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Christianity Today, September, 2008 |

McLaren Emerging

In his last two books, Brian McLaren presents more clearly than ever his vision of the gospel.

Scot McKnight | posted 9/26/2008 11:09AM

Emergent is no longer just emerging. It has in many respects emerged. Though some things remain unclear, what you see is what it is and, more importantly, what you see is also where it is going. Where ...

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Teresa

Posted: October 06, 2008 5:05 PM

REmember teh bible warned in Jude and Rev and 1 or 2ndPeter and Acts and on and on that a falling away would happen? CT is promoting this evil man, who tries to mix in some honey with teh poison. Christians HAVE been feeding the poor and so much more, even if he doesn't acknowledge all their/our work, but to think that the kingdom is only about the social gospel while he redefines Jesus and his church is the very things that the bible and Jesus ever warned about in the first place. Everytime I see the Emergent (ing) church, or Rick Warren for that matter, and their ties with the false religons and false gods of this worls, i think about the Anti-Bride of the church, the whore of REvelation 17 who is severly punished for adultery, but all in the name of Jesus. She was doing what? Speaking blaspehmies, killing any christians they could find ( post the rapture, new converts I think) and leading men and women into hell, while supporting the false Christ to come with his psuedo-peace plan.

Jacob Prasch

Posted: October 03, 2008 4:21 AM

Your article fails to biblically assess the essential tenets of Maclaren & emergence including its abbrogation of the centrality of biblical doctrine. Evaluating something in light of scripture is the spiritual, biblical, and logical first step for any rresponsible Christian inquirey. The article in itself is 'emergent' in that it largely fails to do that. A biblical and scgholarly investigation of emergence reveals it to be post modernism religious philosophy redefining Christianity along non biblical and contra biblical lines for a paradigm shift intead of a recontextualization of biblical Christianity to meet that challenge. This delusional counterfeit of Christianity in effect idealizes the early dark ages with its mysticism, gnosticism, and incipient icon venerative proto-idolatry as the classic period in the history of Christendom instead of The Apostolic church recorded in The Book of Acts , and The Epistles. It is an unbalanced article/ Jacob Prasch

Petra

Posted: October 02, 2008 1:06 PM


How silly is it that "east" beats "west" in Christianity. The Holy Spirit leads people to Christ and reveals His Word. He is not limited to any persons agenda. I am so thankful these Hollywood inspired stereotypes of Christians by McLaren and others are being challenged and defeated. Why is it that emergents can insult anyone and everyone and it is portrayed as deeper thinking and spiritual?

Bev?	Posted: October 01, 2008 1:46 AM


How very sad that Bev misses the whole reason why Jesus became Man, died and rose for her. Emergent propaganda has poisoned her. Christians are not the enemy and the fact that emergents like McLaren, Chris Seay, Tony Jones Rob Bell and Donald Miller are spreading this kind of discord and hopelessness mixed with blatant arrorgance is anti-gospel.

Premodern

Posted: October 01, 2008 1:15 AM

I am reminded of Titus 2: --- But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness... For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. --- I note in this one passage a rebuke against McLaren's lack of clarity, a reminder of what his role should be, an affirmation of the hope of salvation and heaven, and an encouragement for Christians to call out these false teachings.

Dixie Campbell

Posted: September 30, 2008 10:15 PM

It is at the cross I see I (the old man-nature) am crucified with Christ and it is no longer I that live (the old nature) but Christ liveth in me. Gal 2:20. I'm BORN AGAIN! Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Romans 6:6. My new Life in Christ, and Him in me as life, starts at the cross. I have become a new creation. The real "me" choosen before the foundation of the world has emerged. This is how I now know Christ; and Him crucified. I see the Cross as The Fathers gift to me for all that is represented there at the cross as taught by Paul, not for the world, but for those who love Christ and desire to spend eternity with Him. Christ in me will work out through me, as me, what he desires in my sphere of influence. I did not mean to rate 5 stars only 1.

Jim Miller

Posted: September 30, 2008 3:01 AM


I think McLaren's vagaries may be less a matter of creative teaching and more a matter of the erosion of a clearly held theology, coupled with reactivity. Personally, I'm not buying his books anymore, and I'm a bit tired of speculation about what he thinks. Aren't there more provocative voices out there...because they take a stand?

pray for them

Posted: September 29, 2008 7:19 PM

Scot, Willow Creek is your home church right? Willow Creek endorses Mclaren right? Mclaren doesn't believe in repentance right? Mclaren is part of Hybels new "Shift" paradigm right? It upsets me of the people (Mclaren) who think Jesus was just a great example. Scot you said, "McLaren's vision is, simply, to return to Jesus and to rework and revitalize Jesus' kingdom vision." Boy howdy, I'll say he reworked it! The Bible teaches that we are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone. Johnny said, Where in the world is CT going? GOOD QUESTION !

Anonymous

Posted: September 29, 2008 2:13 PM

Darren said: "I would argue that many of the people criticizing McLaren, here in the comments section, calling him a "false teacher", have read the gospels with one set of lenses for so long that they no longer see what's really there." I agree with you completely. To those of you who hurl criticisms and insults at the emergent movement: Do you not realize that those of us who are getting on board with the movement are no doing so blindly? Do you not realize that we have agonized over our place in the Church, that we have prayed about our calling, that we have asked the Holy Spirit for guidance and believe He is the one opening the doors to a new stream of Christianity that will enrich the Church?

Faithfulandtrue

Posted: September 29, 2008 1:17 PM


Many Emergents had loving, Christian parents, who they now whine and complain about, in some cases profit from it. This movement is the exact opposite of the Jesus movement. Emergents are like the churches of the 1950s. Trying to downplay right and wrong and neutering the very King of Kings who died for them. They delight in throwing mud on the Bride of Christ. Listen to their sermons yourself.

bidden

Posted: September 29, 2008 1:10 PM


There is a woeful lack of clarity. There is a surplus of subjectivity. And to be specific, the arrogance of "everything must change" is almost unbelievable. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He need not (nor will He) change.

Greg Wiest

Posted: September 29, 2008 12:07 PM

Good article on Brian McClaren. McClaren's emerging theology is nothing new, however. It is the same old tired social justice theology which caused the mainline churches to implode. The difference now is that an evangelical has "discovered" social justice and liberation theology and suddenly its a novelty. And like the old line (main line) churches, the atonement for sin by Jesus' death on the cross takes a back seat to social justice. Evangelicals in many places have always fed the poor and provided places for the homeless and yet have not discarded the most important message that Jesus died for sinners. I suspect that the "emergent" churches will go the way of the old line churches given enough time. That is they will go from emergent to submergent.

anna	Posted: September 29, 2008 3:53 AM

McClaren is simply a "new ager" Do not be fooled! There are no forgotton "secrets" hidden in The Gospels, that HE believes HE has found 2000 years after the birth of Christianity. He presents a new age Jesus and not the real Jesus. ( I was a new ager before my conversion to the real Jesus, so I have some knowledge ) We left a church which had become tainted with emergent theology because, and here is the irony, they abandoned me when I was sick and hospitalised for months. Proof is in the pudding, where is all this "social love" they drool over? We have no church left to go to as so many, evangelical or reformed are tainted with either Warren, or McClarens clap-trap "secret" "changing" "Gospel" Be warned all who follow this movement. Get into a house-church and worship the true Jesus , expect to be persecuted by this rising new age sect as they will take no criticism and throw you out as has happened to countless people in countless churches

Esther

Posted: September 29, 2008 12:47 AM

Brian McLaren Says" "You might say that evangelism is almost non-existent because the Christian faith is, to be very frank, almost non-existent,” he told the audience, gathered at the University of Kent, in Canterbury. " Please quit promoting counterfits. Remember why Christianity Today started. 2 Peter 2 1But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

KB	Posted: September 28, 2008 11:57 PM

Unfortunately, all this appears to be is a repackaging of the social gospel. There is a definite need within our churches today to get away from the ritualistic and focus on ways in which we can truly be the body of Christ. However, we need to be ever mindful of the risk of becoming works-oriented and world-centered. The desire of churches to become more "relevant" begining in the 1950's accomplished little more than the near extinction of the mainline Protestant denominations. We've been down this road before - we need to walk it carefully.

Mike	Posted: September 28, 2008 11:30 PM

I have enjoyed Scot’s perspective in his writings, even though I am typically not emerging as he presents it. And though I am quite radical in my view of the kingdom and embrace many of the views they espouse, I feel the real danger in their approach is their accommodation to culture, which is not a pattern found in Scripture, at least not to the extent they are espousing. We all do some contextualization when we present the gospel, but where do we draw the line? Let's not forget the power inherent in the gospel message (the sermons in Acts still speak to ALL people today). Hopefully some in the movement will try to reverse the slide on this slippery slope before it’s too late (though I am confident God’s remnant communities will hold fast to the truth). Keep up the converstation. It is good for the Church.

Mark	Posted: September 28, 2008 11:14 PM

I seem to be a member of a fading generation. The sense of communion with previous generations which has grown as I've grown older, I find myself unable to extend to these "new" ideas or to the people who propagate them. The always implicit negativity, the sometimes outrageous criticisms and rejection of the spiritual mission of the church, come across to me as shallow. I would call it bigotry, if that wouldn't make me sound bigoted. I am wearied that they don't understand. That appears to be mutual.

Steve K.

Posted: September 28, 2008 11:39 AM

Thanks to Scot for writing and CT for publishing this profile of Brian McLaren. I think it's, for the most part, pretty fair and balanced. However, I think some of the criticism that Brian doesn't give a complete "systematic theology" in his books is based more on an unrealistic expectation than a failing of Brian's writing itself. He's a pastor/practitioner/provocateur, not a systematic theologian. I would argue that you have to read each one of Brian's books with the others in mind to be able to get the broader picture of the spectrum of his thinking. To those who have such certainty that Brian is a "false teacher," I would just ask them to consider how God has genuinely used Brian's books and other writings to inspire and challenge so many of us to deeper faith in Jesus Christ. I personally give God all the glory for using Brian to challenge and convict me of ways in which I have not been faithful to the mission of Christ in the world today.

Rhonda

Posted: September 28, 2008 3:20 AM

"In the mid-1990s I was part of what is now known as the Emerging Church and spent some time traveling the country to speak on the emerging church in the emerging culture on a team put together by Leadership Network called the Young Leader Network. But, I eventually had to distance myself from the Emergent stream of the network because friends like Brian McLaren and Doug Pagitt began pushing a theological agenda that greatly troubled me. Examples include referring to God as a chick, questioning God's sovereignty over and knowledge of the future, denial of the substitutionary atonement at the cross, a low view of Scripture, and denial of hell which is one hell of a mistake." – Mark Driscoll"

Bev	Posted: September 28, 2008 2:21 AM

The Church, like the society it lives in, must change. When the Church is full of fat cats like society, there must be a swing to sacrifice and selflessness. When the Church is liberal with little spiritual context, there must be a swing back to grasping for understanding of the way of the Spirit. Since the Church is made up of people who are enculturised by the society they were brought up in, it stands to reason that the Church of that day and place will be affected by the society it lives in, whether violent, apathetic, consumerist, legalistic, immoral or whatever else the society is ailed by. Therefore, we will always need those who see what could be rather than what is, and we need to be willing to undertake dialogue in order for the Church to stay true to its own call and mandate. We are never damaged by undertaking honest dialogue and faithful interaction to discern the way forward.

Julie

Posted: September 28, 2008 1:59 AM

Great article! Dave, did you read it? CT addresses the Emerging movement because it is greatly impacting the Church, and whether it is positive or negative overall -- you don't just ignore it, you address it. What I love about the article is that it deals graciously with the ideas that can be embraced -- that the Church does sometimes miss the whole picture of God's action in the world -- while still critiquing what is missing -- the center-piece! Thanks CT for continuing to engage in the tough questions.

David S. Lim, Ph.D.(Theo)

Posted: September 28, 2008 12:46 AM

This is an excellent analysis of the Emerging Church Movement. As an Asian theologian-historian, I consider this as the post-modern shape of the Church growing from the Evangelicalism, whereas the charismatic/"third wave"/Full Gospel movement emerged out of Pentecostalism. Both of them will be greatly enriched if they gained insights for their future from the simple church theology and praxis ("wineskins": ecclesiology and missiology) that have been developed by the global house CHURCH networks and church multiplication MISSION movements (of which I am part and a leading proponent)!

Rahab Klingensmith

Posted: September 27, 2008 8:51 PM

Directly above top I would agree with a statement made up top from Darren King...the key is "A strong hold is being attempted to percieve the gospel for all that it is worth through the eyes of the pharisies...this is putting a strain on our Chrisitan world-The Christian World View; as well as damaging the message. The Key points here that i beleive Scot McKnight is trying desperately to taking on is more humility approach to seriously folks rediscovering accurately "What IS going on...Continuing to re-shape and sincerely address such meaningfulness events as "THE RECONSILING MINISTRY" the 5 Commitment points that of being: #1 Re-thinking repentence #2 Believing #3 Recieving #4 Going Public (gentle spirited-examples of demostrations= Mirosalv Volf and Scot McKnight #5 Practicing a New Way of Life These Key spiritual passions will ONLY come forth with a Repentenced dignified Church, that IS empowered by The Holy Spirit, examples...living out Pauls Letters written......

Ronald Everett

Posted: September 27, 2008 8:13 PM


I have to add my voice in objecting to CT giving validity to this obviously unChristian theology that is being foisted on the religious community by McLaren and a bunch of other authors who are either trying to gain the popularity of the juvenile crowd or hold some destructive agenda. I think RC Spoul said it best when he referred to this as the "submergent church."

Jay	Posted: September 27, 2008 6:59 PM


I agree that it has emerged. It is obvious in the absence of any influence by the Church today. We have met the enemy and he is us!

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