A New Kind of Christianity . . . Indeed: Some Final Thoughts - Part 11

We have just completed walking through each of the 10 questions raised in Brian McLaren's new book, A New Kind of Christianity:  Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith.  I haven't been very nice to him, but I hope that I have articulated the gospel clearly in light of his many attacks against it.  Before leaving the book behind, I want to offer a few observations from the book that I was unable to to discuss in the previous 10 posts.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD DEFINED

I have written a major Advanced M. Div thesis on Brian McLaren's understanding of the gospel and one of the things is clear is that McLaren sees the gospel as summed up in the phrase "The Kingdom of God is at hand!"  Anyone who studies McLaren's theology will find a heavy emphasis on the present reality of the kingdom.  Throughout many of his writings and speeches, McLaren seems to try to avoid clearly saying that the Kingdom is only present.  Many in the Emerging Church try to suggest they believe it is both here and now and then and there, and yet without a doubt they place more emphasis on the present reality of the Kingdom.

But in this book, an oft ignored sentence, I believe, finally shows that to McLaren, the Kingdom of God is purely present (don't forget he has essentially denied the existence of hell as a real place of eternal torment).  McLaren wrote:

Churches, simply put, come to be communities that form Christlike people who embody and communicate, in word and deed, the good news of the kingdom of God (or we could say the shalom, harmony, dance, sacred ecosystem, love, economy, benevolent society, beloved community, or preemptive peace movement of God). -165, emphasis mine

I believe that this is the closest to a definition McLaren has ever offered of the Kingdom (and he has written a lot on the subject).  Here is it very clear that to him, the Kingdom is a Biblical label for Utopia.  What else do you call a "sacred ecosystem" or "preemptive peace movement of God."

Finally, McLaren has made himself clear on the subject.  The Kingdom is only future in the sense that Utopia isn't here yet.  However, the Kingdom is only about life on earth now, not life in God's presence later.

CLARITY

McLaren has repeatedly said that mystery is more stimulating than clarity and so has made his career on advancing mystery.  However, anyone who actually listened to what McLaren said (and didn't say) were quick to realize that he wasn't as mysterious as he made himself out to be.  Many saw beyond the veil of mystery to see what was behind the curtain.

In this book, McLaren casts mystery aside.  Though at the end he claims he has raised questions to lead the reader towards conversation, he in reality offers a clear understanding of his theology and what he wants everyone to believe.  McLaren presents in this book (dare we say it), his own systematic theology.

This is a shocking realization.  McLaren has made no secret about his disdain for systematic theology and yet what he offers here is his own systematic theology.  He begins with the Bible, moves to God, sin, Jesus, the gospel, the church, morality, and eschatology.  Most systematic texts follow a similar order.

As a person who has spent many hours studying McLaren, I find myself shocked that he has missed this.  Where is the ambiguity?  Where is the openness?  Where is the conversation?  Where is the disdain for all things theological?  McLaren has showed himself to be what he always was, but was too scared to admit it.  This is proof that his theology is nothing more than liberalism with a taste of postmodernism.  Here we realize that we can change the label, but the food is just as bad.  Call it Emergent, call it postmodern, but it is still liberalism.

CONCLUSION

McLaren has written a book that we should all take seriously.  Some see McLaren as this generations Fosdick or Barth, and perhaps so.  Persons like McLaren force Christians to learn to be able to articulate and understand the transcendent gospel and to be able to discern between right theology and wrong doctrine.  McLaren is clever and has an amazing writing ability, but he has used such gifts to prevent people from coming to the gospel.  He is like the Pharisees in whom Jesus rebuked as traveling far and wide to make one proselyte and to turn him into twice the son of hell that he already is.

McLaren is important, but he is dangerous.  Christians should not be afraid of his ideas or theology because there is nothing new here.  But as we explore such writings, let us always be armed with the true gospel of Christ and notice a wolf in sheep's clothing.  This is not a new kind of Christianity, but an old one that challenges the redemptive nature of the gospel and instead of opening the door of the kingdom, shuts the door in the faces of those who are truly seeking it.


For more:
Theology - A New Kind of Christianity . . . Indeed: The Narrative Question - Part 1
Theology - A New Kind of Christianity . . . Indeed:  The Authority Question - Part 2 
Theology - A New Kind of Christianity . . . Indeed:  The God Question - Part 3
Theology - A New Kind of Christianity . . . Indeed:  The Jesus Question - Part 4
Theology - A New Kind of Christianity . . . Indeed:  The Gospel Question - Part 5 
Theology - A New Kind of Christianity . . . Indeed:  The Church Question - Part 6
Theology - A New Kind of Christianity . . . Indeed:  The Sex Question - Part 7
Theology - A New Kind of Christianity . . . Indeed:  The Future Question - Part 8
Theology - A New Kind of Christianity . . . Indeed:  The Pluralism Question - Part 9
Theology - A New Kind of Christianity . . . Indeed:  The Where Do We Go From Here Now Question - Part 10