The Simple Pastor

By Phil Whittall, church planter, blogger & book reviewer

• A storm called ‘Brian’

  February 17, 2010 | 1132 Views | 11 Comments

  A storm is brewing and it could become a blogosphere Hurricane. The storm is called Brian.

  Brian McLaren is a polarizing figure, loved by the left and rejected by the right. First the debate was whether he was evangelical, now it’s whether he’s even Christian. The furore is over his latest book A New Kind of Christianity: 10 Questions that are transforming the faith. I’ve always maintained that he is better at asking the right questions than he is at giving the right answers. That remains mostly the case.

  For the strongest possible reaction to this book then read what Tim Challies has to say. For a more measured but no less damning perspective try Kevin DeYoung or Michael Wittmer

  Now, I find myself in an awkward position so time for some disclosure. I own some of his books. Four of them to be precise, and I quite liked bits of them. A good friend of mine even spent some time in his church. Who knows, we could be friends. When Brian says things like this about consumerism I find myself in agreement.

  So here’s my bind, the orthodox authors and leaders that I increasingly admire, almost never mention consumerism. McLaren who’s evangelicalism is increasingly in question, mentions it a lot. Aaaarrgghhgh. Where are the orthodox evangelicals who give a damn about this issue? Thank God for Tim Keller that’s all I can say.

  Too often on these issues, dealing with the culture of the day, Christians only have support from writers like McLaren. Well, OK, but evangelicals MUST do better than that. If anything reading and writing this post has given me a kick up the backside to refocus this blog on providing the resources and the Biblical support to Christians who want to subvert consumerism by leading Christ-like lives that are faithful to scripture and faithful to the one who died, was buried and was raised.

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  Categories: books, consumerism, emergent, Theology

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• http://blog.spiderscripts.co.uk/ Peter

  1. There is a lack of voice against consumerism in the evangelical world.
  2. You have noticed that lack and have a desire for it to be filled.
  3. You are a writer (as evidenced by your consistent blogging).

  From my point of view step four seems pretty clear.

• http://www.thesimplepastor.co.uk/ Simplepastor

  Thanks guys for the encouragements I really appreciate that.

• http://thebluefish.org dave

  Where are the orthodox guys saying stuff on this issue… one of them is in Shrewsbury, he’s worth listening to I reckon.

  And yeah there is Keller. Tim Chester?

• http://quiteabit@blogspot.com Andy

  Phil I just had a great idea! Why don’t YOU write a book that challenges consumerism? That would be good because you talk about it a lot on your blog, but you’re an orthodox evangelical too.

  How did no one else see that?

• http://www.wordandspirit.co.uk/blog Mark Heath

  what Peter said! You are well placed to speak into this Phil. I’ll proof-read the book if you like!

  If starting with a book is too much for you, maybe you could begin a series of blog posts to develop your material. What I would like to see is something that combines principles (a Biblical basis against consumerism and for simplicity) with practices (concrete examples of things people can do)

• http://www.thesimplepastor.co.uk/ Simplepastor

  Thanks guys
  I’ve certainly thought about a book. I have an outline, sample chapter and proposal. Ironically enough just had it turned by one publisher because they don’t think it’s commercially viable! We’ll see what happens next…

• http://www.wordandspirit.co.uk/blog Mark Heath

  Was it titled “don’t buy this book”? You should be pleased – you’re probably not a truly prophetic voice if people want to publish your message!

  Write it anyway. If no publisher is on board by the time you’re finished, then release it as an e-book with a bit of marketing & maybe it can go viral.

• Steve Mitchell

  Hi Phil, I’ve enjoyed keeping up with you on your blog, it seems a long time since CBA in Indianapolis, if you send me your outline I’ve a few contacts…

• http://freelancetheology.com Jon

  I’ve met Brian McLaren and he really seemed to be a genuinely humble and caring guy.

  One of the problems I have with a lot of the criticism of his ideas is that I’ve met plenty of ‘orthodox evengalicals’ who have been, quite frankly, arrogant shouty-mouthed arseholes.

  Seems to me that Jesus cared more about how people treated each other, and whether they carried themselves humbly before God, than whether they believed the right things.

  I personally would like to see more humility among ‘orthodox evangelicals’. Maybe not labelling yourself ‘orthodox’ (with the implication that the person you don’t like/don’t understand/secretly wish you were as popular as is a heretic) would be a start.

  And re books. Bud, we have more than enough books. Our shelves are groaning with them. That’s part of the problem. Not the solution.

• http://www.thesimplepastor.co.uk/ Simplepastor

  Hi Jon,
  Thanks for the comment. Sure believing the ‘right things’ is no excuse for being rude or arrogant, conversely being humble and caring won’t get you out of jail if you believe the ‘wrong things’ unless you hold a universalist position on salvation. Of course Jesus cared ‘how we treated on another’ but he also wanted people to believe the ‘right things’ and that’s evident from his debates with the Pharisees, Saducees and the disciples and ordinary folk. Belief mattered, still matters. Orthodoxy and unorthodoxy still matters no matter how nice and caring you are. You don’t think believing you’re a Jedi (for example) makes any difference even if you’re a sincere Jedi believer do you? As I said, there’s no excuse for not putting forward our beliefs and disagreeing with others with humility.
  As for books, I take it from your last comment that you’re committing yourself to not buying or reading any new books?

• http://freelancetheology.com Jon

  Good points. I believe in orthodoxy and I believe in right belief and wrong belief.

  But, tbh, I’m not so sure evangelicals (recognising that evangelicalism actually affirms a wide variety of views on a wide variety of subjects) have got everything right. I think there are flaws in certain doctrinal emphases – if they were flawless they wouldn’t be the subject of so much debate between evangelicals would they?

  My point is having met Brian McLaren is that he impressed me with his humility and his desire for understanding. I get that with many evangelicals too and I’d like to see more.

  I’d just like more willingness to engage and less name-calling. I’d like to see the word ‘heretic’ and ‘heresy’ only used in extremis.

  And yes I would like to see people putting more emphasis on how we behave to each other, and to the world, and less on what we say. I believe that what we do matters and we will be judged on that. And I don’t believe the ‘right beliefs’ act as your ‘get out of hell free card’. Calvin was right: your salvation is evidenced in how you live.

  I guess it depends where you’re coming from. My reading of Scripture is that Jesus showed mercy to those who meekly sought answers, but was pretty harsh with those who thought they had the answers already. Yes, I think God wants people to believe the right things, but not at the expense of love, justice, humility and caring for others.

  Other people will disagree. They prefer to think of God’s wrath being visited on you if you haven’t signed their particular statement of faith. Well, so be it.

  And re books – I wish it were so simple. I think I’m addicted but then I reassure myself that I can give them up any time I like! (My comment was more that the first choice of action for anyone proposing a solution is to either find the right book or write the right book)