We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum. A.W. Tozer
Therefore let God-inspired Scripture decide between us; and on whichever side be found doctrines in harmony with the word of God, in favor of that side will be cast the vote of truth. --Basil of Caesarea
Once you learn to discern, there's no going back. You will begin to spot the lie everywhere it appears.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service. 1 Timothy 1:12

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Did They Really Say That?!?


“I must add, though, that I don’t believe making disciples must equal making adherents to the Christian religion.  It may be advisable in many (not all!) circumstances to help people become followers of Jesus and remain within their Buddhist, Hindu, or Jewish contexts.  This will be hard, you say, and I agree.  But frankly, it’s not all that easy to be a follower of Jesus in many ‘Christian’ contexts either. …

“Ultimately, I believe ‘they’ and ‘we’ can all experience this transformation [by God’s Spirit] best by becoming humble followers of Jesus, whom I believe . . . to be the Son of God, the Lord of all, and the Savior of the world.

“In this light, although I don’t hope all Buddhists will become (cultural) Christians, I do hope all who feel so called will become Buddhist followers of Jesus; I believe they should be given that opportunity and invitation.  I don’t hope all Jews and Hindus will become members of the Christian religion.  But I do hope all who feel so called will become Jewish or Hindu followers of Jesus.

“Ultimately I hope that Jesus will save Buddhism, Islam, and every other religion, including the Christian religion, which often seems to need saving about as much as any other religion does.”

Brian McLaren, A Generous Orthodoxy, p.260, 264.  Cited by Albert Dager in, “The Emergent Church: A New Path to Ancient Religion,” Media Spotlight, Vol.28/no.4


Can someone please explain to me how one can remain in a pagan religious “context” while following Jesus?  If one is “following” Jesus, that means they have accepted him as their Lord and Savior, have placed their faith in who He is, the work of the cross and the resurrection.  His disciples MUST adhere to the Christian “religion” — that is what it means to be a disciple of Christ; i.e., a Christian.  A Buddhist cannot remain a Buddhist if he truly follows Jesus - he will become a Christian.  Same with the Jew and the Hindu.  

Jesus will never “save” any religion, rather he saves people from their sins.

What McLaren teaches is nothing less than abject heresy.

5 comments:

Neil said...

McLaren is so obviously teaching a false gospel that I quit feeling sorry for those who follow him. They are getting what they want and deserve.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

I agree. Those "Christians" who follow McLaren and his ilk, Osteen and his ilk, etc, are looking for self-pleasing theology and want nothing to do with the true theology of Scripture.

Anonymous said...

The history of the early Roman persecutions of Christians was predicated on much the same...The Roman Empire accepted Christianity as just another of the many faiths of the empire including emperor worship...it was when Christians stood firm on the exclusivity of the faith that they incurred persecution to the death.

It's as simple as...

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

But of course those like McLaren will redefine even what that means.

Lindsay said...

McLaren's theology is totally bankrupt, not just of doctrinal truth but of ordinary common sense. He is trying to have his cake and eat it too.

Anonymous said...

Brian McLaren's quote sounds strangely similar to a woman labeled as mother Teresa who desired that people should become better hindus, Buddhists, Christians, etc., whatever their particular faith persuasion. She did not share the living saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

And sadly, she is promoted as a "divine authority" and "divine role model" within the apostate church. And yes, Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyers are invited to the so called Bible study table too.

If Jesus were a "celebrity" preacher in His day, He would not have been crucified for our sins, for He would have been loved by the church zealots of His time. And if Jesus were here in the flesh preaching and teaching in our 501c. 3 church system today, would it be possible He would stroke the anger of the self righteous into crucifying Him all over again?

Think about it, we want Jesus, just none of His teachings, thank-you very much.