Givin' Props (Brian, Sam, Rob and Bethel)

"If you are one of those called on this quest, blazing rough trails now so that others can more easily follow in the future, then, please, be a friend to yourself. Understand how hard this process is, and provide yourself the kind of care you would want for a friend so engaged".

-Brian McLaren
(A New Kind of Christianity).

Papa is amazing in always giving me resources for my journey and people who are walking in similar territory. Last year my friend Eric turned me onto Brian McLaren who is a fellow lover and follower of Christ. He was a pastor for many years. He has read and taught from the Scriptures most of his life. Sadly, McLaren is maligned among some Christians for his 'post-modern' views and his affiliation with the Emergent Church. But I believe that both he and the Emergent Church movement are grossly misunderstood.

McLaren's faith journey has been very similar to mine. He has been a part of a number of diverse Christian communites, seen the beauty in each of them, the downsides of each of them but seeks to find a way to honor them. He has been frustrated by (and participated in, as I have) the "us against them" attitude that often exists between Protestants and Catholics, Charismatics and those who don't 'walk in the gifts', This denomination and that denomination. He has articulated in a number of books what has been swirling around my head for years. What if all of them are right? What if God can exist in all of them? What if the message of Christ has little to do with denominational and orthodoxical lines? What if the Bible can be understood above and beyond 'systematic theology'? What if we can learn from each other? What if we could learn to put love above our agendas? Another thing I like about brother Brian is that he doesn't presume to have all the answers. He is comfortable enough and secure enough in his relationship with Christ to open up dialogue and invite us to engage in the continuing story of God and Creation. Anyway, I could go on.

I will let Brian speak for himself before I totally muck up his ideas. Below are a couple of his books that I have geeked out on:

This one was the one that confirmed that he was a kindred spirit with a similar journey. I recommend first reading the chapters called 'Why I am emergent' and 'Why I am unfinished' for a clear explanation of the mission of the emergent church (which has nothing at all to do with obliterating or disrespecting the modern church) as well as his definition of orthodoxy. I love that he knows his ideas are not perfect or finished. He is humble enough to understand that eventually his ideas will be built upon and springboarded from as humans continue to move from 'glory to glory' in seeing God in his fullness.

In the following book, I love the way he articulates the problems with the western understanding of the Biblical narrative that he terms the "Greco-Roman" narrative. He frees Scripture from a stagnant, single dimension, black and white interpretation of the living story of God and humans. But he deosn't really propose some crazy, new, never-heard of Christianity. It's more of a re-visit to its history that pulls out some lost gems of understanding that Jesus put forth.

Through Brian I have been blessed to meet Samuel Lee. Sam is a generous, kind soul. He is a Pentecostal who seeks to bring growth to the Pentecostal tradition through a renewal of the focus of love and honor, peace and social justice in pentecostal churches. His "Statement of Faith for a New Kind of Pentecostalism" made me cheer. He is courageous to take on some of the issues that I have stumbled on myself as a charismatic. McLaren says this: “For those who are critical of Pentecostalism whether as insiders or outsiders, listen to Sam Lee. If voices like his gain a hearing, the movement will be even more vibrant in its second century than it was in its first.”

My church, Vineyard Westside turned me onto Rob Bell. He is also much maligned in some circles (He even made the cover of a magazine called 'Heresy'!). I personally have found much value in his teachings on following Christ. He informs about the Jewish culture that Jesus came from which enlightens many parts of Scripture that I previously didn't quite understand. His book Velvet Elvis is one I often return to.

As a Charismatic (one who believes that all of the gifts of the Spirit are available today), I can't help but love Kris Valloton and Bill Johnson of Bethel Church in Redding, California. Bethel is a church grown from an Assemblies of God background (a denomination I have struggled with due to some early experiences). I am not down completely with all of their theology but, MAN, I love their boldness and focus on the inheritance Jesus Christ left for us. They seek to make the "Supernatural" become a "Natural" thing for Christians. Kris especially has spoken some wonderful words about putting the leading of the Holy Spirit (which the early disciples did have) over the Bible (a book that the early followers didn't have). He does so without minimizing the essential need for and importance of Scripture. He just puts it in its proper place. Because of their focus on the Spirit, Bethel is also the target of hating from some other Christians. I think that's why I like them. I guess I have a rebellious side that cannot be squelched. If someone is labeled a heretic, chances are there's something about them I will like.

Jesus was one too!


I had to read this book twice because it was so mind stretching (in a good way):

This one taught me that I am not a sinner...I am a saint...I am a child of God and as such I have no reason to walk in any other identity. This identity short-circuits (or SHOULD) any lies I might believe about my worth to Papa or my destiny:

Love Wins....Said in so many different ways by so many wonderful people. I am glad to be on the adventure with all of them.

Bring on the freedom of thought among Jesus People!