do this as well).
The first few chapters speak a lot of a journey, a quest, moving forward in the faith. That's exciting to me. I look forward to reading the rest of the book, given McLaren's thoughtful introductory chapters.
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4 comments:
I think in many ways McLaren is kind of a scapegoat for emergent. When people want to critique emergent they immediately turn to McLaren as an easy target, and immediately go to the tricky issues that he tries to deal with so carefully. They can't peg that sort of thing on Rob Bell who probably half their congregation loves, and who doesn't even touch those issues. And so whenever I hear someone tell me they don't like McLaren I immediately think "you just have to meet him" because you can tell in his attitude he doesn't have an axe to grind, he isn't trying to destroy people's faith, he is a real Christian searching for God, and loving people as best he can.
if only we could all be as disarming and engaging as McLaren. As folks attempt to poke and prod and stir argument . . . he engages only in the spirit of love and humility. His spirit is so much more admirable and Christ-like than folks like John MacArthur and other fundamentalists I've seen attack him. Disagree with his perspective all you want, but please, as you've done in this post, acknowledge his Christ-like demeanor. Nice post dude.
Well said, Jesse. McClaren's emphasis on dialogue and his humility are refreshing. If he were antagonistic and defensively hostile, his message would be inauthentic.
Thanks for the comments everyone.
I agree completely. It seems that anyone who would choose to attack this particular emergent book would do so mainly because it is written by McLaren. Although now that I am further into it, he does say some radical stuff....
More than anything, I get the impression that McLaren is a guy who really loves Jesus and, like you sead, is searching for God and loving people as best he can. Really respectable, in my opinion....
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