Here are September's Questions...
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September
Subject: Fly Fishing question
Brian
Thank you for your courage in what you are writing. I am a Psychologist. I do Clinical work, marriages, adults etc and Business Consulting, coaching. team building and such. I also work with a golf pro on the mental side of his game. I am a committed Christian but for years I have felt like a theological nomad. The evangelical system I grew up in is as Kathleen Norris suggests a suit of clothes that doesn't fit my adult life very well. The other extreme is equally intolerable. What you are writing feels like home to me. I am much encouraged that you like some of my favorite authors especially Walker Percy. Is there a better story of God's redeeming grace than Second Coming?
A: Thanks for your note. Since you like Percy, you may also like David James Duncan, especially since you’re a fly fisher. Try his book “The River Why.”
Subject: question
Does Mr. McLaren believe that penal substitution is part of the glory of the atonement?
A: Yes. The penal substitutionary theory is one of several theories of the atonement. In “The Story We Find Ourselves In,” I compare these theories to windows. They help us see part of “the glory of the atonement,” which is itself part of the glory of salvation, in my view. To look through only one window would be a mistake in my opinion, and would lead to certain distortions in our understanding. But to ignore any window would be to miss part of the inspiring view!
Subject: Library Circulation
Hi,
I live in the Oklahoma City metro area. This is not exactly a hotbed of ?liberal theology, social justice or even integration. The Oklahoma City ?metro library system (www.metrolibrary.org) has 2 copies each of 7 of ?your books. All 14 of those books are checked out.
I have yet to read one of your books, but you have been on my list for a ?while. I did the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius last year in the ?form of a retreat in daily life (8 hours a week for 30 weeks). It left ?no emotional energy for reading or exploring outside the retreat. A ?thoroughly overwhelming and unimaginable experience I will cherish ?forever, but I am a little behind in my reading.
I just thought you would enjoy your library numbers here where Christian ?all too often is considered synonymous with Southern Baptist.
A: Thanks! I think Oklahoma is the only state in the US I haven’t visited – along with Hawaii and Alaska. I hope you’ll eventually find the books of value.
Subject: Opera about Oppenheimer
Brian-
A friend of ours from Amherst sent us this
I was reading this piece in the New York Times about ? > a new opera by John Adams, and I thought that Brian ? > would like to read this quote if he hadn't seen the ? > article: ? > ? > "I think the religious dimension to John's operas is ? > really important," Mr. Sellars said. "Every human ? > being has a spiritual dimension. That's one reason ? > why the arts still exist: to speak to and to nourish ? > the spiritual dimension at a time when people are ? > hungry and yearning and don't go to church. To me, ? > the theater is a really important place. Nobody has ? > to be a believer to walk in the door." ? > ? > I'll e-mail you the full text of the review -- it's ? > an opera about Oppenheimer and the era of the ? > Manhattan Project.
I thought it meshed well with your message.
A: Thanks! This is one reason we should all be grateful to Bill Hybels and Rick Warren: they sensitized thousands of us to the need to let people “walk in the door” before they’ve reached conclusions, so we can help them in their search for goodness, beauty, and truth.
Subject: finding a church???
Hello! My name is x, I have just finished "A New Kind of Christian" and am getting ready to go out and get "The Story We Find Ourselves In" A close friend of mine recommended I read this series and I can't put them down. I have had this burning feeling inside of me for sometime about my personal views on God and Christianity that have made some members of my own family question my faith just because for a long time I have not felt right about what I am seeing with the progression of Christianity. This book made me feel like I didn't have to hide my beliefs about what is currently happening in the Church and helped me find my voice in explaining my thoughts to others. My husband and I share the same views on this topic and in turn we have had a horrible time finding a church. We have just recently moved to Fort Collins Colorado and are once again struggling with finding a community of faith. Do you have any suggestions on how to identify churches that may have the same philosophy? Do you maybe even know of churches in this area that you would suggest? Thank you for taking the time to read this. Any advice or suggestions would be very much appreciated.
A: Thanks for your encouraging words. You might try
Subject: Hi Brian
Only wanted to say God bless you =)
I am a christian, in the evangelical tradition. I am struggling a bit in my faith.
I do see your heart!
God bless you!
Secular postmodernism is one of my biggest hang-ups I am afraid..
x from Sweden
A: I hope we can meet when I am in Sweden in May. Thanks for writing.
Subject: Of absolute truth and Heresy
Sorry about the subject heading. I feel the need to personalize this very ?ambiguous way of communicating through humor.
My Question: Do you(because I know my pastor's answer) think it ?heretical(this might be a bad way to say "wrong") to feel that absolute ?truth(of the spiritual kind) is an oxy-moron? Without ()... Do you think it ?heretical to feel that absolute truth is an oxy-moron?
The premise of my question: I believe in the omnibenevolence of God. But ?then I am addressed with hell. How is this possible? "Just believe." I am ?told. So I start reading on these subjects(which if I remember correctly ?you avoid direct answers like its your other job) which of course brings up ?more questions of annihilationism and other beliefs. This is all very ?circular. So I say I am not sure if there is going to be ONE clear cut ?answer, and even if there was no one would know. SO I am going to believe ?this__________, knowing that there are a lot of loose ends to my belief.
As I am sure you know, this might be a tad frustrating when I truly do not ?want to believe differently then all the nice old ladies and godly ?middle-aged men that I have so much respect for.
If your email response time is anything like your speaking schedule I am ?willing to wait until '07 for an answer. Thanks for your courage. One last ?thought while I am blabbing and have your attention anyways.... I was told ?once that a leader is one who is willing to step out and bend over to pick ?up the reigns regardless of how many boots might find his rear. Thanks for ?that. ? May you always find a padded seat,
A: These questions have bothered me too, for many years. I wrote a book to address these issues – “The Last Word and the Word After That.” I think you would find it helpful. As to your question about absolute truth – I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking. Here’s a key issue for me: I believe in absolute truth, but I believe that absolute knowledge is available only to God. (“We know in part,” Paul says in I Cor. 13.) So, our access to the absolute truth is always “through a glass darkly” in many ways. As Deuteronomy 29:29 says, many things are secrets for us, but God reveals enough so that we can learn what to do in life. I hope this helps at least a little!
Subject: Question on Darwin
Brian,
I am a pastor of a church, and our staff is reading A New Kind of Christian. I just finished yesterday. I found myself intrigued by much of what you said (or perhaps better, what Neo said). We have been engaging in many of these conversations even before we began reading your book.
I enjoyed the illustration of not debating points on the line, but instead "hovering above the line." It is curious to me then why Neo seemes so adamant in defending the middle point on the line in the creation/evolution debate. It would seem that Creation/Evolution is an issue of significance to you based on the times/ways it came up in the book, namely Neo's controversial talk he gave to the youth group.
Evolution, Darwinism, Big Bang Cosmology seems to me to be one of the crowning jewels of modern thinking. It is the final blow to "prove" that the universe is a mechanistic system that can be completely understood and explained by rational science.
Why then would a post-modern Christian, such as Neo (you?) embrace this scientific worldview? This worldview uses modern thinking and techniques and then proves what is assumes--that the world is mechanistic? Where is mystery? Where is the idea that there is more to the universe than what Scientists tell us? Inserting God into mechanistic evolution is just taking up camp in the middle of the line, rather than realizing that modern science has devalued our world, God and the universe in an attempt to expain everything.
Reading back, this seems a bit rambly, but if the modern world is destined to pass away, Darwinism and Macro-Evolution, I believe, will be one of the biggest casualties. Why then is that the one remnant that Neo (you?) hold on to so dearly?
A: This is a good question that a number of people ask in various ways – I never feel very successful in answering it, but let me try. This could actually end up as a very long posting, so I’ll be brutally brief.
1. I don’t think modernity is destined to pass away. Each era contributes something lasting to the next. To make an analogy to a tree, the leaves of each season fall and become fertilizer for the future, but a new ring of solid wood is added that will always be part of the tree. So much of modern science fits in this category. To say that evolution “must pass away” would be like saying “no more aspirin or antibiotics.” Of course – perhaps new drugs will replace these – or new techniques of treating pain or infection, and perhaps current evolutionary theory will be modified, perhaps even radically so. But the demise of modernity – and of basic evolutionary theory – is greatly exaggerated.
2. Also, it’s easy to confuse modern science with reductionistic science. Science is not inherently reductionistic. “Reductionism” is a tendency in modernity to say, “Once we’ve boiled things down to numbers and chemicals, we have totally explained it.” I believe that a characteristic of science in the future will be to see that reductionism as immature and arrogant. It would be like studying what I am now writing by counting the number of a’, b’s, c’s, etc., and analyzing the verbs, nouns, adjectives, articles, etc., but never asking what the sentence means.
3. I have probably read more evolutionary theory from biologists and anti-evolutionary theory from various religious groups than most people have. I think the evidence for basic evolution is solid. Yes, there are gaps. Of course there are – there are a lot of undiscovered elements in every field. It is only the arrogance of some reductionistic scientists that would make anyone think that evolutionary theory claimed to explain everything. Perhaps it will, or perhaps new mechanisms will be discovered, or perhaps there will be other dimensions of the explanation for the development of life that will come to light. But the basic idea that there is a pattern of development from one form of life to another is pretty sound in my opinion, and this is not to me at all at odds with the Scriptures. In fact, this is exactly the kind of scenario I would expect of our Creator. Dr. John Haught writes about this eloquently (in my opinion) in “God After Darwin,” which I highly recommend.
4. Even if evolution were proven false, in the meantime, it is the dominant myth of our culture. Myths are ways people understand themselves and their place in the world. As a Christian communicating the good news of Jesus, I must engage the myths of the culture I am in. Augustine did this in his famous work, The City of God. He was engaging the dominant myth of his culture – that all history worked together to produce Rome. Rome was deteriorating, and many Romans said Christianity was to blame. Christianity was a liberalizing influence that had eroded confidence in the old ways and religion of Rome. Really, Augustine’s work could have been entitled “The Rome of God” in contrast to “the Rome of this world.” If he were here today, he might write “God’s Evolution” or something of that sort. Thomas Aquinas did something similar in Summa Contra Gentiles. He was engaging with Muslims who had imbibed Aristotelianism for centuries. He entered the thought patterns of Aristotle (and Muslim intellectuals) and tried to incarnate the gospel for them. (Curtis Chang has an excellent book that explores all this, published by IVP. It’s excellent.)
I hope that gives some explanation of why I don’t choose to take the approach of Creationists. I understand their fear, but I think they may be guilty of approaching the Bible with a similar kind of reductionism as scientists do – reducing Biblical interpretation to a kind of wooden literalism.
Subject: Some concerns about "A New Kind of Christian"
Hi Brian,
I was finally able to get a copy of your book, "A New Kind of Christian" from the library. I have wanted to read it for years, because I have read and enjoyed many of your articles.
I felt a lot of disappointment as I read the book, however. I think your overall explanations of post-modernity and the need for us to understand it as Christians are sound. But a lot of the specifics – I just don't buy it.
Here are a few points I had problems with:
1) The whole section on who's lost/who's saved. I agree that it is not for us to judge the fate of anyone else's soul, but I believe people need Jesus to be saved. It seems like Neo gives lip service to us needing Jesus to be saved, because he later spends so much time talking about good people in other religions, and the need for Christians to become truly good. While the Bible calls us to do good in this world, it also says that all have sinned; no one is good except God alone; our righteousness is not of ourselves, but is through Christ. My understanding of the Scriptures is that we need salvation precisely because we are NOT good. Nor are we saved to become good, but to be a holy people (in the sense of set apart) for God.
I would add that the belief in human goodness is a modern, Enlightenment belief. I know I've seen Barna polls over the years that show that a significant percentage of Americans, even among evangelicals, think that our goodness is what gets us to heaven. I don't think that's because they've adopted post-modern thinking. Rather, I think it's a combination of modern beliefs about human perfectibility, Biblical ignorance (and I include myself here, as I thought this way until I started reading the Bible), and not being comfortable with the idea of anyone, except maybe the most heinous sinners, going to hell.
2) The issue of sin being not just individual but communal and societal. It's unfortunate that a particularly vocal segment of evangelicals have promoted this idea (of sins being only individual), but this belief is by no means universal. Nor is the idea that as Christians we need to deal with communal and societal sins recent. In the 19th century, evangelicals led the temperance and abolition movements, and founded settlement houses and groups like the Salvation Army because they believed in addressing communal and societal sins.
3) The point about missionaries not respecting the cultures of the peoples they evangelize. While that has certainly been a valid criticism of many missionary efforts, there have been sensitive and thoughtful missionary efforts in every era – including the modern era. Bruce Shelly's "Church History in Plain Language" has stories about both the cultural imperialists and the cultural respecters.
Rather than helping me understand postmodern Christianity better, it seemed like you just wrote about some issues that were important to you and tacked the "postmodern" label on them to give them more credibility. A book like "Generating Hope: A Strategy for Reaching the Postmodern Generation" by Jimmy Long did a better job of explaining the importance of community and story for young people growing up in the postmodern world.
I feel a real sense of frustration in even raising these issues – that my words will be dismissed as the opinions of a person steeped in modern thinking arguing about why she's right.
A: Sorry you would feel this way. Although I think you’ve been a bit unfair to me on a number of counts, I couldn’t agree more that Jimmy Long’s book is excellent. I’m glad you found his helpful because it really is a great book, and I’m sorry you had an unpleasant experience with my book.
Subject: thanks
Brian
I attended your talk in Indianapolis last week for the Indianapolis Center for Congregations, though we didn’t have time to talk. I just wanted to say thanks for being a part of the discussion and the growth of Christianity in America. I know that you have taken criticism from many, but don’t worry about it, all original ideas do.
For about the last year and a half I have been been struggling with my faith secretly. I believe in Christ, I love Jesus, but I hate the church…and I am a pastor. I hate the fighting, I hate the splits, I hate the budgets and the power struggles and the backbiting. It doesn’t remind me of Jesus, and yet I have stayed true to my “calling” in the church at the risk of my own soul.
In that year and a half my best friend, who was also a pastor, resigned from his position and began to soul search. His faith has hit the bottom, and then seen the floor drop out from under it. He has asked hard questions, and I have been there to listen and to mourn. Together we have searched, we have questioned, we have worried about our salvation and the truth of the Bible. We have been angry, hungry, tired and encouraged…but in the end our faith survived and grew.
About 3 months ago I found your book “a new kind of Christian” and bought it. We read it together and discussed it. It reminded me of our journey in the last while and I just wanted to say “thanks”
We need to question, we need to doubt, we need to move forward. I don’t know where we are going, but neither did Joshua when they crossed the river. So anyway, keep it up, be a voice for those of us with no voice (I am only a youth pastor and 27). I pray for the church in America, I worry about where we are headed, but it is good to see some who are willing to speak out and take criticism for Jesus’ name.
A: Thanks for sharing your story. There are so many people in ministry who have seen this kind of discouragement, and I think you described it well. I’m sad that criticism is such a common thing in so many religious circles.
Subject:
I spent the summer in California and while I was out there, a friend told me ?that I just have to read, A New Kind of Christain... and I was looking on ?your site today at all the questions that have been posted and your ?responses and I couldn't help but notice...I was just wondering (in the most ?peaceful of tone) if you ever break the Word when you so openly give advice. ?Only once in the large sample of posts did I even see a vague reference to ?the Bible. I did, however, see "I think..." on more than one occasion. I ?don't mind if you think, and I understand that people have opinions, but ?perhaps you could back them by the actual Word of God. ?just a thought
A: Thanks for your advice. I hope that the Bible influences everything I say, although I’m sure at times I’m off the mark. (As James says, we all stumble in what we say at times.) Probably the best place to get a feel for how I use the Bible would be to listen to the sermons I’ve preached for 24 years (crcc.org). But I’m sure that fault could be found with each sermon in some way. Perhaps the most important measure of my respect for the Bible is the degree to which I live by it, not just how much I quote it. (I think of Paul’s words to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20, where he talks about the example of his life.) But as Paul said, “All of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), so by any measure, if you are looking to find fault in me, you can succeed. Thanks be to God that I am able to stand in grace before God, without condemnation (as Paul says in Romans 5 and 8).
Subject: Question
Brian,
I really appreciated your presentation at St. Luke's UMC, Indianapolis, Saturday. I had a observation that I didn't make concerning stages of spiritual growth.
Scott Peck, using the work of James Fowler on the stages of spiritual growth, identifies 4 stages of spiritual growth in Further Along the Road Less Traveled. (pp. 120-128 in Large print edition) To simplify, the stages are:
1. "Pagan" or unchurched, etc. ? 2. Tightly structured, rigid faith that seeks "right" answers. Don't get out of line, or God will punish. ? 3. A time of skepticism, as people find that Stage 2 doesn't work for them. Looks to social sciences and life sciences for "answers."
4. "Mature" faith. If you push the search for truth in Stage 3 far enough, you will come back to God.
People in Stages 2 & 4 use the same language, but with different meanings. For example, Stage 2 hears "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" as "Don't get out of line, or God will punish," or there will be consequences; and, of course, that is true. Meanwhile, Stage 4 hear that same Scripture as saying, "Wow, life is an awesome journey with God with so much to learn." This too is true.
One other observation: it seems to me that most of our so-called evangelistic efforts are aimed at getting folks from Stage 1 to Stage 2--a very necessary journey. But I see little being doing to help folks in Stage 3 to get to Stage 4; and I sense a lot of fear on the part of Stage 2 folks about Stage 3 and 4 folks. Your comments Saturday really did help with the issue of helping Stage 3 and 4 folks. Thanks.
A: Thanks. I wrote that schema of four stages before I had read Peck’s work. It’s amazing how similar our conclusions are. Ken Blanchard has something amazingly similar. I was originally inspired by the work of William Perry (the human developmental psychologist, not the football player).
Subject: billy graham
Is there any concern with the way the gospel is being presented through the Billy Graham association?
A: Not sure why you’d ask my opinion on this. I feel, as Paul expressed in Philippians, that we should be grateful to all who preach the gospel.
Subject: Questions, answers, and the dialogue in between...
Hi Brian. I know you sort through a ton of mail on a regular basis so I'll make this brief. First of all, thanks for championing the cause. I agree with you that what Emergent is saying is not necessarily new- just newly presented in an organized way. In facilitating the dialogue, you have provided a vision of the "Christian perspective" that makes sense to those of us who see the world through a postmodern lens. Let me also say that I'm grateful that, when it comes to certain "hot button" topics, that you're choosing option C- non-commitment. Commitment is a good thing- but not so when the very questions posed miss the point, or steer us away from the center. I very much enjoy Eastern Orthodox thinking- and in the E.O Church- questions are given even more attention than answers. We would do well to learn from our Eastern brothers. Lastly, let me say I'm the editor of an online magazine that deals with these and other issues. If you have the time, I'd love for you to take a look and drop me a line. The URL is http://www.precipicemagazine.com
If you ever feel inclined to offer an interview (though I'm sure you have many requests) I'd love to pick your brain about some issues that I don't often see/hear you being asked about.
Ah- this email wasn't so short after all- but it is heartfelt. Blessings on the journey, Brian. Shalom.
A: Thanks so much. I hope we’ll get a chance to do that interview at some point.
Subject: An Apology and Some Questions
Brian,
You may not remember me, but we met about a year ago after a Sunday
morning service at your church. I was with a friend of mine from
college who lives out in Newark, DE, and we approached you after
things wound down. I was at Denver Seminary at the time, studying
under Doug Groothuis, and I expressed my disagreement with your views
rather vociferously, if I recall correctly. I think we still probably
disagree on a lot of things, but I regret the fact that I did not
listen as carefully as I should have. After reading more of your
material I realize that I should at least do the courtesy of offering
you an apology for the way I conducted myself when last we met.
I am in x, now, working for Starbucks Coffee Co. and
helping out with x here on campus at the University of
x. My hope is to begin more graduate work in fall 2006. I want to
return to Rhetoric, which is what I studied as an undergraduate. The
environment in which I find myself raises several questions with
regard to Emergent. First, if we are to emphasize our community and
share our stories, what do we do if our communities are divided and
our stories are lackluster? Is there anything outside of these to
which we can appeal for the truth of the gospel? These kids want
answers, and my testimony isn't enough, nor is their experience of my
Christian community. Second, when and where we integrate with other
Christian groups for missional purposes (I'm especially thinking about
a Catholic ministry here on campus) as you've recommended in "A New
Kind of Christian," how do we answer questions that point out the
differences in what we're telling people about salvation? I have a
liturgical bent (which is partly why Emergent intrigues me), but when
it comes to doctrine I think the Catholic emphasis on the eucharist is
too great. Third, what do you think of using the arts (I'm especially
thinking about cinema) to parabolically convey parts of the gospel? I
know it's possible, but can we avoid some of the pitfalls outlined by
J.I. Packer in "Knowing God" (false images of God), or Os Guinness in
"Fit Bodies, Fat Minds" (similar considerations to Packer's), or even
Doug Groothuis in "Truth Decay" (the screen as a stupefying element)?
I'm interested in doing things this way, but each of these individuals
makes some very persuasive cautionary points. I'd like to hear your
thoughts on this one. Finally, I'm finding a lot of suspicion of
large organizations among my generation, Christian or non-Christian.
We're wary of being deceived by people who tell us what is
"beneficial" and not what is true. (See M. Night Shayamalan's "The
Village.") Problematically, communities of any sort eventually
develop into complex organizations. Can we avoid this? If not, do
you think there is a way to engineer an organization that averts the
suspicions of those it intends to reach? This one is close to home;
since seminary I have felt less allegiance to any Christian
organization. I sort of feel like a mercenary right now, throwing in
my lot with x because I agree with where they're headed
at the moment and I have something to offer that will help them. In
return, I get the joy of offering my gifts in service to God. I just
regret that the function of the x feels somewhat like a
business deal in my mind at times.
Thanks for your time. Again, so sorry to have left last September
with less shalom than I ought to have. And despite the things we disagree
on, I do appreciate what I think your heart is. (I hope I have
rightly inferred your passion and intentions from what I have read.)
A: It’s very kind of you to write, and most gracious. I recall your being honest about your disagreements, but I don’t remember you being rude at all. (As you can imagine, I have experienced “rude.”) You ask great questions above, and I wish I could answer each in detail, but let me offer a few brief thoughts.
- We need to point to Jesus, not our communities, as you suggest. But if our communities dishonor Jesus and show too little of the “light” of good works that Jesus spoke of, I can’t think of anything that can make up for it. I suppose the best we can do in those situations is apologize and honestly admit our faults. (The confession scene in Don Miller’s “Blue Like Jazz” comes to mind – if you haven’t read it, I think you’ll love that story.)
- You’re right, also, that organization is dangerous – but yet it is necessary. Disorganization isn’t so hot either! So, I think the ways a big organization can go wrong present a constant struggle – not something that can be pre-engineered away, but rather that must be guarded against and corrected when it shows up. The fact is, a small organization that is effective will probably become a bigger organization. And the bigger organization may eventually become less effective, and then it will shrink back to being a smaller organization, which will humble it, perhaps leading to effectiveness and growth again.
Subject: Question
Brian,
Thanks for your leadership in a world that hates leaders. My honest question to you is, how do you not get angry with Christians? When I see how some (negative) Christians respond to you it makes ME angry. It seems that the word "Christian" can be simply replaced with "jerk" some of the time.
It makes me sad to see that the followers of Yeshua do not hint at anything better...
A: I do get angry at times. But then I don’t like what that does to me. There’s a “prayer for enemies” you can find elsewhere on this site that has been one of the most helpful spiritual resources I’ve ever come across. I highly recommend using it regularly when you feel the temperature rising!
Subject: thanks and a question
hey brian,
just wanted to say a big thanks for your writings. i'm presently ministering in ?a muslim context with a C-5 type approach. i've found your thoughts about other ?religions particularly helpful in our ministry here. i've been getting out the ?word to other workers here to read generous orthodoxy--and they love it! thanks ?for your thoughts and heart for God's work.
i have a question about "the last word and the word after that." i enjoyed the ?book quite a bit. i really agree that "hell" gets misused and can be a real ?unhealthy motivating factor in christianity in some circles. but i kept asking ?myself a question about hell that i don't remember coming up in this particular ?book (unless i missed the point!). here it is: (i'm asking the question because ?i'm interested, not trying to pin you down, confront you--just would appreciate ?some insights from a writer i really enjoy!)
how does Satan and the demonic fit into your thinking about hell? what about ?demonic activity/oppression on earth? do you think satan and the demonic are ?more of a metophorical understanding of a non-personal force of evil? do you ?think satan and demons will be annihilated if they are real? will they have a ?chance to repent?
i'm not one who is fascinated with the demonic or casting demons out of anything ?that goes wrong or is sick. just wondering how that comes into play with our ?understandings of hell. thanks again for your ministry!
A: Thanks for your question. A lot of people ask me about this, and frankly, I’m not as sure about these matters as I used to be. I found Walter Wink’s book “The Powers That Be” to be very helpful. He leans toward the metaphorical. Marva Dawn’s “Power, Weakness, and the Tabernacling of God” (or something close to that) takes more of a both/and approach. I found it helpful as well. But this is an area that I’m not dogmatic on. Many have told me that I should be dogmatic on it, and I wish I could comply, but one has to be honest.
Subject: Have you read?
Have you read Philosophy in the Flesh or Metaphors We Live By by Lakoff and Johnson. George Lakoff is a professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley and Mark Johnson is the Knight Professor of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Oregon. I think they provide a framework for the emergent approach to church though religion is not their principal concern. I would enjoy your response.
A: I’ve been part of several discussions of Lakoff, but haven’t yet read these books. Maybe someday! Thanks for your recommendation.
Subject: Comments from Pastor in North Indiana UMC... see you saturday
Mr. McLaren,
Greetings. I am the pastor of a small United Methodist Church in the cornfields of X. I graduated seminary last year and I have been in ministry for several years now. I love pastoring. Along with being a husband, father, son, and friend, I know it is why God even bothered to create me in the first place. I love the people I serve. However, I have grown bitter and cold with many people in both churches I have served (even if those in my current church aren't aware of it). I am not sure I am making any difference in their lives and in this world.
I have read both A New Kind of Christian and Generous Orthodoxy. Your books, as well as those by Robert Webber, Stanley Hauerwas, Bishop Wil Willimon, Rodney Clapp and others, have given me a new understanding of what it means to be Church. I know there are many others who share my passion. Yet, these others are not the people in my pews. And I am at a loss for what to do. I suffer the pressure of being a round peg in a square hole. I feel like Dan Poole in A New Kind of Christian. Of course, at times, I also feel like Neo, although not nearly as articulate.
I am responsibe to preach the Truth about God’s story. However, I often find myself simply speaking the language of the context’s culture. My sermons are often filled with theological propositions and moral platitudes. When I do preach the counter-cultural Gospel I feel like I am looking at a deer in headlights.
It is interesting because the folks I serve care about Jesus. Part of me believes that we have just been trained for 20, 50, even 70 years or more to hear the neutered Gospel for the modern mind. Despite the cornfields, which seem to make nice walls for modernity, we still are living in a post-modern, post-Christian world. It is all around us, even in our sanctuary and hymnals, but most have a difficult time seeing it. Here modernity is less entrenched, more engrained.
In the polity of the United Methodist Church I am not convinced there is a cure for this problem. I could very well ask for a re-appointment. Yet, I have doubts that a church exists in my (or any) conference of our denomination that is ready to take the plunge into post-modern ministry and living (and that’s what it is… not just post-modern worship but a post-modern way of life). One solution suggested by a professor I respect is to start over. He proposes that we, in the younger generation who are tired of the church created by traditional evangelicals and pragmatic-“contemporary”-style baby boomers, should take a risk and put it all on the line.
In my previous church, I did decide to let it all hang out. Dan Poole’s fears came true, as described in your book. My poor attempt of explaining the context of this problem caused nothing but division, hard-feelings, and re-appointment. Personally, this lead to depression, disillusionment about the church, and discouragement about my place in God’s family, let alone God’s church. My conclusion: I must compromise my convictions about the Gospel in order to get anything done in Jesus’ name. And I live with this everyday. I can hear my bishop appropriately and compassionately saying, “Chris, the people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” I am not sure that preaching a false, Americanized, propositional, feel-good Gospel is the best way to care for the church. And I know it is not how we can best care for the world. The world needs the church to be the Church! This is what I know and how I care.
I am not sure why I am writing this. I am confident that among the hundreds (if not thousands) of e-mails you will not even read mine. But I wanted to tell you a bit of my story and seek to encourage you. I do love being a pastor. I love the United Methodist Church. And most importantly I love Jesus Christ and I know he loves me. And thanks to you and the people like you who affirm who I am and what I want to say about God, I will continue to risk the depression, disillusionment, and discouragement. I will continue to care for my flock. I will continue to be “blossom where planted.” And I will continue to prepare myself for the day when the Church, the United Methodist Church particularly, is ready to impact the world for Christ by being relevant to a new generation of people.
In Christ’s Peace and Service,
A: I found your letter very inspiring and sad and inspiring again, all at the same time. I hope it will circulate among many Methodists so that they can get a window into one pastor’s soul. I think there are hundreds, maybe thousands, who feel the same way. If it’s any consolation, I think Wesley would share most if not all of your feelings.
Subject: Question
Brian,
In light of the thoughts brought up in The Last Word ?and The Word After That, I was just wondering what the ?role of "Satan" has in the world. Because the way ?that Jesus interacts with him seems very real. And ?since reading Last Word a few months ago I have been ?wrestling with the ideas brought up and have read a ?few other books and I like very much what is said. I ?think a God of love and acceptance of the people he ?created in His image, described as you did makes much ?more sense than I have ever heard God described as one ?who banishes people to hell. But I guess my big ?struggle is what role Satan had. And I think it goes ?back to what you mentioned, why did Jesus really come. ? But I have not been able to work through this ?completely. I thought it might benefit some of your ?readers to hear your thoughts on this b/c I have ?discussed this with several friends and it is a ?question that your book raises.
I also just wanted to encourage you and thank you for ?being a voice in which I can hear God speaking. Thank ?you for allowing me to question, to wrestle, and to ?grow in my relationship with God.
A: As you’ll see a few questions back, this question comes up a lot. I have my next few books planned, but maybe someday I’ll research this topic enough to feel I have something worthwhile to say. I don’t yet!
Subject: Well, you asked for it
Hi Brian. I wasn't going to write to you, as I figured you are inordinately busy, but in your fall update you said that "each note of encouragement" helps you - so here's mine.
During your blog tour I had posted about how challenging it was to learn that Peter wrote about Tartarus. I was really struggling with that one, and you replied with an analogy about Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz being an illustration you use even though they were not living people. I just wanted to let you know that your comment was an "aha" moment for me that opened me up to receive everything else. After that, I still had things I had to really think and pray about, but most of it was stuff I had already thought, but just didn't know how to express or claim as "my own."
So, thank you so much for all that you do professionally, but also for the time you take to really pay attention to people like me. You are changing lives in ways you probably don't even know.
PS - don't feel like you need to respond. I just wanted to send a quick note of encouragement.
A: Thanks so much.
Subject: Question
Brian,
I just attended the talking points conference in Grand Rapids yesterday. ?Thanks for being willing to take heat for the sake of stretching us toward ?a more authentic faith. As I was reading A New Kind of Christian today, I ?came to a conclusion that I'd love to hear from you on. Up until this ?point, I've viewed emergent ministry as attempting to do ministry in a way ?that would connect with postmodern people. Postmodernism with it's ?rejection of absolute truth, etc was mostly bad, but it defines the way ?many think and emergent ministry was trying to bridge the gap in order to ?communicate Christianity and help people connect with God in biblical ways ?that made sense to them. And I think that is a fair description of part ?of the emergent movement. If I hear you correctly, postmodernism isn't a ?worldview to be rejected and merely reached out to, rather it should be ?embraced and change our whole understanding of our faith. So rather than ?changing the presentation of our faith for those with a postmodern ?worldview, you are encouraging a complete re-evaluation of our faith based ?on a postmodern worldview. Is this anywhere in the ballpark? If so, why ?does this paradigm shift merit such a re-evaluation? The idea assumes the ?superiority of the postmodern worldview and that it will lead to a more ?genuine faith. The modern view came about because science forced a ?re-evaluation based on scientific discovery (Galileo, etc.). What makes ?you believe that a view through the lens of postmodernism will lead us ?closer to Jesus?
Thanks Again !!
Kevin Green
Subject:
Hi Brian,
Your 'New kind of Christian' trilogy has been both comforting and challenging to me.Through the trilogy I picked up on a subtle issue which I would apriciate your thoughts on.The relationship between Dan and Carrol is obviously a strong one but Dan does seem to be further on in his 'new kind of Christianity'. Although it doesn't seem to pose many problems for them in the story I could see it definently effecting couples in the real world. What would you suggest to couples where one person is moving in a more postmodern direction and the other is happy to stay where they are?
Thanks a lot
Tom Ward
(Manchester, UK)
Subject: which grad schools
Hi – I have read your (Brian McLaren’s) books and they struck an immediate cord with me. I want to say thank you for articulating what I have been speaking less profoundly! The Spirit is using you to grow me, and, I hope, my congregation!
I am a mission developer outside Chicago and a life-long student, always seeking to learn more about my faith journey, so I can help others on their journey. I am both an avid reader and a conference junkie and I love to visit churches to learn from those ahead of me. I have a M.Div. so my next “official” step would be to attend grad school for my D.Min. I am looking at Fuller as my first choice, but maybe there are better places, and I thought if anyone would know, you might.
Can you tell me what schools are grappling with the emerging issues and the emerging theologies in the most helpful ways? If I spend my energy, time, money, and thought process, I want it to be worth it, so I am asking the smartest people I know – or know of! Thanks for any help you can give me!
Looking forward to your next book --
Peace – Pat Woods
Subject: Follow-up from Sunday forum
Brian,
I'm the fat guy in the red shirt who asked the question toward the end of Sunday afternoon's forum about religious voices supporting international organizations as analogous to the American "civil religion" supporting the American agenda in all of its awful glory. I appreciate your kind response and I'd be interested in talking more with you sometime. You're a busy guy, and I'm not exactly sitting around twiddling my thumbs and eating bonbons, so let me tell you a little about where I'm at and why I'd like to talk with you and you can decide if it would be a good use of your time.
I'm the pastor of a small evangelical church (New Hope Community Church -- www.ournewhope.org) in the northwest suburbs of Baltimore; we were planted by Grace Fellowship (Timonium) in 2003, and I was tapped to lead it after spending 5 years on staff at GFC in the small groups and assimilation ministries (also got my M.Div. while on staff, from Seminary of the East). I'd describe us (and me) as post-evangelical/emergent stylistically, open but cautious to post-evangelicalism theologically and pretty skeptical to the movement politically. (We're very interested in maintaining an evangelical church environment where folks of various political viewpoints can engage with one another -- something that will be more and more important as evangelicalism grows(up) -- and personally my considered views on most policy matters tend toward the libertarian. Most of the folks at my church are on the conservative side but we do have a significant and growing group of folks who think along more liberal/communitarian/socialist lines) I'm doing on a second master's in NT under Mike Gorman, who is expecting my thesis sometime around when he's expecting the parousia. My congregation really is my letter of recommendation, but since you don't know them you can check me out with him or with my longtime mentor Mike Metzger.
On the progressive movement piece, I am interested in hearing more about your thought process; obviously, you know that alignment with Wallis, et al. further erodes your voice on the broader evangelical scene. I'm sure your strategery was well thought out, and I'm interested in hearing about it. I sat in on a course on evangelicalism that Tony Campolo taught up in Hartford this summer and I heard about how things are moving forward with his organization and I do look forward to the good work that will be done by the progressive evangelical movement...but aligning the emergent movement with it must have involved a good bit of cost-counting. I'm genuinely curious both as an evangelical pastor and as a recovering poli sci major.
I'm also interested in talking with you about an angle I've seen you take in several of the books you've written/contributed to: the degree to which the Christian cult is properly defined by the Christian culture. I'm not convinced that issues like style of dress and governance are on the same level as adherence to basic doctrines of the Trinity, the necessity and adequacy of the Atonement (however defined), the resurrection, etc. But I'd like to hear more from you about this, since it seems to be significantly determinative in the way you address some pretty important matters and I may be missing something in the distinctions I make.
I'd also like to talk with you about some of the lines you've drawn...probably the biggest one is on the issue of women in ministry. I'm leading my Elder board through an extended study right now, and (much like the political thing) I'm wondering if God might not want (at least some) churches to create environments conducive to mutual understanding rather than say one is "right" (though some calls would have to be made on church policy, of course). (Personally, I've worked assiduously to remain agnostic while pursuing the question with them, and given the time day and what I ate last I lean one way or the other.) Unlike with other issues (such as homosexual conduct) the interpretation of relevant passages is a very current, very heated debate involving some of our best scholars -- virtually all of whom (at least all you and I would be inclined to respect) would say that their debate opponents are indeed godly, thoughtful, well-reasoned and possibly correct. As somebody raised in a liberal Protestant tradition and educated at a small northeastern college I'm quite aware of how offensive the idea of restricting leadership is to our neighbors outside the faith as well as to those within it who have come up in a thoroughly egalitarian culture (in ideals, if not practice). But I'd suggest that we owe it to our evangelical brothers and sisters to respect their convictions, at least when they're well-grounded. Again, I'm sure you've thought about this and I'd welcome the chance to understand your thinking better.
So, if you can take me up on a lunch invite I'd be happy to come down your way and take you out for tofu or wheat grass or whatever you Sojo types eat...if not, please accept my thanks for your work and the really meaningful impact you're having on the conversation within evangelicalism and among the Christian family more broadly. I'm especially grateful for the charitable, kind and generous tone you take toward those who disagree with you, and for the care you take to affirm important distinctives of the faith in a way that's gracious and respectful while still being solid.
--Jason Poling
Subject: Sept. 12th conference
Hi brian ?I had a chance to finally see you speak in person in Grand Rapids MI. I have read most of your books and appreciate what you are trying to do for the evangelical church. Your thinking is very close to evangelicalism. You stand at a distance from it in order to crique it. You and Doug Pagitt have stirred in my heart desires and longings that have been dorment for 10 years. You and others like you have articulated my heart's desires.
Since there are no churches like your's in my area. I'm left to create my own one heart at a time starting with my wife. It is hard not to become bitter and lose hope because the road ahead looks so long.
I have been praying for you off and on for the last 5 months. I know some of our harshest enimies are own doubts. You must go through times when you don't even know what you believe or if you are just waisting your breath.
I'm praying for you when you are battling your inner demons. ?Thanks for you thinking and passion in these matters.
Subject: Pacifism
?I noticed some questions concerning war and pacifism ancd the Christian perspective on both. I Just thought I'd add two cents to the conversation on what I have how I have come to vewi it.
I subscribe to my own theory that I call a "Necisary Evil" veiw of war. I am not a total anti-war peace nic nor am I gung ho lets take olver the world either. War and violence ARE a result of sin and should be avoided, but a breaking point where nothing else can be done must be recognized. Somtimes, as violent as it is, we have to deal with things in less than ideal ways, otherwise the world COULD have been taken over by the likes of Adolph Hitler and such. I don;t like the idea of war, but I recognize it as a somtomes Necisary Evil.
Dave
Subject: expressions of gratitude.
Hi Mr. McLaren,
I am aware that, due to the massive response to your books, you probably receive emails and letters such as this all the time, but I do feel the need to express my appreciation anyway. I went to Prairie Bible College in Three Hills, Alberta, and in my fourth and final year, we had to take a class called Integrative Seminar (also called, "interrogative seminar" by us cheeky students). In this class we had to form opinions, express them and stand up to the criticism and the questions from the rest of the class. As part of this class, we studied your book, "A New Kind of Christian." Mr. McLaren, never have I read a book that I could relate to so much. It was as though you had reached into my own mind and had taken all my concerns, questions, philosophies and worries, and threw them onto the paper. I related to all the concerns of the characters, and it was so wonderfully refreshing to know that I am not the only person who struggles with such things. From that point to this (about a year and a half later), I have been able to grow in my faith and continue the search, in a way that is completely different than before. I want to thank you for your honesty, and for taking the risk to express yourself.
Although I am originally from Canada, I have spent the past while moving to different places in the world. I was in England, then I went to Korea to teach English, and now I am going back to London, England, with the hopes of making the UK my home. I do not, of course, know your schedule over the next few years, but I was just curious to know if you are considering coming to the UK, or if you will, in fact, consider coming to the UK? I don't belong to a big church or anything like that, in fact, my church has about 15 people in it and we meet in the upstairs of a run down pub in Soho, London. But if you were planning on going to England at some point, you can count on me to be there to listen. Thank you for everything!
God bless and warm regards,
Lindsay D. Thomas, BADr.??
Subject: What ever happened to Neo
Brian-
After reading your book, I wondered if you ever heard from Neo again? Is he okay? Did he go back into the ministry?
Joel Moore ?Tampa, FL
Subject: Hi
Hey Bryan,
I'll keep this short, I know you're a busy man. ?First of all, thank you for your contribution. I read the new kind of ?Christian trilogy - which completly screwed me up at first (hehe), but ?then I got to rebuild something new. I was spoonfed a lot of crap when ?I first became a Christian at 15. I'm now 19, studying theology on my ?spare time, and am definitly looking foward to reading your other ?books.
Anyway, I came across an article that really upset me. ?http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=3241
I don't know how to respond to people who throw this article in my ?face. Of course, oldschool preachers tend to see change as a threat - ?whether it's change into something new, or just changing into what was ?meant to be in the first place. This article just makes it sound like ?we (I don't mean to do "us-them" grouping, but you know what I mean) ?are uneducated uncertain fools.
Clearly all I can do is still show love and respect, but to know that ?they're thinking "he's so lost" bothers me because I wish they could ?all see and realise what I have over the past year.
Any chances you'd come to Montreal, QC? I know a few of us are dying ?to meet you. Including my cousin Terry Lapointe, pastor at a church in ?huntingville (he met up with one of your buddies not long ago...) and ?many people I met in a few churches, having heard that they had read ?the book and have had group studies on it (and I missed it!).
Well I'll leave it at that. ?Have a nice day man, take care. ?Keep it real.
-Joel-
Subject: where are they?
I have gone through a glorious journey this past year.....reading about ?5 of your books, then 2 by Doanld Miller. A little personal ?liberation, with an expanded view of the heart of God....wonderful. We ?are moving from the Central Valley of California (Visalia), to the ?Central Coast of California(Arroyo Grande/San Luis Obispo area). Do ?you know of any churches or groups of people talking/living this view ?of life as put forth in all the reading I've done? This information ?would do me a world of good.
Thanks,
Jan Aijian ?metal sculptor ?
Subject: What about Mormons??
Hi Brian--
I have a friend who is a Mormon. I grew up learning that Mormonism is a "cult" and that they believe in a different God. While I do know there are differences in what they believe is "scripture" (they have others writings such as Book of Mormon) I'm kind of confused about what to say about their belief in Jesus. My friend does say Jesus is the Son of God. What do you say about the Mormons?? Should I be emphasizing more of Jesus to my friend? How? Do Mormons really believe in a different Jesus? Please help.
Kristy Salzman
Subject: (no subject)
hey Brian, my name is Blake Evans i live in Alabama( the buckle of the bible belt) and i would like to ask you a question. i have read adventures in missing the point, a generous orthodaoxy, and (my favorite) a new kind christian. i believe in what you're saying about the church is true and i believe God is telling me to bring this to the world. but im freakin scared out of my mind because the negative responses i will receive. because as i said before, i live in Alabama( the buckle of the bible belt) and what i want to preach will sound like heresy. im afraid i wont be able to find a church that will accept me. plus my father is a preacher and an evangelical at that and im afraid he wont accept my belifs either. i fell like im holding on to the biggest secret of my life and it shouldnt be a secret. i should be shouting it from the rooftops and yet im putting it away in the dark so no one can see it. please if theres any advice you can give me please tell me something.
Thanks,
Blake Evans
Subject: Emerson and Emergent
Hi Brian,
I am currently reading Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Years ago, I ?read Dickinson and Thoreau. As I am reading Emerson, it seems that ?some of the frustrations that he had with formalistic/dead? ?Christianity, are similar to yours. Just curious, to what degree would ?you say Emerson has influenced you?
Thanks Brian!
Best to You in Christ,
Dave
Subject: Burundi
I see in your posts that you have been and support ?Burundi. I lived in Kenya for a short time (as a ?student) and one of my roommates was from Burundi. If ?you would allow me, I would like to tell you his ?story:
Remy is a Hutu---the oldest son of his father's first ?wife. His mother is a tutsi however. When the genocide ?began, his father decided he should kill the mother. ?Remy refused. This angered the father and he left ?them. Remy became the father of his household. He told ?me stories of when mobs of Hutu miltia would come to ?kill his mother and they would hide in the trees. I ?was heartbroken--because he had become my brother in ?the months I was there.
When this ended---if that word can even be used, Remy ?wished to go to university. In order to go to the ?University of Bujumbora he had to spend time in the ?military. Remy refused to take up arms and join ?league with those who attempted to kill his mother. ?For this, he was told he could not study anywhere in ?the country.
After a few years of despair, Remy is now studying in ?Kenya to become a pastor. He believes God has called ?him to help reconcile his people. He has faced many ?more problems in Kenya, but in effort to keep this ?short--I will not mention them.
Brian, please keep Remy Nsengiyumva in your prayers. I ?want to see his church as truly Burundian. He worries ?that he will not find a "real" job to support his ?ministry. Please pray with me--that my brother from ?the other side of the world will be held in God's ?hands for such an important work.
Grace and peace, ?Ken
Subject: a movement or a copycat?
I just finished college and I have been interning at a ?church in VA who has never had a youth pastor before. ?My work is to plant something out of nothing. Due to ?my circumstances I have two (at least) questions:
1. How is it possible to make new wine out of somehwat ?older wineskin? The adults are frequently modern, but ?my kids (and myself are decidedly postmodern). I don't ?know how to respect the vision of church leadership ?while honing that vision towards the postmodern ?teenager (and younger) world. I have been criticized ?that I leave too many open questions in my teaching ?for kids to handle. I believe that God protects these ?kids and guides them. Maybe I'm wrong.
2. I really enjoy working with the Senior pastor ?here---but I worry that he wants to be a Rick Warren ?clone (to put it humorously--he even wears the ?Hawaiian shirt). As someone with a missions heart, I ?struggle with sharing with him that I don't think Rick ?Warren's culture is the culture we are trying to reach ?in VA. The Sr. Pastor has 32 years of experience. ?Maybe I'm being prideful. The 40 Days approach leaves ?me wanting more---it feels like the programming is ?just a facade for the purposes. Can "ministry" be ?authentic enough not tbe programmed? Or is that ?anarachy? Am i just doing the programs to prove that ?I'm doing my job?
Sorry---I'm sure this is too much to answer.
Subject: question
Brian, I read your book A New Kind Of Christian and enjoyed it and I have to admit I kept waiting for it to offend me and it never did. I grew up in a SBC pastor’s home and have been on staff myself for about 30+ years. I agree with most everything you say but then I read A Generous Orthodoxy and found myself not agreeing with a lot of it. That being said I have question. I must admit I am afraid of your answer because you have a way of not answering questions so I hope you don’t use that on me. I really would like to know your opinion on this. Ok, I have a 22 year old Son who says that NKOC changed his life. He actually went through the book with Jason Mitchell who is a very good friend of his and is becoming a good friend of mine. He says that book helped him develop his own faith and truly had a huge impact on his life. He is now living in Taiwan where he is teaching English. Since he is there he has fallen in love with a girl who is Muslim. My question is how can he say that this is God’s will and that his faith and hers compliment each other? Is there something I am missing and what would you tell him. Do you believe this is Biblical for a Christian and a Muslim to Marry? I know I have probably rambled on but I really am concerned about how he came to this conclusion that God will look on this marriage with favor. Do you think he will? I hope you will get this and answer it soon. I really would value your answer.
Wayne Slay
Subject: Workbook to A New Kind of Christian
I am a college student taking part in a small group with the Campus Crusade for Christ group. I would like to find out how to get the "workbooks" to the book A New Kind of Christian. Does such a book exist? Something to provoke conversation and offer a direction for the discussion is what I am after. Thank you. I can be reached at ryan_jake@stumail.emporia.edu.
Subject: (no subject)
Brian, ?I am a pastor and find your writings both challenging and refreshing. ?You have sparked me to renew my ministry and approach to reaching to ?others. But I am confused and, I confess, a little annoyed at a practice ?of yours. It seems to me that you can never just give a straight answer ?to a question. I understand that we have made things too fomulaic, and ?that some issues just don't have straight answers. But not everything ?falls into that category. There are some things that are cut and dry, ?such as John 14:6, Jesus being the only way to come to the Father. Is ?it against your philosophy to be straight forward on issues that the ?Bible itself is clear on? Thanks for making me think.
L. Scott
Subject: Thanks for saying it aloud!
Thank you, Brian. “A Generous Orthodoxy” has helped me to believe that there may indeed BE light at the end of our current Christian tunnel and that God still wants to use us to further His/Her purpose.
I was raised a Southern Baptist, but I’ve been away from the Christian church more than with it. I’m 55, but I’ve been what I now know to call “post-modern” since my college days, and the churches I encountered just didn’t cut it. It seemed like I could find only spirit without Jesus or Jesus without conscious awareness.
When I committed to Jesus’ guidance once again 5 or so years ago and was called to join in creating an Episcopal mission church, I followed joyfully. But I’ve gradually grown disheartened, feeling that my vision will always be marginalized and moving—somewhat sadly—toward apathy.
When I received “A New Kind of Christian” and then the “You are more …” book. I started suspecting where you were going and wondering, also, if perhaps I was not alone—just isolated. Reminds me of how I felt in the late 60’s, early 70’s before I realized there were others like me.
When I read “A Generous Orthodoxy,” I could have cried with joy. It’s all there, Brian, and I begin to believe that my attempts to help widen the Christian view at MY church are not futile swipes in the dark.
I used to have a little round plaque that showed a little candle burning in darkness and said, “It’s better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.” I am more hopeful now that MY candle is ordained, that my intention--to grow and help others grow into Christian theological and experiential adulthood—is not hopeful illusion.
Thanks for your courage. You are on my light list.
Nancy Jewett
Subject: French translation
Hi Brian!
Thanks for writing those wonderful books!
I have read "More ready than you realized" and now I'm "working" on Finding Faith. The latter is so good I'd really like to be able to share it with my friends... the problem is that I'm from the French speaking part of Switzerland and most of my friends are not fluent enough to tackle your books...
So I'm wondering, do you have any plans to have your books translated?
I really hope so... but if not, why have you not considered it? I know the French market is not huge compared to the "English" or "Chinese" language one but if you add France, Switzerland, Quebec and some part of Africa you get more than 67'000'000 people... You should be able to touch a few hearts (and sell a few copies since ultimately, the endeavor should at least reach break-even...).
Any thoughts?