For The Truth

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

On Brian McLaren

In the wake of research motivated by the disturbing fact that Lifeway Christian Stores is promoting works by Brian McLaren I stumbled upon an interesting blog by Dr. Thomas Howe, Professor of Bible and Biblical Languages Southern Evangelical Seminary.  The beginning and the end of the blog follow:

Because of an up-coming commitment at SES, I have been researching the writings of Brian McLaren and the Emerging Church. One text that I felt obligated to read is perhaps McLaren’s most popular text, A Generous Orthodoxy. In this book, McLaren turns out to be no different, methodologically, from those with whom he takes issue. He is generous with doctrine, but he is exclusivist with methodology. Anyone who does not think like him is vilified and ostracized from McLaren’s clan. He paints his opponents with one broad brush. He misunderstands and misrepresents facts, movements, and people. He builds straw-men, but he ends up not even being able to destroy them. His self deprecation turns out to be a smoke screen for his superiority and arrogance. . .

Under the guise of generosity, the book is finally a condemnation and vilification of anyone who would be so arrogant as to think they know anything or believe that they should believe anything. Brian McLaren knows that you cannot know, and he believes he is the one who should tell everyone else what they shouldn’t believe.

For the full blog go to The Syntax Repair Shop.

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Still Onboard

It has seemingly been an eternity since I have blogged anything. For any who may be checking or may be just passing by, I am going to post again. I have some good things for upcoming posts, but tortoise is the word and patience is a necessity.

Here is some of what I have in store:
  • My (very late in coming) take on the Together for the Gospel conference (it won’t be as complete nor as accurate as Tin Challies postings, but it will be my take; and hopefully there will be some value in that perspective).

  • Reviews of C. J. Mahaney’s books Humility, The Cross Centered Life, and Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God.

  • A review of Dr. Patterson’s Anatomy of a Reformation.

  • Some thoughts on Lifeway Christian Stores carrying Brian McLaren’s book the Secret Message of Jesus (and eventually a review of it).

  • Also an even later examination of Justin Taylor’s and Sam Storms’ response to Chuck Colson’s outburst during worship over music.

A time frame for all of this is unimaginable at this time; and with the Southern Baptist Convention looming ahead amidst preparations to teach Baptist history to my flock this summer, the reality of slowness is taking hold. Pray for me that I will keep all things in their proper order to the glory of God.