McLaren the Syncretist? continued...

This post will make more sense if you read my previous post, McLaren the Syncretist?  After I repied to the article, Emergent Elijah, I found the following response by the article's author.

Tim said: “In this narrative we clearly see Elijah taking a stand against the dominant power of the day - a system that countered everything that God’s people were supposed to be. McLaren affirms opposing such powers.”

My response: Excellent! I’m glad to hear that McLaren now affirms opposing such powers as Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Paganism. All of those religions are “dominant powers” in their regions, and by rejecting the blood of Christ they counter everything that God’s people are supposed to be. Tim, If only McLaren DID oppose those anti-Gospel systems. But he doesn’t. Instead, McLaren is looking for a time when Muslims, Christians, Pagans, Jews and Buddhists all worship together in loving peace and harmony. McLaren is exactly like the “emergent Elijah.”

Tim said: Is it possible that systems antithetical to Kingdom values even wear the name “Christian” at times…..

My response: Yes, it’s entirely possible. A prime example is the Emergent Church. It wears the name Christian and speaks of “love” while at the same time it is a system that is antithetical to Kingdom values. In blatant rebellion against the word of God, McLaren wants God’s children to worship God hand-in-hand with Muslims, Pagans and other “Baal worshipers.”

Tim said: If the point of the story is that Elijah condemned the people who worshiped Baal…

My response: The point of the story is that only the religion of Israel is acceptable to God. There can be no worship of any God other than the God of Israel. There can be no mixing of worship with Christ and non-Christ. All who worship other Gods are, as Jesus said and as McLaren denies, “condemned already” (Jn. 3:18).

Dave

In one of my classes at FPU we have been discussing how to teach the bible to adolescents. One thing my students are beginning to understand: narrative is essential and context is critical. After a vigorous discussion this morning I decided to post some of what we talked about.

First, the above response gives us a great example of how we approach scripture with our own agenda in place. Dave, and other anti-McLaren proponents, have already predetermined that the 1 Kings 18 passage is about how we should confront and condemn Muslims, Buddhists, and other non-Christian faiths. I say again, that is not the point. The story must be seen in context.

• 1 Kings 16:29-34 -- King Ahab is described as being more evil than all who were before him. This Israelite king marries the wicked Jezebel and sets up places of worship for Baal. Jezebel is responsible for killing the prophets of God. "Ahab did more to provoke the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, than had all the kings of Israel who were before him."
• 1 Kings 17:1-16 -- Elijah goes to live with a widow from Zarephath. He lives with a pagan in the heart of Baal's territory. She does not worship the same God as Elijah ("As the Lord your God lives...).
• 1 Kings 17:17-24 -- Elijah saves the life of the widow's son. He doesn't condemn or call down God's judgment, he revives the dead child.
• 1 Kings 18:1-19 -- The conflict is made clear. It's Ahab (an Israelite leader who is leading God's people astray) versus Elijah (the voice of God).
• 1 Kings 18:20-40 -- The showdown: Elijah, through the power of Yahweh, defeats Ahab and his prophets of Baal.

Context is crucial and the whole narrative must be considered. In this story God is not angered by other religions (i.e. Elijah's compassion on the widow and her son), he is incensed by a leader who claims to follow him but actually leads people away. Ahab is misusing his God-given authority.

Second, as a point of application, we must ask, "Are there leaders today who base their authority in God yet do harm to the kingdom by leading Yahweh's faithful astray?" The prophet Ezekiel indicted the shepherds of his day for feeding on the flock instead of nurturing them (Ezekiel 34). Yahweh is a condemning God, but who does he judge most often? -- those who are supposed to lead for him but choose to serve the god's of pride, ambition, institutionalism, nationalism, etc. Jesus also spends a great deal of time condemning the religious leaders of his day. Those who love evil are the ones being judged (Jn 3:17-21).

Third, too many people are talking about what McLaren has said without reading McLaren. There is almost a hysteria about the man and his teachings. He is far too humble for such nonsense. While I haven't read everything, I certainly have read a lot of McLaren's work, sat under his teaching and spoken with him personally. I have never heard him come close to the syncretism that he is so often accused of (i.e. all religions lead to heaven, it doesn't matter whether you believe in Jesus or Muhammad, etc.). If you are looking for an introduction to Brian McLaren check out A New Kind of Christian or Generous Orthodoxy.

Finally, why are so many people afraid of befriending a Muslim? Perhaps it's because they don't know any. We certainly wouldn't want to associate with "pagans and tax-collectors" (Mark 2:13-17).

Comments

[Roderick]

You Posted:
Third, too many people are talking about what McLaren has said without reading McLaren.

Dave, the author of the original article, Emergent Elijah, HAS READ most if not all of McLaren's books. So, his assessment of the man's teachings are NOT coming from hysterical ignorance.

He even completely reviewed McLaren's latest book, "Secret Message of Jesus" (the title alone is cultic & arrogant)

Here is the link to the review:
http://www.preteristcosmos.com/mclaren.html