Is Brian McLaren Becoming An Enemy of the Cross
In the midst of Purpose Driven mania and an apparently sleeping church, Brian McLaren has endorsed a book that calls the doctrine of the Cross a vile doctrine. (p. 168, Reimagining Christianity - Alan Jones)
That book? None other than Alan Jones' new book, Reimagining Christianity. Alan Jones is an interspiritualist and mystic in every sense of the word. Take a look at the Living Spiritual Teachers Project, of which Jones is involved. This group of about twenty-five includes Zen and Buddhist monks, New Agers and even Marianne Williamson and her Course in Miracles. The goal of this group is to destroy the belief that Jesus Christ is the only way for redemption and to integrate other world religious beliefs into Christianity. For those who may wonder if this could possibly be true, take a look at the Living Spiritual Teacher's poster child - it is none other than Wayne Teasdale himself.
Not only does Alan Jones believe the Cross to be vile, he says that the spiritual practice of contemplative prayer will draw Christians into the realms of all other world religions. Now on this point, we have to agree with Mr. Jones. He couldn't be more right.
But what is Brian McLaren's name doing on this book? Listed two weeks ago in Time magazine as one of 25 most influential evangelical leaders, McLaren claims to be a believer. But would one who is bought with a price deny the One who's blood was shed for him?
Right now there are two groups of people who are rushing interspirituality and contemplative prayer into the world's midst.The first group consists of those who are not afraid nor do they keep secret the beliefs they hold. They include such as Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, Wayne Teasdale, Bede Griffiths, Robert Schuller, Tilden Edwards, Alan Jones, Marcus Borg and the list goes on.
The second group, and in a sense a far more dangerous group because they outwardly wear the clothing of sheep, are nothing more than disciples of the first group. They include, to name a few: Richard Foster, Brennan Manning, Bruce Wilkinson, Eugene Peterson, John Ortberg, John Eldredge, Bill Hybels, and yes Rick Warren and Brian McLaren.
In time,we believe this second group will merge with this first group, proudly and openly. With Brian McLaren's help that task will be accomplished far sooner than some had expected.
Now the question is: Are true Christian leaders, pastors and lay persons going to speak up to defend the faith? Or will we wait, silently wait, as the Church did in Germany in the 30s, hoping that everything will work out just fine? Christianity and evangelicalism are being reimagined all right. But what will we call ourselves when that reinventing and reimagining is finished?
"[H]e who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.... Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved..." - Jesus (John 10)
