"I Love My Church, But I Feel I No Longer Fit": Brian McLaren Responds

I must say that I’ve been following the emerging/emergent conversation for some time now and really dig virtually everything that is a part of this sacred conversation. One of my youth group kids visited another church’s praise night and recieved an e-mail from the keynote speaker with the following (I had to laugh and perhaps cry a little when I read it):

[quote]There are some books that you should order (I understand that not all of you have the money but I know that if you ask your parents, you can get just about anything). And if there are some people that can order them (just do it at www.amazon.com) then you should read them and pass them on.

1. Red Moon Rising (Pete Greig, Dave Roberts)
2. The Blueprint (Jaeson Ma)
3. Shaping History Through Fasting and Prayer (Derek Prince)
4. Passion for Jesus (Mike Bickle)
5. No Compromise (Keith Green’s Biography)
6. Intercessory Prayer (Dutch Sheets)

And those are just for starters.

There are also a few books that I recommend that you NOT WASTE YOUR TIME ON!
1. Velvet Elvis (Rob Bell) (This is watered down Christian faith at it’s ugliest!)
2. The Irrisistible Revolution (Shane Clairborne and Communist Christianity, BAD!)
3. Anything by Brian McLaren
[/quote]
I was think about just reversing his list and adding it to my blog (first section: books to avoid, second section, must read)

peace,

matt

It seems very ironic to read this post. I recently had to step away from a job I really enjoyed teaching at the average Christian school because in the end the administration deemed that I did not believe “Church” was important and that my wife and I were too “emergent”. Of course no one came right out and said this nor was this the reason given for my resignation; however, in the end it was obvious that though I had earned great rapport and respect from the high school students that I taught, I was too “dangerous” because I read and enjoyed Rob Bell and Brian McLaren. I also thought that these books would be tremendously beneficial for a select group of my students who had become jaded by their perceptions of what being a Christ-follower looked like: perfect, non-sinning, Bible-believing, non-questioning, etc, etc. To these students I recommended certain books, but never during class time and I rarely, if ever, shared my viewpoint understanding that it would have most likely been in direct opposition with the stand of the Church of which the school was a ministry.

However, my wife and I really soured on the idea of attending the Church (we were required) because all of the above mentioned things were hugely prevalent in this congregation and my wife and I found ourselves standing at a polar opposite perspective. This of course was frowned upon and in the end, despite all of the positive influence that I had, it was made clear that if I wanted to continue my employment at this average Christian school I would need to agree to become a highly active member of this congregation and this congregation only. This was because since I obviously did not deem “The Local Church” as important the only way I could prove my allegiance to “all of the people talking” would be to attend this church and prove a different perspective.

In the end, my wife and I decided that our spiritual lives were more important then any job and in the end it worked out great, but as I read both comments it just made me realize how none of us are alone on this emergent journey and it was good to hear from brothers and sisters facing the same struggles…God bless

Steve

Matt, Maybe you’d be better off keeping comments to yourself. I for one have been incredibly moved by Velvet Elvis, The Irresistable Revolution, and several Brian McLaren Books. Neither you nor I are in a position to judge the true effect of a book on someone else, only on ourselves. So please show graciousness and let God work through those he has gifted to write—and you may be surprised how his blessing can come from many totally unexpected places!

Jonno,

not that I am judging you, but please read the post again, please.

Jonno,
Try reading the post again – slowly and all the way through – because you clearly did not understand what Matt said.

Jonno…I had the same take on Matt’s post the first time I read it…he was quoting someone else.

Hi

I agree that Matt was quoting someone else. I have been moved and forced to think again about questions and fears by Brian McLaren’s books. You may not agree with all that is said, but you have to face how the fundamentalist doctrines have been used to justify about every social injustice going.
Let alone the rejection by certin churches, as noted above, you can get kicked out of bible colleges/ semimaries for just trying to have an open discussion. (I am a graduate of 2 evangelical bible colleges)
As the economy gets worse and election fever gets stronger, fears grow and sadly many more churches will circle the wagons and eliminate those who don’t “fit in”

Evangelical churches aren’t the only ones that can make people feel unwelcome if they disagree with the leaders’ direction. I’m in a “frog in the kettle” emergent church where you’re really popular with the leaders IF you agree with where they are trying to lead us. If you don’t, you are tolerated as an out of step modernist.

Subtle manipulation and control is not the exculsive leadership style of evangelicals.

Not sure this is the place to say this, but will give it a swing. I am a seventy-two year old Mennonite and am much taught by emergent thinking. Question: Is there any room for “old folks” in the movement? I ask you that, Brian, because I see something that looks like a little gray in your beard…

Pres Nowlin

Thanks for your post, Preston. I am 52, and was wondering how many over-30 are struggling with the same issues that we read about with the emergent church.

There are a few of us ‘vintage’ emergent-leaning types out there. But when you attend events, you can be sure that silver hair is rarely evident. But for me it doesn’t matter. God used some really ancient folks in scripture in mighty ways. Besides, what’s chronology anyway? It doesn’t have to shape your attitude.

I feel like I’m being pulled in a million different directions that all resemble God’s will. I’m still searching.