Brian McLaren: A New Kind of Christianity
Feb.27, 2012 in
Guest Appearances, Podcast Episodes
In this episode Ray is joined by Brian McLaren for a discussion about Brian’s book A New Kind of Christianity. In the book Brian presents ten questions which he believes are transforming the Christian faith. Brian and Ray focus on the first two questions dealing with the story and purpose of the Bible. Make sure to visit BrianMcLaren.net and check out Brian’s book A New Kind of Christianity. Thanks Brian for taking the time to visit with us!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:48 — 52.9MB) | Embed
February 29th, 2012 at 10:42 am
Is this book a good source on the difference between near east and greco-roman thinking?
Is there a book that is better? That is something I’ve been interested in for some time.
February 29th, 2012 at 3:35 pm
I agree with Ray: “So much good stuff in this podcast!” Some of the things shared that resonated with me were: The Jewish worldview seeing things more in the dimensions of Creation, Liberation, and, finally, Reconciliation-Restoration-New Creation; Greek perfectionism vs Jewish goodness {interesting…a Jewish colleague once said to me, “you Christians are too focused on sin.”}; the Bible as a library rather than a constitution {very helpful analogy!}; And this statement of Brian’s also stood out: “I love the way (Catholic theologian) John Haught says it, ‘God’s creation is like a factory for novelty and beauty.’ That is the goodness of God; it’s this inherently fertile dynamic thing, as opposed to a sterile static one.”
February 29th, 2012 at 4:58 pm
Happy Birthday!
April 2nd, 2012 at 8:37 am
Concerning the discussion about the accepted cannon of scriptures and whether there should be an “open cannon” or “closed cannon,” I can’t help but think, why does it matter?
To even be having the discussion about what is accepted as “scripture” is to be talking about something that seems to have little actual relevance to our walk with God. If God is real and active in my life, if the Spirit lives in me in a meaningful way, then there is an almost infinite number of sources God can use to point me in the direction he wants me to travel, or to reveal himself to me. Yes, it is scary for people who have grown up looking at The Bible as the official Owner’s Manual/Road Map/Legal Code/Ethical Encyclopedia etc… to consider that God is not limited to the book. But once we embrace the idea that God wants to have a living, breathing, walking relationship with each of us personally, then our life in him no longer revolves around a book, but around the Living Word, Jesus. It leaves us free to enjoy the bible as he leads or to enjoy other sources and people as well. To the extent that we spend time arguing over open cannon or closed cannon, we are on a side track.
April 4th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
@Glenn – kinda makes you wonder what Christianity might look like today if for the past couple of millennia the focus had been more on being (individually) led by the Spirit rather than by sola scriptura and orthodoxy. Sounds mystically scary?