Why did, Jesus, the buddha, Mohammed cross the road, Brian Mclaren

Why did, Jesus, the buddha, Mohammed cross the road, Brian Mclaren

I like Brian Mclaren, but his books to me seem to be a hit and miss affair. His previous book 'A new Christianity' was a cracker. Not the the content isn't any good, rather sometimes he seems to repeat what has written in another book or his blog. (Not that I could pin point this directly)

The other issue may also be where I'm at. I don't need any convincing that we need a better theology on pluralism.

I like the start of the book the whole 'Why did the chicken cross the road' analogy, but from there, content and originality seemed thin on the ground.

2/5

 

 

Brian McLaren, Naked Spirituality

 

Most of the time when Brian McLaren puts out a book, I usually end up reading it. It would seem I follow inadvertently topics in his books, which I am interested in at the time. For me they are not always a cracker of a book which I whizz through. Naked Spirituality was on of those books which was a bit of a drag. Not that it wasn't any good, I couldn't put my finger on it.



After 'A New kind of Christianity' which is one of those books which I would put in the 'cracker' camp. I thought that I would summaries the chapters in Naked Spirituality which you can see some where in this blog. It didn't last.

Overall the book is about 'Spirituality', the essence. I couldn't help but think during reading that if you striped the book of biblical references you could pass this on to a non-Christian, who was Spiritual. There is a lot for us to reflect upon for humanity and its spiritual attributes. I was particular interested in the times the book referred to those moments when God is there. In nature, in pain and suffering, in laughter. If anything the books strongest moments were McLaren's references to pain and suffering.



3.5/5

 

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Thanks! The Happiness of Appreciation

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Thanks! The Happiness of Appreciation 

 

As the heading suggests, having an appreciation for what God has given us.  For me this is pretty straight forward but as I suspect with many others, something that I often forget. This chapter reminded me of what I often lack in my communication with God.  No amazing insights with the chapter rather a reminder.

 

Previously

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Here: Naming the Mystery
Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Here: Starting Right Now
Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Twelve Simple Words
Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, But I'm Spiritual
Spiritual Experiences and Spiritual Experience.

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Here: Naming the Mystery

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Here: Naming the Mystery, Chapter 5

As alluded to in the Chapter heading this is about the naming of God. Its a big topic and I know that there are actual books on the subject. In reading the chapter it reminded me of how many metaphors we have for God trying to describe the indescribable. Words giving us just glimpses of our Maker.
Mclaren talks of a tenssion

...Between naming God and not reducing G-d to a name, this tension between addressing God through a name but never possessing G-d in a verbal or conceptual address, this electricity between what theologians call God's immanence or accessibility and G-d's transcendence or complete otherness.

It is this tension which Mclaren bases much of his practical spirituality. He then goes on to describe how he uses prayers, and liturgy about this tension to remind himself and assist the listener in remembering the tension.

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Here: Starting Right Now
Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Twelve Simple Words
Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, But I'm Spiritual
Spiritual Experiences and Spiritual Experience.

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Here: Starting Right Now

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Here: Starting Right Now

At last the book gets into the meat of Mclaren's spiritual practices. As he writes in the book it can be summed up with one word 'Here'. Basically acknowledging that God is with us what ever the situation. Just stopping our mind and acknowledging God is with us.


Its a chapter which I can agree with, its one of my main Spiritual practices. Looking for the 'Here' For some, this is rather pantheistic, yet for me it is the most realistic experience which I can comprehend. Although remembering to look for the here, I'm  guilty of doing frequently.

The Chapter reminded me a lot of Rob Bell's 'Breath'






Previous summaries
Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Twelve Simple Words
Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, But I'm Spiritual
Spiritual Experiences and Spiritual Experience.

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Twelve Simple Words

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Twelve Simple Words 

Mclaren gets to the point of his introduction in this Chapter. Here we were introduced to the main content of what the rest of the book will be composed of all resolving around Spiritual practices which induce 'Naked Spirituality'. They are 'Simplicity, Complexity Perplexity and Harmony'.

I couldn't help thinking that three chapters for an introduction is a bit long. Admittely the first two chapters I enjoyed, though the last I could imagine been incorporated in the book as a whole. 



Previous summaries
Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, But I'm Spiritual
Spiritual Experiences and Spiritual Experience.

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, But I'm Spiritual

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, But I'm Spiritual

This second chapter is also part of the introduction. Interestingly I find that McLaren likes to draw out his introductions. I find they are often the best parts of his books!


This post is a continuation of my very rough summary of Brian Mclaren's book 'Naked Spirituality' previous chapters are ::

McLaren looks at the classic line 'I'm not religious but I'm spiritual' and has a few thoughts on it.
I really liked when he looked at the etymology of the word 'religion'. 'lig' meaning to connect or gion together like you see in the word ligament. Re as again and again. Religion is therefore joining us together again and again. Connecting us with God again and again. 'Good' religion helps us in this process.
McLaren uses the term 'de-religion' for practices which do the opposite to re-connecting us with God.




Spiritual Experiences and Spiritual Experience.

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Spiritual Experiences and Spiritual Experience

As you may have guessed I'm reading Mclaren's latest  book 'Naked Spirituality' So I thought I'd just write up some very rough notes as I go....

Naked Spirituality, Brian McLaren, Spiritual Experiences and Spiritual Experience.

The first Chapter is quite personal, Mclaren talks of some of his most precious Spiritual experiences. The crux of the introduction was an introduction to 'real' experience vs manufactured 'religious' equivalent. He calls these real 'naked' spiritual moments. The book is about 'strengthening a vital, vigorous, naked spirituality'.

Good chapter, I'm keen to read further. Liked the personal experiences to illustrate his points. Much I can relate to so far.

Related articles

• Naked Spirituality :: Brian McLaren...some thoughts (thewearypilgrim.typepad.com)
• Reading and Praying (sela12.wordpress.com)

Miracles?

Image via Wikipedia

On Brian Mclaren's blog he answers a question regarding miracles:

Thanks for your questions. I spent many years in charismatic/Pentecostal circles, and although I saw a lot of prayer, I can't say I saw physical, visible miracles. Through my years in ministry, I prayed for many people with various diseases, but again, my track record for seeing clear, visible physical miracles was not very impressive at all.
When I've seen God at work in powerful and visible ways, it has almost always involved people acting in compassion, people using their skills and gifts (including medical skills and gifts), people become the "hands and feet" of Christ to love and serve others.
I never shut down the possibility of more dramatic miracles occurring, but I do doubt any claim that they are available on demand. (BTW - if you can point me to a bona fide case, with sufficient evidence, of an amputee whose hand was miraculously restored, I'll gladly report it here. Sadly, through the years, many reports I've heard from a distance turn out not to be real when you track them down.)

I'm a probably a bit more optimistic than Mclaren. The strange thing is that I've seen miricles outside of Christianity and the Church than inside. When it occurred in the Church I'd say it was one of those statistically rare one in a couple of million, not an improbability. Working inside palliative care I've seen people taken off our books because they seem to be cured. It was rare but happened once or twice. 

Osama bin Laden

It was a bit of a shock to me that today Osama bin Ladan was killed by elite American forces.  I had like many thought that he had died. Some thoughts....

• I was suprised that it had taken so long to get him considering his house stood out. It makes you think that a few people in Pakistan knew about him... I thought he may have just lived in a cave.
• The rumors of him having medical treatment may well have been true
• I was a bit disappointed that he wasn't put on trial. One of the amazing feats of the Israelies was the capturing with Mossad the Nazi Adolf Eichmann in South America and bringing him back to Israel for trail. It seems to me the right thing to do as a western nation. Even Saddam Hussein had a trial!
• I really like what Brian Mclaren had to write::

I can only say that this image does not reflect well on my country, especially in contrast to the images that have been so strong here in recent days ... revelers celebrating a wedding.
Joyfully celebrating the killing of a killer who joyfully celebrated killing carries an irony that I hope will not be lost on us. Are we learning anything, or simply spinning harder in the cycle of violence?

• I wonder how this will reflect on the Arab Spring we are seeing at the moment with so many dictators been thrown out?

Here is a bit of a reflection I wrote a while ago on the book
The Osama bin Lan I know , by Peter Bergen  

This book was disturbing. After reading it I decided that Al Qaeda was the Muslim equivalent to the Christian Klu Klux Klan. In one line they talk about a merciful God and killing the infidel. What the book did bring to my attention was ‘the Islamic awakening’ which I had never heard of before. In a nutshell, it refers to the corruption and poverty in Muslim nations combined with rising education in some of these countries. Bin Laden in many ways was able to bring together the people that struggled in poverty and oppression at the hands of governments and rally them against the West.

Universalism and Rob Bell

Image by Keegan Jones via Flickr

One of the more refreshing theologians Rob Bell has caused quite a stir with evangelicals with who claim that his new book yet to come out 'Love Wins', advocates 'universalism' everyone gets to heaven.
Its an interesting charge because his new book hasn't even come out yet. It seems to be speculation or good marketing!
It reminded me of a blog post regarding Rob Bell and homosexuality, which I penned a few years ago. It turned out that again the person making the accusations had not read any of Rob Bells material and his ammunition came from a Pentecostal church somewhere in Tasmania.

I find it interesting how quick people jump to conclusion without real wisdom of pondering.

Universalism yet is an interesting charge. I've found in a lot of my readings theologicans and writers on the edge of wavering towards universalism. I name Brain Mclaren and Baxter Kruger (Love that name!)

For me the edge is the place to be. I'm still a believer in justice. Yet I don't think justice and universalism fit easily together. Yet I know that grace and universalism do. Grace and love are everything about God. So I'm on the edge.

It would be interesting a Church where there was a strong conviction of universalism. Much of the moral compass of the Church would disappear. Everyone would be accepted because the playing field has been flattened. Everyone is in. Maybe it would become a place of caring for the soul.

Some interesting Australian Blog about Rob Bell::

Jarrad McKenna, on ABC online
An Annabaptist in Perth
Backyard missionary

An the USA

Brian Mclaren's response

Big Tent

Interesting report from the magazine 'The Progressive Christian'. There has been a conference 'Big Tent Christianity' in the US with the following people speaking::

* Carol Howard Merritt, a Presbyterian pastor, author and popular blogger on The Huffington Post;
* Brian McLaren, pastor, author of more than 20 books including A Generous Orthodoxy and elder statesman of the emerging church movement;
* Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest, author and executive director of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, NM;
* Nadia Bolz-Weber, a Lutheran pastor in Denver, CO and frequent blogger for Sojourners;
* Mark Scandrette, author, teacher, activist and director of ReIMAGINE, a San Francisco spiritual collective of creativity, community building and social action; and
* Marcus Borg, well-known biblical and Jesus scholar who is now canon theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Oregon.

Yep I reckon it would have been a ripper to have atteneded. A few of my favourite authors all in the same room. What is also amazing is that maybe ten years ago due to their beliefs I doubt meeting in the same room would ever have happened.

Related articles

• Rohr's Everything Belongs (uhsocialwork.wordpress.com)

The what do we do now question?

The Last question in Brian McLaren's book 'A New Kind of Christianity' is most importantly is "What do we do now?"

This is in many ways the most important question even if you agree with only one of the previous questions. There is then a mandate for you to change.

A few things which had me in agreement or pondering::


Keeping the balance between action and contemplation/reflection, in our life. (Ch 20)


What to do if you agree with 'A new type of Christianity', but your Church is not in this place? Some really good hints here. I like the way he gives good hints at sticking it out. (Ch 21)

Point 5, I particulary like about helping churches change.

::"Get an outside consultant":: Unfortuantely my time in the Vineyard in Australia all consultancy/mentoring was done 'in house', I think you really loose something no going outside the denomination.
::Look at 'parachurch' for an option in a denomination. I never even thought of this. Although I would think that Forge was probably in this bracket until it left Churches of Christ.
::When new people enter a Church embrace what the diversity in what they have to offer from their denomination. They most probably on want to share the things that are positive. Makes scene.


So that's "A New Kind of Christianity' all read and dusted. Would I recommend it to anyone. Nope. Its a book for people who struggles with any of these questions. But if you have it all down pat and happy with the way the world works you will probably on find this book frustrating.

The Pluralism question

The ninth question in Brian McLaren's book 'A new kind of Christianity' is the 'Pluralism question'.

Another way of asking the question is: the majority world doomed, because they do not acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.


I've always been on the same wave length as McLaren on this one. He uses 2:1-29

...people are never judged based on knowledge they don't have, and that God well bless

McLaren also takes time in writing about Jesus and his claims of John 14:6. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Though good exegesis he makes the point that it was a message for his disciples. Not for those outside the room or the generations to come. Interesting and probably open to debate.

My belief is that if God is one of love.  He can see through the crap and into the heart, no mater what the culture.

Can we fine a better way of viewing the future

Up to the eighth question from Mclaren's 'A New Kind of Christianity' the 'Can We Find a Better Way of Viewing the Future' question.

Mclaren offers a three dimensional approach to end time. One which is expanding. As opposed to the traditional view of evangelicals: salvation and heaven or death.

So what does he mean and expanding approach?

'...there is no single fixed end point towards which we move, but rather a widening space, opening into an infinitely expanding goodness, like air and sunlight into which a tree spreads out its branches. Creation branches out into an ever-widening sphere of goodness, justice and peace...'

 Sounds good to me. It also I thinks it fits with the term ''Kingdom of God"


The other interesting thing is how we define judgement. Instead of the traditional 'Condemnation'. Instead of retributive balancing the equation. It involves 'putting things right',

"...reconciling, not merely punishing; healing, not merely diagnosing; transforming, not merely exposing; revaluing (or redeeming), not merely evaluating"

I like it, but he don't use the word 'Universalism'  or address it. (Unless I missed something)

Open Theism and Brian Mclaren

Brian McLaren is the classic post modern guy.

Repetativley, yet rightly so he always declines been a spokesman for the 'Emerging Church'.

The other thing is how he often dodges direct questions. Recently he was asked in his question and answer section about Open Theism.

1. God does not determine the future in detail because He cannot know the future…the future simply cannot be known by anyone
I would phrase this a bit differently. I would put it in terms of these questions: What kind of relationship does God want with the universe? What kind of universe did God make?

What a postmodern classic, throwing out another question. Interestingly just like Jesus. 'Who do you think I am?"

Its Interesting Open Theism, like Mclaren writes, does run 'parallel' to the 'Emergent' movement.
After reading a lot of books from Mclaren, especially the new book 'A New Kind of Christianity', a lot of questions Mclaren asks are answered in Clark Pinnocks book "A Wilderness in God's Mercy".
Yet I would say that McLaren while giving round about answers sits in a similar position as Open Theism. Pinnock is more direct as well giving more theological support.
I can understand Mclaren not wanting to be put in a theological box and not wanting to be linked to anyone yet have something in common with everyone.

The Sex question

 
The next question which Mclaren tackels in his recent book 'A New Kind of Christianity' is the 'Sex Question'.

I've always found that Mclaren skirts around the question reading his literature as well as listening to his podcasts.
In the book, I found his arguments regarding sexuality compelling for a greater need of acceptance with those different in sexual orientation than ourselves. What I find is frustrating once we come to the same conclusion as Mclaren is what do we do with it our new understanding....

Some of the things that I thought compelling::

-What do we do with people who are born with intersexuality? Children born with male and female organs?
- What do we do with people who are born with Klinefelter's syndrome? They have XXY chromosomes rather than XY or XX chromosomes.

-"Jesus' treatment of the marginalised and stigmatised requires us to question the conventional approach (To those of a different sexual orientation). We have many examples of Jesus crossing boundaries to include outcasts and sinners, and not a single example of Jesus crossing his arms and refusing to do so."

 So what would Jesus do? I think Mclaren answers this with the above quote.
-Sexualtiy had changed in the last 50 years
-homosexual sexual problems seem to be highlighted in the  Church yet heterosexual issues are just as rampant. Mclaren gives two good pages of examples on this one.
-The venom has gone out a lot of Christians regarding this topic which a larger percentage of congregations not having any issues with homosexuality.

The Church Question

Going though the questions posed by Brian McLaren in his book "A New Kind of Christianity", we come to the question of "The Church".

Strangly this question also had the smallest amout of text allocated to it. Just one brief chapter. Where as most of the other questions had at least two chapters assigned to them.


Sort of leading on from the last chapter instead of having a 'Pauline' type of Church re-shaping the Church along a more Christological stance.

I think this view is stronger ever since Alan Hirsch's book 'The Shaping of things to come' came about.

To quote McLaren " The Church exists to form Christ-like people, people of Christ like love". Sounds pretty simple wish I could do it better.

The Gospel Question

The Gospel Question is the fifth question from Brian Mclaren's book 'A New Kind of Christianity'.

Its a pretty basic premise for the whole question. Mclaren claims that most reading of the 'Gospel' has been done through the eyes of the apostle Paul and not through Jesus. That Paul is not wrong, just misunderstood. Thus most of Chapter 14 and 15 is a re-telling of Romans.

Nothing much in this Chapter that sparked me.

McLaren, on Signs and Wonders.

Brian has a question and section answer on his blog, which at time can be quite insightful. A Vineyard Church planter who is currently studying asked the question::

With the emerging churches emphases on the life and ministry of Jesus (which I wholeheartedly agree with), do they pray for the sick and see folks healed? Cast out demons? Or receive words of knowledge? (Words of knowledge being defined as knowing something about someone that is humanly impossible – similar to how Jesus knew that the Samaritan Women had five husbands in John 4)....

McLaren's response is quite insightful and for me a bit of a pointer especially in regards to my own reading!

1. Of course Christians of all types - including those in emerging churches - pray for the sick and exercise spiritual gifts. Do they see folks healed? I'm sure there are many positive testimonies to this effect. But in my experience in emerging churches, the ratio of prayers made to dramatic healings received is not high. This is equally true in the charismatic, Pentecostal, Vineyard, and related churches I've been involved with. I've never seen a church where the "batting average" on healings is high, although I've seen churches that claimed it was high. In "emerging churches" (a category I don't like to use), I think people would try to be honest about the unanswered prayers for healing and I think they'd be careful not to exaggerate the frequency of dramatic answers to prayers for healing.
2. On the demonic, I think there would be a variety of belief and practice, just as there is across the Christian community at large. Speaking personally, the writer who has stimulated my thinking most on this subject is Walter Wink. I highly recommend his book "The Powers that Be."
3. One of the shifts that I think is widely seen in emerging churches is the shift from the modernist natural-supernatural dichotomy. I've written about this in a few of my books, especially The Story We Find Ourselves In. I think a lot of 20th century Pentecostalism was an attempt to redress an imbalance within this dualistic paradigm, while remaining within it. The challenge many of us face is to practice a life in the Spirit beyond that dualism, where the Spirit is inherent to what we used to call "natural," and not simply relegated to a separate supernatural category. (I think of the Spirit of God hovering over the primal waters in Genesis 1 ... ) In other words, in God's universe, everything is supernatural, upheld by God's grace.

 A couple of things resonate.
::I would agree with the "Average batting", statement. I'd also add I've also seen the healing with Non-Christians!
::I liked his last line "In other words, in God's universe, everything is supernatural, upheld by God's grace."
::I think the whole "expectation" of healing with a crowd is not quite right. Its been shown many times that like minded people who have an exception for the 'supernatural' to happen it will happen. Even if it didn't. Just look at the Clairvoyant television shows.  I have a greater conviction of these things outside of the church for been genuine.