In "A New Kind of Christian," McLaren composes a fictional faith story from many conversations and dialogue between a pastor and his daughter's highschool soccer coach. In writing about these two men's journeys of faith, McLaren raises some great questions for the Church, and all believers today. In this fable, faith becomes a way of life for this pastor, not just a system of beliefs. Conversations become much more important than conversions.
Truth becomes more than just factual accuracy. Truth is contextual. Truth means being in sync with God. Knowing Jesus and loving Him. Not just knowing all the facts. He stresses that reading the Bible should be like a romance...we should allow the Bible to speak to us..it is Living and sharper than a double-edged sword! We should not read it the same each and every time.
I love this quote..."If Christians would take all the energy we put into proving that we're right and others are wrong, and invested that energy in pursuing and doing good, somehow I think that more people would believe we are right."
He makes a point of saying that spreading the gospel "should not be likened to a conquest, or a coercive rational argument, or an emotionally intimidating sales pitch, or an agressive debating contest where we hope to "win", or an imposing crusade..." Amen!
It should be more like a dance! In a dance, no one wins or loses. If both parties agree to dance with one another....you are both listening to the music, and trying to move with it. Asking the other person to dance to "God's dance" can be fun!
Instead of looking at the world with our "Christian goggles" on and saying, Hey, we're right, and you're wrong, so follow us." McLaren offers a better approach: "Here's what I've found. Here's what I've discovered. Here's what I've experienced. Here's what makes sense to me. I'll be glad to share it with you, if you're interested."
Throughout this fable, McLaren also asks some important questions of the Church and our role in missions.
"The church doesn't exist to satisfy the consumer demands of believers; the church exists to equip and mobilize men and women for God's mission in the world."
And what is His mission? I believe it is to go and make disciples of all nations. To love the Lord. To love one another as he has loved us. To be poured out as a living sacrifice. To go and be. To serve and do. To use our hands, our eyes, our feet for Him. To go everywhere and preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words. (St. Francis)
I give this book a grade of an A!
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