Synopses & Reviews
For all those who are burned out on church or who want to be spiritual without being "religious," A New Kind of Christian offers a tale of spiritual renewal that both instructs and inspires. After many years as a church planter and pastor, author Brian McLaren has found-as more and more Christians are finding-that neither the conservative evangelical nor the liberal mainline stream of Christianity fully expresses his own developing faith. McLaren's engaging story gives voice to this emerging understanding of what it can mean to be a Christian in these dynamic times, offering a constructive vision of what a postmodern Christian might look like. A New Kind of Christian recounts a lively and intimate conversation between a pastor and his daughter's high school science teacher, in which they reflect together about faith, doubt, reason, mission, leadership, and spiritual practice in the emerging postmodern world. The pastor is forced to grapple with the deeper source of his dissatisfaction with Christianity as he has understood, practiced, and taught it -his reluctance to let go of the "modern model" of Christianity. Ultimately, he comes to understand that beyond the constricted categories, cliched rhetoric, and rigid mechanisms of modern Christianity lies a new possibility: a revitalized and vibrant faith that explores and expresses the teachings and mission of Jesus in a fresh, engaging way for third-millennium people.The author reminds us that this is but the beginning of the journey, and "whatever a new kind of Christian is, no one is one yet. . . . But every transformation has to start somewhere." For all who are searching for a deeper life with God and a more honest statement of authentic Christian faith, A New Kind of Christian will open the way for an exciting spiritual adventure into new territory and new ways of believing, belonging, and becoming.Brian McLaren is the founding pastor of Cedar Ridge Community Church in the Washington-Baltimore area and the author of two previous books on contemporary Christianity, including The Church on the Other Side: Doing Ministry in the Postmodern Matrix (2000).
Review
"Finally, an approach to Christianity that walks its walk by presenting Jesus' message of unconditional love in an open and non-threatening way. A New Kind of Christian offers tremendous tools for breaking down walls built fromprevious experiences with judgmental and fear-based religion." —Kim Corbin, Skipping activist and founder of iskip.com
Review
“…This book is, quite simply, brilliant…” (
Faith for Life, 21/12/04)
"This is a book that heightens the depths and deepens the peaks. Like all the best things in life, it is not to be entered into lightly, but reverently and in the fear of a God who is waiting for the church to stop asking 'What would Jesus do?' and start asking 'What is Jesus doing?'" (Dr. Leonard Sweet, E. Stanley Jones Chair in Evangelism, Drew University, and bestselling author of Post-Modern Pilgrims, SoulSalsa, SoulTsunami, and AquaChurch; coauthor of A Cup of Coffee at the Soul Cafe)
"Get ready to wake up your spirit and breath deep. McLaren's A New Kind of Christian is a street-level, lived excursion into this present millennium-a world where ministry by control, condescension, and smug certainty gives way to incarnational faith." (Sally Morgenthaler, president, SJM Management Co. and author of Worship Evangelism)
"McLaren's courageous and honest reassessment of our cherished customs and cliches stimulates creative thinking on these vital issues. A New Kind of Christian is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in preparing the church to be vital force in the next generation." (Chuch Smith, Jr., senior pastor, Capo Beach Valvary Chapel and author, The End of the World As We Know It)
"...an engaging tale..." (Christianity & Renewal, July 2002)
This is a milestone in interfaith relations -- a warm hand reaching out to other men and women in this Abrahamic family of faiths. (http://www.readthespirit.com/explore/2008/06/187-conversatio.html )
Synopsis
A New Kind of Christian's conversation between a pastor and his daughter's high school science teacher reveals that wisdom for life's most pressing spiritual questions can come from the most unlikely sources. This stirring fable captures a new spirit of Christianity-where personal, daily interaction with God is more important than institutional church structures, where faith is more about a way of life than a system of belief, where being authentically good is more important than being doctrinally "right," and where one's direction is more important than one's present location. Brian McLaren's delightful account offers a wise and wondrous approach for revitalizing Christian spiritual life and Christian congregations. "This is a book that heightens the depths and deepens the peaks. Like all the best things in life, it is not to be entered into lightly, but reverently and in the fear of a God who is waiting for the church to stop asking 'What would Jesus do?' and start asking 'What is Jesus doing?'" —Dr. Leonard Sweet, E. Stanley Jones Chair in Evangelism, Drew University "Get ready to wake up your spirit and breath deep. McLaren's A New Kind of Christian is a street-level, lived excursion into this present millennium-a world where ministry by control, condescension, and smug certainty gives way to incarnational faith." —Sally Morgenthaler, president, SJM Management Co. and author of Worship Evangelism
Synopsis
— Sally Morgenthaler, president, SJM Management Co. and author of Worship Evangelism
Synopsis
A successful pastor has found that neither the conservative evangelical nor the liberal mainline stream of Christianity describes his own developing faith. This work gives voice to this emerging understanding of what it means to be a Christian in confusing times.
Synopsis
A New Kind of Christian's conversation between a pastor and his daughter's high school science teacher reveals that wisdom for life's most pressing spiritual questions can come from the most unlikely sources. This stirring fable captures a new spirit of Christianity-where personal, daily interaction with God is more important than institutional church structures, where faith is more about a way of life than a system of belief, where being authentically good is more important than being doctrinally "right," and where one's direction is more important than one's present location. Brian McLaren's delightful account offers a wise and wondrous approach for revitalizing Christian spiritual life and Christian congregations. "This is a book that heightens the depths and deepens the peaks. Like all the best things in life, it is not to be entered into lightly, but reverently and in the fear of a God who is waiting for the church to stop asking 'What would Jesus do?' and start asking 'What is Jesus doing?'" —Dr. Leonard Sweet, E. Stanley Jones Chair in Evangelism, Drew University "Get ready to wake up your spirit and breath deep. McLaren's A New Kind of Christian is a street-level, lived excursion into this present millennium-a world where ministry by control, condescension, and smug certainty gives way to incarnational faith." —Sally Morgenthaler, president, SJM Management Co. and author of Worship Evangelism
Synopsis
A Leadership Network PublicationA New Kind of Christian's conversation between a pastor and his daughter's high school science teacher reveals that wisdom for life's most pressing spiritual questions can come from the most unlikely sources. This stirring fable captures a new spirit of Christianity--where personal, daily interaction with God is more important than institutional church structures, where faith is more about a way of life than a system of belief, where being authentically good is more important than being doctrinally "right," and where one's direction is more important than one's present location. Brian McLaren's delightful account offers a wise and wondrous approach for revitalizing Christian spiritual life and Christian congregations.
If you are interested in joining a discussion group devoted to a A New Kind of Christian please visit groups.yahoo.com/group/NKOC.
Synopsis
A Leadership Network PublicationA New Kind of Christian's conversation between a pastor and his daughter's high school science teacher reveals that wisdom for life's most pressing spiritual questions can come from the most unlikely sources. This stirring fable captures a new spirit of Christianity--where personal, daily interaction with God is more important than institutional church structures, where faith is more about a way of life than a system of belief, where being authentically good is more important than being doctrinally "right," and where one's direction is more important than one's present location. Brian McLaren's delightful account offers a wise and wondrous approach for revitalizing Christian spiritual life and Christian congregations.
If you are interested in joining a discussion group devoted to a A New Kind of Christianplease visit groups.yahoo.com/group/NKOC.
About the Author
BRIAN D. MCLAREN is the founding pastor of Cedar Ridge Community Church in the Washington-Baltimore area and the author of two previous books on contemporary Christianity, including The Church on the Other Side: Doing Ministry in the Postmodern Matrix (2000).
Table of Contents
The True Story Behind This Story.
Sometime the Peacock Wish to Be the Seagull.
Entering That Awkward Age, or Does Jonah Eat Bagels?
Dan Discovers Where the Cross Meets the Dream Catcher.
What a Difference a Worldview Makes.
Neo Worries About Keeping Up with Jesus.
Hot Words About Biblical Interpretation.
Letting the Bible Read Us.
Yeah, But What About the Other Guys?
Redeeming Our Culture over Dinner.
C. S. Lewis in the Pulpit, or What Is Heaven About Anyway?
Getting Beyond Righteousness.
French Fries and the Kingdom of God.
Spiritual Practices: Secret and Shared.
It's None of Your Business Who Goes to Hell.
Beginning the Journey into Terra Nova.
Notes on Church Leadership from One Certified Nobody to Another.