McLaren's Musings

So I appreciate that this is a little late, but here are my thoughts about Brian McLaren’s seminar last week.

The first thing that struck me about Brian was his gentle approach. Although he made no reference to this fact it is well known that Brian receives what is best described as hate male and a significant part of the Christian right in America seriously doubt Brian’s position in the book of life. Nevertheless Brian is always gracious about his critics and throughout the session didn’t have a bad word to say about anyone. I particularly liked his reasoning behind this; I the second session Brian focused on TallSkinnyKiwi’s ‘Deep Ecclesiology’. I didn’t fully understand what he had to say, but the gist was that whether we’re Anglo-Catholic or house church, we’re all church and therefore we must learn to encourage (rather than criticise) one another. This is especially important, argued McLaren, in terms of justice, because there is so much to be done (i.e. with a child dying every three seconds we need everybody doing social action irrespective of our theological differences).

Building on this I questioned Mr McLaren himself on current disagreements in the church McLaren’s response was that we should not attack other churches. Rather we (whoever we are) should do what we feel is right and see what happens. Rather pragmatic, but quite refreshing me thinks…

Another interesting point came in the midst of the first session while McLaren was exploring the transition through modernity to postmodernity (which he called emergent culture) and beyond. McLaren likened this transition to the discoveries of Copernicus and Galileo. At that time the theology of the church was based on a certain model of the universe (the earth was at its centre) and so there was great concern at the findings of Copernicus and Galileo because the presumption was that when the old worldview went, the church would go with it. Similarly today the church has become so reliant upon modernist thinking that any move from that ideology is, for the church, seen as worrying; as society rejects reason, perhaps it will reject religion as well? Probably not suggests McLaren, and so the church must adapt and carefully consider this new thinking.

However, and this is where it gets really interesting, McLaren did not suggest that everyone should read his books and other similar pieces of work, but rather those that are sitting pretty in their current way of thinking and not doing anyone any harm should just be left to their own devices, in fact they should be discouraged from reading such work (one of McLaren’s friend, whom he studied with, having studied postmodern philosophy in the seventies decided it was incompatible with his faith). On the one hand I see what McLaren is saying, on the other I think such writings are important so that those in the church can understand a little more about those of us that are (at best) on the fringes.

It was a bit of a detour on my way to a meeting at Cliff College. But I'm glad I went. And thanks ot the guys out there from Glasgow who invited me to their table when they saw me eating alone prior to the event :-)

Comments

[sally]

I like his pragmatic approach, as a great fan of Brians books am pleased to hear of his approach to who should read them and why...
Working amongst 10 congregations in rural norfolk, I think it is essential that we facilitate those wanting to move on whilst leaving those who are comfortable to be comfortable when they show no desire to move... you have got me thinking...