Here are some interesting reflections from Brian McLaren.
One highlight:
Too often, though, this decision-focused approach produces a series of raised and dashed expectations, as people “make a decision” but nothing really changes. And in settings that are in some ways more pre-Christian or post-Christian than typical of Christendom, calling people to immediate commitment without understanding makes no sense at all.
As an alternative, many of us wisely want to emphasize process ? the process of coming to faith in Christ, the process of becoming and growing as disciples, the process of opening one?s life to more and more fullness of the Holy Spirit, and so on. Again, I think this emphasis is sensible, and the problems it seeks to avoid are real.
But it would be a shame if we lose the very real insight that some people are ready to make a decision or commitment and need to do so. They may be like the rich young ruler in the gospel story, or like the Philippian jailor in Acts: they want to take the next step, but they don?t know how, or even if there is a next step. My hunch is that baptism ? which marks a key milestone in a process, and is both an ending and a beginning ? should become a bigger focus in many of our churches. Perhaps some kinds of membership processes, or induction into a team of leaders or monastic community, can also help us explore new ways of calling people in process to decision and commitment in a healthy way. We need to be careful we don?t respond to an overemphasis on simplistic decisions and high-pressure events by accepting a low-intensity process without events or milestones or commitments, when what we need is an approach that looks for processes that include decisive events of commitment.
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
Wade,
A good post and qote from McLaren. Thanks.
This is interesting, Wade, especially when McLaren speaks of baptism marking a key milestone in a PROCESS. I’ve been engaged in a spiritual conversation with a friend who is a seeker for months now.
He has been turned off to Christianity in the past, because, as he put it, it seemed like many Christians have aggressively attempted to get him to buy into the program. He said it was like a car salesman (he has been in sales most of his adult life) just wanted him to put his name on contract and fill in the details later on. All you gotta? do is get baptized-that?s all the really matters.
Well, we?ve been talking about what it means to follow Jesus and as he has begun to trust Jesus more and more he has already turned away from many things of this world. The process is well underway. He is a disciple of Christ and he told me just last night that he will be a baptized believer soon.
Wade,
Good post.
A good quesiton to consider over stress the importance of baptism in our churches without a call to comittment and repentance?
How does this effect us a churches of Christ? Are we seeing a pattern of less committed Christians in churches of Christ because of over stressing importance of baptism without commitment and repentance?
We must remember God calls us to repentance. Act 2 isn’t necessarily all about baptism at all it is a call to repentance. Change in life. A call to commitment. Discipleship.
sorry my comments were so choppy, it is early in the morning and I am not a morning person. I think I will wait to post comments later in the day from now on…
Thanks again for your post and the quotes from Brian McLaren.
McLaren rocks! He is the best writer out there today. His thoughts rival many in the history of Christianity the way he has a grasp on things.
It’s interesting that emerging church leaders (such as McLaren) are recognizing the importance of baptism. It’s a tribute to our heritage that we’ve always recognized (though perhaps increased) its role in salvation.
However, the idea of process is one that we haven’t latched onto. So much of my “evangelism” in high school was trying to convince people to get baptized so they could go to heaven. Once they were dunked, I felt like I was done.
Framing salvation as a(n) (ongoing?) process rather than a checklist seems more authentic and Biblical to my postmodern mindset.
No offense Big Mike, but you should read more.
I just had to say something about this McLaren quote, I cant hold it on any longer. Where in this whole ramble of his does the idea of repentance come in? Where? Baptism is the beginning and end? How about repentance? I think that is the beginning and end! No “conversation” with God or life in Him can even begin without repentance. The more I hear McLaren open his mouth the more I realize he is only here to create division in the church and to draw people to his own false gospel.
Blessings,