“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.”
What McLaren teaches is nothing less than abject heresy.
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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
ReplyDeleteIt'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.
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.
ReplyDeleteBrian 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.
ReplyDeleteAnd 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.