November 29, 2009 - The Transcendence of the Gospel

While I was gone on Sunday, I spoke at Greenup Fork where I served as youth pastor for 5 years. On Sunday night we discussed the transcendence of the gospel. This is a subject that I have been studying for over a year and a half in light of my extensive research into the Emergent Church and postmodern theology.

Here is the posted description: Is the gospel transcendent or is it subject to cultural norms? Does it need to be repackaged in order to reach a certain age group, custom, or ethnicity? Does it need to be upgraded in order to be relevant to postmodern times? The answer will take a heavy burden off our backs.

Audio
Notes

McLaren Thesis on Wordle

This is my first Wordle. I thought I would try it out and used by Master's Thesis. It is interesting to see it in this way. Hope you enjoy.

Brian McLaren and Celebrating Ramadan

For anyone interested in knowing why I spent a year researching and writing my M.Div thesis on Brian McLaren (whom most in the church have never heard of), here is a good example why. Dr. Denny Burk, dean of Boyce College, has written an article in response to McLaren observing the Islamic holiday Ramadan. Burk has finally called McLaren a Wolf in Wolf's clothing, and I think he is right. Here is a money quote:

This explanation is so filled with dangerous and damning error, it’s difficult to know where to begin. For starters, one cannot observe Ramadan as a “deeply committed” Christian. Fasting in the Christian tradition is irreducibly Christocentric. It involves praying to the Father of Christ (Mt 6:18) and longing for the return of Christ (Mt 9:15). The meaning and aim of the Muslim fast has nothing to do with Jesus. How can one observe Ramadan in any meaningful sense and do a Christian fast? The answer is that you can’t. If you try, you will end up distorting the Christian fast with syncretistic gobbledy-goop that is no longer recognizably Christian.

I would warn that McLaren is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but he has dropped the ruse.

For more:

Denny Burk - McLaren: A Wolf in Wolf's Clothing

Brian McLaren - Ramadan 2009: Part 1 What’s going on?

Brian McLaren - Ramadan 2009: Day 1

Brian McLaren - Ramadan 2009: Day 3

Thesis Availble Online

Emerging Church Archive

Brian McLaren Archive

The Emergent Gospel In 140 Characters or Less

What Does It Mean to Be a Christian?

Thesis Availble Online

I am finally completely finished with my M.Div. Thesis. It is on the Emerging Church; specifically on Brian McLaren and his understanding of the gospel. McLaren is perhaps the most influential leader in the movement and through such influence, the gospel has been smothered and redefined within the Emergent movement. Anyone interested in understanding how dangerous a cultured-stained gospel can be, I encourage you to read it. However, remember that it is an academic paper and so uses words and concepts for academia.

The title: Brian McLaren and Emergent Soteriology: From Cultural Accommodation to the Social Gospel.

You can download it for free by clicking on the above link. I will also make it available on the left side of this page.