That is exactly what I thought when I saw it.
I wonder if there are any followers of the emergent movement here who would like to defend these ideas.
How about it, Tragic?
McLaren has an orthodox view of all of those things, Joe. He's one of those people (like the late Mike Yaconelli) who believes that it's OK to think, and thus has no problem saying things to make people think.
And I am with him in this: I know that the Book of Revelation promises the Lake of Fire for certain people; many of those people are people I love. Perhaps there is a better option; likely, though, the point of it all is to be less hell-centric in our thinking and more like Jesus - cognizant of Hell, but bent on sharing His love and light with the world.
Nope.
I have no reason to read anything this liberal has to say.
I have, however, talked to a friend of mine who has read all of his books and met the guy.
The basic bottom line is that he is a liberal who really doesn't believe in a literal Hell.
BTW, speaking of him being a liberal, where does he stand on the blood atonement of Christ?
How about you?
Have you read all his books?
How much do you really know about what he teaches and how much do you really agree with him?
I think it's a really good policy to go through life basing my opinions on something my friends have read.
I think I've mentioned that I've read "A Generous Orthodoxy." I agree with much of what he says in re the unity of the Body, and the things which are important to that end versus the things we have decided to make important. He and I disagree on the role of Scripture, I think, though, as I've mentioned, McLaren tends to say incendiary things not because he believes them, but because he wants to make people think for themselves.
I think, beyond this, that I will parrot back what you've told me: I don't need to justify myself to you at all.
Then, I will reach my own conclusion and state that Mclaren is a false teacher, a liberal theologian, and full of the spirit of Anti-Christ.
I would encourage all Christians to stay as far away from this non-Christian cult as you can.
I think he might be referring to the liberal theology that Hell is not a literal place, but a metaphor for shame, judgement, etc...
He might also be talking about the idea that we should not focus on doctrine which seperates us, but all in the name of unity, just accept each other as Christians regardless of what someone teaches.
This is liberal, anti-God theology and should be avoided at all cost.
Well, Joe, since I've read at least one book by him, I'd say he isn't liberal on his theology of the existence of Hell.
His position at least seems to be that there is more that can join us than should continue separating us, yes, and I disagree that this is an anti-God theology. Further, though, this obsession with listing all of the people who are going to Hell serves to drive unbelievers away, especially when said lists always begin and end with people who they percieve to be other Christians. In any case, one young Wiccan I know has been witnessed to at least three times with this opener: "Don't you know you're going to Hell???" Needless to say, this tactic has been ineffective in bringing her into the Kingdom.
So if scaring Hell out of a sinner doesn't work, Joe, what does?
Loving Hell out of them, that's what. Read the Gospels, and you will see that this is precisely what Jesus did.
My biggest problem with this is the idea of using tactics to convince the lost of their need for salvation.
The further we take the wisdom of man and of this world, the more we tend to deny the truth of the Word of God, which is where I think Brian McLaren is taking the Emergence Movement.
This is the essence of liberal theology, to change the truth of God until it meet the approval of man.
Unfortunately, it loses the approval of God, and that is more important to me.
I am against using fear or any other type of "tactic" in witnessing.
I believe that we are to share the Word of God with the lost and those whom God saves will be saved.
My job is not to convince the world of the truth, which is foolishness to them.
My job is to present the truth and pray for the world.
It is God and his spirit which convinces the hearts of man of their need for salvation.
As Paul said in Chapter 2 of the same book:
The stripe of Christian you are can effect your view of scripture, however.
For example, if one is a liberal Christian, they might argue that there is no Hell, that Hell was just a metaphor for judgment.