"A New Kind of Christianity": The Quest and the Questions

[Bill Roberts]

This is the fourth in a series of posts on Brian McLaren's astonishing quest for "A New Kind of Christianity."

First, a word of appreciation for the alliterative title for Chapter 2, and its evocative linking of Quest with Question. Which made me curious about their origins.

According to the MSN Encarta online dictionary, both words come from the Latin past participle of quaerere "seek." Also, both words found their way into the English language via French. There is one remarkable difference: question arrived in the 13th century, and quest arrived in the 14th century.

So that, it would appear, quests begin with questions!

And that leads right into what I found to be one of Brian's most helpful insights:

". . . new statements (theses, propositions, answers) can inspire debate and bring us to a new state. But only new questions can inspire new conversations that can launch us on a new quest."

And so, Brian continues, "It's time for a new quest, launched by new questions, a quest across denominations around the world, a quest for new ways to believe and new ways to live and serve faithfully in the way of Jesus, a quest for a new kind of Christian faith" (p. 18).

Next time: an introduction to Brian's new questions.

[Mack Harrell]

NTW likens the Bible to a Shakespearean drama in five acts, but only four are given. It's up to us players strutting upon the stage to live out the fifth act. Of course, we will want to do so consistently with the central themes of the first four acts, but also we will be careful not to suppose that our script will just be parts of (or the whole of) the first four acts.

I love your getting the responses to your pocket testament. With me, it's when I can do it from memory (having had years of Navigator training!).

[Bill Roberts]

I haven't read N. T. Wright's reflections on Scripture, so I'd be interested to read your summary of his approach and how it's helping you with the question of authorty. I have always enjoyed styling myself as a "liberal evangelical," and Brian articulates my long-standing approach to Scriptures. (I carry a pocket NT, and delight in producing it when I'm in a group of Protestant clergy needing to find a quick citation! The looks of astonishment are wonderful.) For me, the authority of Scripture is most convincing when I follow one of the counter-intuitive spiritual strategies, like "pray for those who abuse you," and it "works." Or when I experience the truth behind Paul's "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." And when I remember another of Paul's gems, that everyone is a brother or sister for whom Christ died. Thanks for giving me a chance to think through this, Mack. Now I'm wondering, "what say you?!"

[Mack Harrell]

I am finding McLaren's book verrrry helpful... but totally discomfiting at the same time. It's a welcome thought to be able to approach the Bible as a library instead of a legal treatise. OTOH, some fairly serious thinking has to be done on my part - with reference e.g., to the issue of gays in the ministry, homophobia, etc., etc. I could never have preached on 1 Cor 6 or Leviticus re these subjects when I was a pastor. Thankfully I don't have to now, and I know what I believe (which is very different from what I was taught, and even espoused not so long ago), but in what sense does scripture now inform my thinking as an "authority"? I think I have an idea of what the answer might be ... along the lines of N.T. Wright... but what say you?