Book Review: A New Kind of Christianity by Brian McLaren
Publisher: HarperOne, 2010

In past reviews of Brian McLaren’s books I have always attempted to hold my criticism back a little. This is due in large part to not wanting to harshly judge a fellow Christian in a public forum. After reading A New Kind Christianity I am no longer concerned with holding back. I suppose this is because McLaren is also no longer concerned with holding back. In the past, McLaren has always been hard to pin down.  His opinions are vague because he will never make a claim of truth in what he writes. He has said that what he writes is merely a contribution to the ongoing “conversation” we humans are invited to engage in about God and seems to think that the moment someone claims an actual truth regarding God the conversation is muffled. The problem is that McLaren seems to apply his relativist outlook to the rock solid truths of the Bible leaving us all swimming around in a sea of uncertainty.

In A New Kind of Christianity McLaren comes as close as he ever has to showing his cards. In this book he denies hell, the fall of man, human depravity, and seems to think the greatest Christian minds throughout history have all been reading the Bible in the wrong way. McLaren submits that for millennia Christians have been reading the Bible through a faulty Greco-Roman world view. He claims that this worldview has led us all to come to fundamentally wrong conclusions concerning Jesus’ role in our lives. Thank goodness McLaren has come along to save us from the false teachings of the greatest minds the world has ever known. While McLaren doesn’t explicitly state it, if he is correct concerning the things he writes, than the likes of the apostle Paul, Saint Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and C.S. Lewis have all been wrong. McLaren’s claims reek of arrogance.

Rather than reading the Bible through our faulty Greco-Roman reading glasses (according to the author, these glasses lead us to read the Bible as a constitution that reveals too much truth), McLaren suggest we should read it as an ongoing conversation. The most attracting aspect of this “conversation” is no doubt that it will never lead us to a certain or definite conclusion. What McClaren has done is invent a new way to read Scripture due to his inability to juxtapose the God of the Old Testament with the Savior of the New Testament. McLaren submits that the Bible is evidence of the evolution of mankind’s thought processes. In the Old Testament, when man’s thoughts were the most primitive, God was painted as a violent and cruel God that no savvy Christian such as McLaren could ever worship. After a few thousand years, Jesus was portrayed in a much different light because thought had evolved to the point that mankind could imagine a God that was closer to the truth. McLaren takes this theory far enough to imagine a future where Christians will imagine a God that is even more perfect than Christ. In his future, Christians (and God) are vegetarian, earth worshiping pacifists who throw up in their mouth a little when they remember those barbaric Christians who laid the foundation of the church. It seemed to me that McLaren’s God of the future is very much like McLaren himself. McLaren’s book is one of the grossest forms of idolatry I have ever witnessed another Christian commit. Because he is unable (or unwilling) to accept God as He is revealed to us in Scripture, McLaren resorts to recreating Him in his own image. It is the ultimate form of humanism and arrogance.

Personally, I’ll join the early church fathers and fundamental Christians over the last two millennia who wished to understand the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as revealed by God Himself in the Holy Scriptures. McLaren’s teaching in this book are so far removed from traditional fundamental Christianity that it is virtually indistinguishable from atheism.

Christ taught that the world would hate us because of Him. This was evidenced in the church fathers who gave their lives to promote the Gospel. It is witnessed to today in various parts of the world where Christians are persecuted and killed for their beliefs.

In this book, McLaren spits on the memories and sacrifices of those Christians and sides with the world. He disregards the revelation of God Almighty and creates a disgusting idol.

Should Women be Pastors or Teachers in the Church?

Introduction

Please allow me to begin by reassuring the reader that I understand this is a controversial subject. I have a wife and three daughters and am fully aware of how this issue affects them. I understand that this subject has been used and abused at times in an effort to subject women. I apologize for those moments. I also understand that the Bible’s teaching concerning this subject has often been misunderstood. Because of the potential pot-holes, I will do my best to present a Biblical view on this subject in as sensitive a manner as possible.

Last Sunday I watched my pastor step up and defend the Scriptures as they relate to the subject of women pastors. The church I attend is Southern Baptist whose view is that women should not preach, teach, or hold authority over any man within the church. I myself had remained neutral on the subject for several years. My neutrality was due in part to a fear of insulting the females in my life whom I love dearly. I knew what the Bible said but I wasn’t sure how to fit the pieces of the puzzle together in a way that wouldn’t hurt feelings. In retrospect, I believe I lacked a wide enough point of view. You see, when put in the context of the Bible as a whole, there is nothing hurtful about the Southern Baptist position on the subject.

On the way home from church Sunday I had a bit of an “ah ha” moment as my thoughts began to crystallize on this issue. My line of reasoning began as I watched my pastor preach and thought to myself, “I would never want my wife to face the kind of pressure he is facing today.”

This subject is difficult because we inherently understand that all men and women are created equal. It is understood that in this day and age women can be anything they want to be. The contradiction seems evident – if women are equal to men, why can’t they aspire to preach? Is the Bible somehow outdated or irrelevant to the lives of the modern woman? For a moment, let’s dismiss our preconceived notions and study the Scriptures to see what they have to say.

I pray that my readers read what I have written here with an open heart and receive it in manner in which it is intended. I would recommend that as you read this post you get out your Bible and study along with me.

Are men and women really created equal?

• Genesis 1:27 – Both men and women are created in God’s image.
• Galatians 3:28 – There is no male or female – all are one (equal) in Christ.

According to Scripture, women are equal to men and are created in the image of God. If this is true, it seems to contradict Paul’s teaching in the following verses.

• 1 Timothy 2:11-12 – A woman should learn in silence and not have authority over or teach a man.
• 1 Corinthians 14:34 – A woman should be silent.
• 1 Corinthians 11:3 – Christ is the head of every man and man is the head every of women. God is the head of Christ.

These verses seem to stand in stark contrast to each other. The Bible clearly teaches that men and women are equal, however, women should not preach to, teach, or hold authority over a man in the church. Despite their equality, men and women have different roles. Consider the following verses:

• Ephesians 5:22-23 – Wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord. The husbands are the head of the wives as Christ is the head of the church.
• Ephesians 5:25 – Husbands are to love their wives just as Christ loved the church.
• Ephesians 5:32 – Men are to love their wives and wives are to respect their husbands.

Obviously, women are special to God and hold a special place and role within the Kingdom. Consider that it was to a woman that Christ first revealed that He was God (John 4:26). It was to women that Christ first presented Himself to after the resurrection (Matthew 28:9-10). There are examples of woman prophets throughout the Old and New Testaments (Exodus 15:20, Judges 4:4, 2 Kings 22:14, Isaiah 8:13). These instances clearly show that if God chooses to use a woman to speak His Word, she had better heed His call. However, these examples all seem to be outside of a church setting. It is worth noting that there are no Scriptural examples of a woman acting as pastor within the ministry that is an ongoing church.

It seems to me that Ephesians 5:25 has huge implications on our topic. If a man is to love his wife as Christ loved the church, what does that mean? How did Christ love the church? Did he instruct each one of us to be crucified? Did he tell us to die for Him? No. He died for us willingly on the cross! He loved us that much! This means that a man should follow Christ’s example and be willing to die for his wife. I named this study ‘In the Line of Fire’ because I am reminded of the Secret Service agents who willingly protect the President with their lives. They are willing to take a bullet not because they are more equipped to do so than the President, but because they view his life as more important than their own. Keep this attitude in mind as we move forward in our study. According to Ephesians 5:25, a husband must view his wife’s life as more important than his own (just as the Secret Service agent views the President). He must be willing to take a bullet for her! Furthermore, he should be willing to follow Christ’s example and position himself between her and the gates of hell! If he is unwilling to do this, he is not fulfilling his Biblical role as husband.

Within the Church it is the Pastors who are in the Line of Fire

• Luke 12:48 – Much is required of everyone who is given much. Even more will be expected of those who have been entrusted with more.

Pastors have been entrusted with shepherding a flock made up of people that Christ loves. They have been given the duty to teach the Word of God to people made in His image. It is a great responsibility! Pastors will be expected to maintain a higher standard by both God and man!

• James 3:1 – Teachers (of the Word) will receive a stricter judgment than others. As such, not many should do it!

James is actually trying to talk people out of becoming teachers of the Word because of the target that is on their backs. Preachers are held to a higher standard and will receive a stricter judgment than anyone else. They are in the line of fire! As such, any man who takes his God given responsibility as a husband to love his wife as Christ loved the church should be willing to step into the line of fire and live by a higher standard and take on the stricter judgment rather than expecting his wife to do it! Allowing his wife to fill the role of pastor is akin to Christ asking us to die on the cross.

In Paul’s day the leaders of the church faced certain death for their beliefs. This is true in parts of the world even today. Stand up and pastor a church in China or Iran and you can expect nothing but hardship and probable death. We have been spoiled in our western culture to the point that we have forgotten how dangerous it can be to preach to Word! Christ Himself said that they will hate us because of Him!

It isn’t that women aren’t capable of being pastors or teaching the word. They aren’t somehow inferior to men. Rather, it is that men should love their wives enough not to allow them to withstand the scrutiny, expectations, retaliation, and judgment associated with the position. The role of pastor is a tough, stressful and dangerous. It should be the man taking the heat and positioning himself between his wife and the gates of hell. Why? Because women are simply that special! They should be placed on a pedestal rather than in a pulpit dodging bullets!

How do we respond to men who reject this teaching?

If you are a man who would rather his wife takes the heat associated with leadership in the church I would strongly suggest that you man-up! God has clearly told you in His Word that your instinct should be to love your wife like Christ loved the church. If you are content to watch her take the heat in the pulpit as pastor or deacon how can she be sure you will take a literal bullet for her? How would you react if the enemy was about to kill her for preaching the Word? How is she supposed to feel loved if you aren’t willing to step up to the plate and assume your role as the head of the church?

What about women who reject this teaching?

I understand there will be women who stand up and say they don’t need any man to open a door, take a bullet, or preach a sermon for them. They are right. They don’t need a man to do these things. They are more than capable of taking a bullet. I would strongly suspect however that a woman who is unwilling or not ready to accept a man’s protection and sacrifice is not fully prepared to accept Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. I would humbly suggest she re-evaluate her position on this issue. If a woman still can’t accept what the Bible says on this matter, there are denominations and churches out there that will accommodate. I’m not suggesting that a woman pastor is going to hell because of their opinion on this issue. I am suggesting, however, that their husbands should prayerfully examine the issue with some attention to the details.

God Bless!

For most of my life I’ve been a fanatical devotee of technology.  I believed there was no problem that a well-crafted technological solution couldn’t obviate.  I believed in this so fervently that it extended into my faith.  I believed that technology could reach the teeming masses for Christ.

And it has flourished.  TV ministries have exploded in size, scope, prevalence, and popularity.  There is a problem though.  To date, they have failed in what I see as the primary purpose of the medium.  The current and historical extrapolations of TV ministries have amassed prominence and power to the head of the ministry, but have done little to advance the cause of Christ.  These ministries typically reach the already reached and as such end up in a preaching to the choir mode.

They end up taking the kingdom where it already is and as such the best if can do is function as an adjunct to what is already going on.  The down side to these ministries relates to the numerous character flaws of the people who’ve lead them.  When the medium builds up someone it also magnifies their failures as well.  From Jimmy Swaggart to Jim Baker and beyond the character failures of these few have harmed the cause of Christ greatly.  These failures have hardened the hearts of those these ministries should have focused on reaching in the first place.

The failures of this medium didn’t deter me from my belief on this subject.  Rather, I believed it was implementation and the people behind it that were responsible for the failure.  I still ardently believed in the efficacy of technology to advance the gospel.  I simply transferred my preferred implementation of technology as the vehicle.

Next, I believed that radio could serve as the next vehicle.  Radio as a technology was mature.  It was cheap to obtain and it was everywhere.  So much so, that it is hard to find a place anywhere on the planet that isn’t served by radio in some form.  However it suffered from the same weaknesses as TV.  It elevated men with serious character defects and their fall was just as disastrous with the same down side as TV.

After two colossal candidate failures, I should have been deterred from continuing this quest, but I wasn’t.  The next candidate to enter the fray was the internet.  In this day and age, the connection divide at least in industrialized nations has largely been erased.  The medium erases transmissional barriers.  It allows for instant dissemination to anyone with a connection to it.

Much to my chagrin, it has failed also.  In part, because the developing world largely has more pressing needs than surfing the web.  In part, this is true because the developed world is more interest in using the internet as a porn delivery system.  And in part it’s true, because the character of those attempting to lead such movements always comes up short.

Recently, I was forced to accept that technology can’t ever revolutionize the way the gospel reaches the world.  Technology is about an engineered solution that transmits the exact message of the sender.  It is about the movement of ones and zeroes from point A to point B.  The gospel is about sharing the heart of God with the world.

It’s spiritual. It’s relational. It’s intimate.  It’s done best in the context of one life touching another as directed by the divine.  No implementation of a protocol can replicate that, regardless of how well intentioned or engineered.

Simply put, I had to accept that my overall premise was flawed.  Any technological solution will only serve as an adjunct to what already exists.  What I should have learned are the lessons the Bible teaches from the Tower of Babel narrative found in Genesis.  The story tells of the desire to build a great tower that reaches the heavens.  And so a united humanity decides to undertake this mission.  God then steps in and confuses their language, thus preventing its completion.

The text points out that God was concerned that a single unified humanity was a threat, because nothing would be impossible for them.  I have often been troubled by this narrative.  It doesn’t fit the mold we have for God.  God steps in to deny them the completion of their tower.  It seems petty of God.  It seems capricious.  It’s not logical for God to intervene in this matter in this fashion.

My problems with the narrative were resolved when I realized a few simple things.  The builders of the tower were operating in defiance of God’s command to scatter across the globe, multiply, and subdue the earth.  Their building of the tower was to avoid being scattered and to amass a name for themselves.  They attempted to use their technology to thwart God’s will.  God responded by insisting on his will and denying them the power of their technology by creating communication barriers.

God wasn’t concerned with just the tower.  He was concerned with what a united people might be capable of next.  If they could build a technological marvel in defiance of God’s desire for them to the contrary, then what else was possible for these humans?  What need would these people have for God?

The answer is simple.  They wouldn’t need God at all.  They could place themselves on God’s throne and do as they pleased.  Subsequently, God moved to prevent this, and every time since, when man has developed his dependence on a better mouse trap for him that cuts his dependence on the divine.  God has moved in to show his creation how little he really knows and understands.

How does this impact technology and God you ask?  Is God really calling us to a Luddite existence?  Should we all become Amish?  In a word, no.  What God is seeking of us in this venue is to seek him first.  We should set aside technology and live within the context in which we are planted.  Technology shouldn’t seek to revolutionize how the gospel is disseminated.  Rather it should be an adjunct to its flow.  It should be subservient to the spirit of God.

In other words, I learned that technology will always fail when it isn’t the servant in the relationship or when it is implemented by those seeking anything other than God’s will for this lives and those they are in relationship with.  The flow should be from God to his servants and from his servants to those God deemed it necessary to be reached.  In this flow God is sovereign and we serve him and any technology we use serves that end.  Anything else perverts this flow and makes a mockery of the proper process.

Have you ever watched someone face devastating news such as cancer with a confidence and peace that astounds you? Recently, I have been following the battles of two well-known Christains via the internet; Michael Spencer and Matt Chandler. Both have handled their situations with a boldness that can only come from God. I have found myself wondering on more than one occasion how they can provide such a good Christian example in the midst of such terrible news. Recently, I was blessed to witness an example of such Christianity up close when my wife, Stefanie, had her own cancer scare.

Stefanie had some concerns about one of her breasts and made an appointment with her OBGYN who scheduled some tests. We weren’t overly concerned because by all indications we had nothing to worry about. In one day, however, what was once a slim chance of cancer became a 50/50 chance and a biopsy was scheduled. Every part of me wanted to break and panic and I was amazed at how my wife responded to the news! She was as calm as I have ever seen her. Stefanie responded with such a calm that could only have come from outside herself.

When I asked her how she handled everything with such peace she told me she could feel Christ’s presence with her during the tests. She knew that her family and friends were praying for her and leaned on those prayers and Christ. Her example was inspiring to me and I wanted to share some of the things I witnessed to help the rest of us follow her lead.

First, Stefanie was committed to her relationship with Christ long before she was confronted with bad news. On a daily basis my wife communicates with her Lord. She confesses her sin and delights in His forgiveness and grace as much, if not more, than anyone I have ever met. Because of this ongoing relationship with God she was quickly able to lean on Him for support.

Secondly, Stefanie has an amazing ability to quote Scripture. Her recall when it comes to God’s Word has alway amazed me and I noticed her drawing on Bible verses often when she needed reminded of God’s Word. This seemed to comfort her and remind her that God was with her at all times. It seems that most of the tough questions we tend to ask in the midst of trials have already been answered through Scriptures … it helped Stefanie to know the answers before she found herself asking the questions. 

My wife also seemed to put the needs of everyone around her ahead of her own. In a moment where no one would have blamed her for focusing entirely on her self,   she was intent on keeping everyone else calm. Not only was she continually reassuring her family (myself included), she also made it her mission to witness a Christ-like example for those medical workers she came in contact with.

Finally, and this is perhaps the key ingredient in all of this … we requested prayer from anyone who would listen. There were several churches, friends, and family members praying for Stefanie’s condition. It was amazing how many people seemed to crawl out of the woodwork to pray for my wife. It was a blessing to me, and I am sure to Stefanie, to see how many people genuinely cared for her. I learned through this experience to never be afraid to request prayer … it works!

In short, Stefanie’s response to her cancer scare was inspirational and I was blessed to witness it up close. Thankfully, the results are in and my wife does not have cancer. After the news, Stefanie rededicated herself to a relationship with God that allowed her to respond in the way that she did. I thank the Lord for her example and the witness she provided for our chidren and friends. It was quite the blessing!

In previous posts on this blog, I have extolled the benefits of a pastor that is educated in the science of Bible study, teaching and communicating. I have also proposed an alternative Christianity where several key mistakes made by the Church are corrected. It is not that I think the history of the Church is all messed up or that organized Christianity as a whole needs thrown out; however, I do believe there are things that could be done differently.

That is what this post (and what I hope will be a long series of posts to follow) is all about. I am going to try and construct a church model that is perfect. Before I begin; however, I must make a few concessions. First, I understand that the perfect church will never exist. Human beings are sinful and flawed. As a result, there is no local church or congregation that is devoid of flaw. While I understand this, I propose that we suspend reality for the time being. This church will exist only in our imaginations so we are free to aim for the sky. Secondly, I cannot pretend to know everything. There will be things that I forget or mistakes that I make as I propose the perfect church so I invite you to join into the discussion. I encourage the readers of this blog to add their two cents and ask their forgiveness if their suggestions are not incorporated in our fantasy church. Remember, our goal is to design this church’s every aspect so there will be plenty of opportunity for your input. Perhaps we should just concede from the beginning that our “perfect” church will not please everyone. Even with these concessions, I think this project could be fun and even productive.

I ask you now to engage your imaginations and enter the doors of the new church in town. Perhaps you were attracted to the name on the sign out front, Jesus Christ’s Church of Imperfect Disciples.

Before we even hire a pastor, I think we should first establish what our church believes corporately. The name of our church makes it obvious that we are believers in Christ. I would propose; however, that just saying we believe in Christ is a little too general. We need something a little more specific. Most church’s have a “Doctrinal Statement” that outlines what they believe in. There are even some denominations that try to include every possible Scriptural and social issue within their Doctrinal Statement. Since Jesus Christ’s Church of Imperfect Disciples is not associated with any denomination we are free to decide for ourselves what beliefs we want to include. I propose that in the perfect church there are some core beliefs that unite us with other Christians as brothers and sisters in Christ. These are the beliefs that make us Christian and without which our salvation is seriously in question. On issues not included within these core beliefs, members of Jesus Christ’s Church of Imperfect Disciples are free to think for themselves.  Remember, this is a rough draft and subject to change after comments:

Jesus Christ’s Church of Imperfect Disciples Core Beliefs

We believe in the Holy Trinity. We believe in one God that exists in three co-eternal and co-equal persons – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 13:14)

We believe in the Scriptures. We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the final authority for our faith and life. In their original writings they are infallible, inerrant and God-breathed. (2 Timothy 3:16)

We believe in Christ. We believe that Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin without ceasing to be God in order to reveal God and redeem mankind (Luke 1:35). We believe this redemption was achieved through Christ’s death on the cross as a substitution-sacrifice. We believe we are justified by Christ’s literal and physical resurrection from death (1 Peter 2:24). We believe Christ ascended into Heaven and now serves as our Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Hebrews 9:24). We believe Christ will come again to serve judgment on the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1).

We believe in the Holy Spirit. We believe that the Holy Spirit is as real as Christ. The Spirit convicts the world of sin, judgment, and righteousness. We believe the Holy Spirit baptizes all believer into the body of Christ and seals them until the day of redemption (John 16:8-11, 1 Corinthians 12: 12-14).

We believe in the fall of mankind. While man was created in the image of God, through Adam’s sin the entire race fell. As descendants of Adam we have all inherited a sinful nature and are alienated from God by that sin. Furthermore, it is utterly impossible for us to correct the situation on our own (Genesis 1: 26-27, Romans 5:12).

We believe in Salvation. We believe that salvation a gift given in the grace of God and received in through a personal faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:12, Ephesians 2:8-10, 1 Peter 1: 18-19).

We believe in the church. We believe in the existence of a global Church that consists of all those who believe in Christ (1 Corinthians 12: 12-14). We also believe that the establishment of local churches is clearly taught by example in the New Testament. Jesus Christ’s Church of Imperfect Disciples is a local church that fits like a puzzle piece into Christ’s global Church. We do not believe that only members of this local church are saved nor do we believe that any one denomination has cornered the market on salvation (1 Corinthians 3:9).

The above is the core doctrinal beliefs that I think should be included in our church. I invite readers to make suggestions for change. If there is anything you feel should be included or if anything I have written needs changed, let me know. After we have settled on the core beliefs of our church we will move on to writing our church’s mission statement.