As I write this blog, I am listening to a podcast in the background. Brian McClaren is teaching on the first three chapters of Genesis. For those of you that so desire, this podcast is found on the Emergent Podcast found on ITunes. As I listen to this man teach, I am captivated by the way he communicates. I understand why he has garnered such attention from the emergent crowd, but one fact startles me.
As the talk begins, McClaren begins with certain parameters; McClaren doesn’t think that it is important for us to see the events of Genesis as literal events. Does a snake really talk? For McClaren it doesn’t matter. The real issue for McClaren is the story presented not the facts of the Biblical record. As a Bible student who feels that systematic theology has taken precedent over sound exegesis I appreciate the fact that McClaren uses the terminology of “story”, but I am very alarmed at the way he has discounted the events of the story. In my terminology this makes the Biblical record a myth and Jesus a liar.
I can not go to this place with McClaren. In recent discussion, I have mentioned to mentors of mine who played a vital part in the conservative resurgence within the Southern Baptist Convention that I am convinced the authority of God’s word is under attack while most conservatives are more interested in talking about whether Baptists are Calvinists. The greatest danger for the conservative evangelical movement is to be found in leaders like Brian McClaren and Rob Bell; guys who are very likable and communicate so smoothly all the while eroding the very foundation upon which our faith is built on. My generation is not turning to Al Mohler and Paige Patterson for answers; they are watching Nooma videos and reading McClaren. Make no mistake, the Christianity these men present is not orthodox Biblical Christianity. They are not just innovators with a hip and trendy methodology; they are leaders of new religion not simply a new brand of Christianity. I pray that as we journey forth in this adventure into the 21st century, some of our leaders would wake up. While we are arguing over should we sing certain songs, wear certain clothes, preach from certain translations, the real battle is being fought on a very basic foundational level. Is the Bible accurate and authoritative?
2 Comments
April 3, 2009 at 3:26 am
If the faith gets to be about how long it took God to create the world and if snakes talk instead of the reedeming power of Jesus then I am worried. Jesus defeated the enemy at the cross, the most central part of the Bible
April 9, 2009 at 3:02 pm
The problem for me with this theory is that Jesus treats the Scripture as factual and authoritative. Also, I believe in substitutionary atonement. Honestly, the God who killed his son for our salvation and bodily raised him from the grave is able to perform other minor things.
I agree with you though that we must made certain that we make proper priorities. This is my problem with McClaren. For my everything points to Jesus. Not just what he said about poor people, but the fact that he gave his life as a substitute.