HI! I met you years ago (around1984?) at a summer camp I went to with my friend. Anyway, at that camp I bought a cassette of your music and I love it and played it so much it s kind of worn out and doesn't play well anymore. The title escapes me at the moment but it had "Martha Martha slow down" on it. I would like to buy another one if you have anymore. Please let me know.

I hope you’re well. I really loved your tribute to Dallas Willard on your blog; wasn’t he such an amazing man? I can honestly say that, of people who aren’t directly ‘in my life’ as it were, he has had the most profound impact on me spiritually. The Divine Conspiracy was an absolute game-changer for me. When I picked it up I didn’t know if I was a Christian, or even wanted to be; by the time I put it down I was overwhelmed by the beautiful vision of the kingdom he’d given me – and more than that, he shared the tools to put being a disciple into practice. I only met him a couple of times, but as a person, wasn’t he even more beautiful than his words? You can’t fake that kind of love, or humility, or graciousness. I consider him a spiritual grandfather and have wept more than a few tears since his death on Wednesday (I’m welling up as I write this…). We’ve lost a treasure, though I know that his influence will continue to shape the kingdom and the world it’s invading…

At Cedar Ridge, our Sunday morning book group has been reading The Fire of the Word by Chris Webb (written when he was President of Renovaré). I don't know if you've read it. What prompts me to write is a section in Chapter 14, From Reading to Contemplation (pp. 177-181).

Webb references here the words attributed to Teresa of Ávila which start with "Christ has no body now but yours." Since you set these words to music (which we still sing from time to time at Cedar Ridge), this made me think of you. Webb insists that "Teresa never wrote anything of the sort and would almost certainly have found the sentiment shocking. The poem appears nowhere in her collected works or letters."

Webb believes the sentiments in this piece attributed to Teresa reflect a basic misunderstanding of the contemporary Western church that God needs us to achieve His purposes. Webb maintains "that the exact opposite is true," and this (opposite) understanding is the very basis of the contemplative life, and that contemplation would make no sense if the contemporary Western activist assumptions were correct.

My first question is a factual one. Do you have a source for the quote which would indicate it really was written by Teresa of Ávila?

In the second place, I would like to hear your comments on Webb's thesis that the activist approach, as exemplified in the poem, is a corruption of the true message of Christianity, and is at basic odds with the contemplative approach. I know that you and others (I think especially of Richard Rohr) see activism and contemplation as complementary rather than conflicting. I have tended to take that approach, which is why I found what Webb had to say somewhat startling. I would love to hear your comments on this.

We are doing well at Cedar Ridge, but we do miss you. Wish you could visit us more often.

And here's a follow-up:

I was interested in Chris Webb's contention (Fire of the Word, p. 178) that the poem "Christ has no body" usually attributed to Teresa of Ávila (and so attributed on the screen at Cedar Ridge when we sing the version set to music by Brian McLaren) was in fact not written by her, so I did a little exploration.

I found that several people who have studied Teresa in some depth agree that it is not her work. I found an interesting piece which suggests it is a combination of the work of Methodist minister Mark Guy Pearse and Quaker medical missionary Sarah Elizabeth Rowntree. That is a blog entry at http://mimuspolyglottos.blogspot.com/2011/11/whose-hands-another-possible-case-of.html

I found further support in another blog through a quote from a British Quaker periodical:

Sarah Eliza Rowntree gave an interesting account of the recent establishment of the “Home” in Pearl Street, and the progress of the Mission there. She appealed for more workers to assist its further usefulness, concluding with some words of Mark Guy Pearse, “Remember Christ has no human body now upon the earth but yours; no hands but yours; no feet but yours. Yours, my brothers and sisters, are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion has to look upon the world, and yours are the lips with which His love has to speak. Yours are the hands with which He is to bless men now, and yours the feet with which He is to go about doing good through His Church which is His body.” –The British Friend, volume 1, number 1, 1892, p. 15

(See http://livinginthemonasterywithoutwallsdotcom.wordpress.com/2013/02/04/christ-has-no-body-but-yours-teresa-of-avila/ ) This entry suggests that Rowntree added the first half of the poem to what Pearse had earlier written.

Here's the R:
First, thanks for doing all this research. It sounds like all the evidence is against these words being St. Teresa's. As you probably know, the same seems to be the case with a famous prayer "attributed to St. Francis." It reminds me that many things that we "know" based on "common knowledge" turn out to be questionable or false in the long run. The technical term for keeping this in mind is "epistemological humility." Thanks for adding to mine!

Thanks also for bringing up the polarity between a certain kind of contemplation and a certain kind of activism. Either extreme can be defended by quoting certain Bible verses - God does everything, so we can rest in God's sovereignty, and God does nothing except through us, so we must be busy and engaged.

After several decades of learning to follow Christ, I am firmly with Richard Rohr on this. He talks about how in the name of the organization he founded - Center for Action and Contemplation - the most important word is "and." As I contemplate God's character - for example, being deeply mindful of God's creativity and compassion - how can I not be inspired to let my own creativity and compassion grow? (I think of Paul's words about beholding as in a mirror God's glory, and being transformed into that glory.) And if I am compassionate and creative, I will find creative ways to move in compassion toward others.

Similarly, if I am active in working for worthy goals, I will continually face roadblocks - inner roadblocks in my own strength and know-how, outer roadblocks in intransigent systems of injustice, etc. At those times, I will be tempted to give up unless I retreat a little, engage in contemplation, and recenter on a God whose power and patience and commitment to good are equally unlimited.

So I don't pit the two against each other. Action without contemplation easily becomes a shrill moralism, and contemplation without action can easily become a smug indulgence in luxurious piety. But put the two together and you have a kind of "spiritual fusion" that can empower a spiritual movement.

I set the poem to music and recorded it with my gifted friend Tracy Howe Wispelwey.

Canadian treasure Steve Bell also has recorded it beautifully.

Whatever the source of the poem, I think it beautifully captures the daring image so precious to Paul - that we are the body, or embodiment, of Christ. What an honor to contemplate, and what a summons to action!

I hope you'll enjoy having these available.

Need an understandable introduction to the work of Rene Girard? Here it is:
http://www.amazon.com/Compassion-Or-Apocalypse-Comprehensible-Thought/dp/178279073X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367677016&sr=8-1&keywords=compassion+or+apocalypse

A beautiful NPR report by Lily Percy on Gordon Cosby ...
http://www.npr.org/2013/04/14/177218091/pastor-mentor-and-social-activist-remembering-gordon-cosby

Here's a love letter, to you:
http://ourjourneytosmile.com/blog/2013/05/love-letters-from-kabul-on-emotions/

Jonathan Merritt asks if Mark Driscoll is this generation's Pat Robertson. When I heard what he said at a recent Catalyst conference in TX, I thought he must have been joking. But apparently not. Young Evangelicals certainly have a choice in what they will make of Evangelicalism in the future, and Mark Driscoll represents one option.

The links on my recent post about Joe Boyd's new film project didn't come through. Hopefully they will this time!

And don't miss Anne Howard's piece on the church and Pentecost. Beautifully and insightfully written:
http://www.beatitudessociety.org/blog

Hi Brian. I feel like I don't even know God anymore. Please help!
I'm a thirteen year old girl from [a state in the south] and I go to a Christian school. About two years ago, my family and I left our church. We still haven't found a new church yet. Being under the influence of other teenagers all the time may be the cause of this. I have been thinking about my Christian faith for quite a while...it has shaken. I still love God, I just don't spend enough time in His word.
My questions are:
-Even though I have lost touch with Him, can I gain that "friendship" back? And how?
-I read the Bible sometimes and I don't feel anything. Why don't I feel Him anymore?
-How can I break old sinful habits and make new righteous ones?
I would really like to find my Christian identity that I seemed to have lost. It would mean so much to me to have a response!

First, I want to encourage you by telling you something you may not realize: you care! You care about whether you're in touch with God. You care whether you're living a good life. You care whether you get caught up in unhealthy habits. You want to experience closeness with God. These are amazing things! I know you're feeling kind of down right now - but I didn't want to say anything without saying, first, what a remarkable thing it is that you care. A lot of your peers, I think, wouldn't give any of this a second thought, you know?

I would rather have one young adult like yourself who cares but is frustrated than a thousand who don't care and are satisfied! What's essential (as I explained in my private email) is that you find some mentors - some folks a few steps farther down the road who will listen to you, encourage you, let you be 100% honest, and share with you what has helped them keep pressing forward in the Christian faith. (You could even show them this blog to give them an idea what you need.)

Of things I've written that might be helpful, at the top of the list would be my book "Naked Spirituality." And a close second would be "The Secret Message of Jesus."

I hope we'll get to meet someday in person. You're in my prayers today - and I know a lot of readers will join me.

Truth must be told and available to everyone, but told as a line moving up (or down) or "slant", as a continuum with a beginning and an end. Successful myth or false truth happens when told over and over as if the circular repetition ("circuit") proves fact. "Success in circuit lies" or "Success in circuit, lies." Our "sick" or infirm spirit ("delight") cannot often see the the wonder ("superb surprise") of bright, powerful or blinding truth, like looking directly at the sun. As the power and shock of truth (lightning) settles ("eases") on our human, but limited (child-like) minds, with "kind," loving, constructive community reflection, truth is revealed, slowly and magically to "dazzle gradually." Taken too fast great truth is hidden in the plain sight of a dazzling sun ("or every man be blind").
You're so right: Emily Dickinson is a wonder. Thanks for your note.

A Prayer of Indigenous Peoples, Refugees, Immigrants, and Pilgrims

Triune God
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
We come before you as many parts of a single body.
You have called us together.
From different cultures, languages, customs, and histories. . .
Some of us indigenous - peoples of the land.
Some of us refugees, immigrants, pilgrims - people on the move.
Some of us hosts, some of us guests, some of us both hosts and guests
All of us searching for an eternal place where we can belong.

Creator, forgive us.
The earth is yours and everything that is in it.
But we forget...
In our arrogance we think we own it.
In our greed we think we can steal it.
In our ignorance we worship it.
In our thoughtlessness we destroy it.
We forget that you created it to bring praise and joy to you,
and you gave it as a gift,
for us to steward,
for us to enjoy,
for us to see more clearly your beauty and your majesty.

Jesus, save us.
We wait for your kingdom.
We long for your throne.
We hunger for your reconciliation,
for that day where people, from every tribe and every tongue
will gather around you and sing your praises.

Holy Spirit, teach us.
Help us to remember
that the body is made up of many parts.
Each one unique and every one necessary..
Teach us to embrace the discomfort that comes from our diversity
and to celebrate the fact that we are unified, not through our sameness,
but through the blood of our LORD and savior, Jesus Christ.

Triune God. We love you.
Your creation is beautiful.
Your salvation is merciful.
And your wisdom is beyond compare.

We pray this all in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

(This prayer is found on page 270 of the hymnal "Lift Up Your Hearts"; published and copyright by Faith Alive, 2013)

So I'm among the many who will feel a bit emotional about the end of The Office next week. Few shows have made me laugh out loud as often. The mediocre episodes - of which their have been a few - have been pretty good, and only serve to make the excellent episodes all the more stellar. I think they've done a good job of bringing the show to a satisfying conclusion.

Also, I have to hand it to Delta Airlines. They have taken the airline safety spiel to new levels lately.
It went from this ...

To this:

and this ...

Every little bit helps!

What is reality? What is the good life? Who is a good person? And how do you became a good person?

Dallas and I got to know each other more deeply when he and I were invited to meet with a group of young leaders several times over a period of a couple years. He was very kind to me on every occasion our paths crossed, as he was, I'm sure, to everyone. He agreed to meet with me for early breakfasts before the day's sessions got started, and sometimes again after the last session ended, so I could ply him with questions - philosophical, Biblical, theological, and practical. Whatever my questions, though, our conversations would drift back to what is reality, what is the good life, who is a good person, and how does one become a good person?

He once agreed to come preach at Cedar Ridge, where I served as a pastor for many years. "Is there a particular topic you would like me to address?" he asked. "I would like you to speak about God - just God," I said. That brought a big smile, being his favorite subject.

One of the many formative things he said to me happened on that visit. I picked him up at the hotel and on the drive to the church, he said, "You know, Brian, in a pluralistic world, a religion is judged by the benefits it brings to its non-adherents." That insight gestated in me for a long time, and eventually was seminal to my most recent book.

It's quite a year for losses: Richard Twiss, Gordon Cosby, now Dallas Willard ... and many others too. With each passing, those of us who remain have the responsibility to let their light glow on in our lives. And we have the opportunity to give thanks for the gift they have been to us all.

Thanks, Dallas. I doubt you were a fan of Bruce Cockburn, but this morning, this beautiful song of his is helping me savor your friendship, mentorship, and example on this day after you passed from mystery into mystery, closer to the light:

Closer to the Light from Daniel Dancer on Vimeo.

This weekend I get to present Part 2 of my Bible overview, Reading the Bible Afresh ... this weekend we focus on the Gospels and Jesus. As you can imagine, I'm enthusiastic about the chance to talk about my favorite subject. Learn more here. Space is limited - but I think there are a few seats left.

Then in July, I'll be part of a great lineup aiming to refresh Christian leaders - especially pastors, and especially young pastors. Learn more here.

Then today I got to take a hike at one of my favorite places with Mia's older sister Averie, plus her dad and uncle, my two amazing sons.

How could life be any better than this?

Brian - there's been a discussion about you going on regarding a book by Geoff Holsclaw and David Fitch. Tony Jones quoted this:

“But their answers have often lacked the substance on which we can live, and what goes by the name of ‘emerging church’ now appears to have settled into another version of mainline Christianity.”

Then Tony adds:

But none of this is really the point. The point is this: If you want to have credibility in the world of evangelical publishing and seminary education these days, one of the ways to do it is to distance yourself from Brian McLaren. Get it? Brian has gone from a board member on several evangelical seminaries and mission agencies to persona non grata.

I was wondering if you want to weigh in on what Fitch and Holsclaw said, and what Jones said as well? How would you define you?

Here's the R:
I'm sorry to say I haven't had a chance to read Prodigal Christianity yet. I am working on my own book with a September deadline, and am super-focused on reading that relates directly to that. I am confused and a little surprised to see this quote about me and some friends of mine because I have a lot of admiration and affection for Geoff and David. Perhaps in context their intent isn't as dismissive as this sounds. I have always considered myself their friend and ally. I hope they won't mind if I continue to do so.

The term "emerging church" has become, I suppose, as problematic as the term "missional." As (I've heard) Jacques Derrida said about "deconstruction," I can't be held responsible for everything that is said and done in association with this term.

I agree with Tony that there's a common rhetorical strategy among Evangelicals that I myself have indulged in, as has Tony by his own admission: trying to seize the middle ground as morally high ground. If you have critics to your right, the only way to gain some space to differ "to the left" is by throwing somebody farther to the left under the bus, so to speak. (I'm sure groups with critics to the left would do something similar, but I don't have much experience in groups like that.) (And apologies for using the conventional left-right labels.)

One example: years ago, I spoke with disdain about a "mainline liberal" writer - my attempt to bolster my Evangelical credentials and seize middle-moral high ground by throwing "a liberal" under the bus. I had actually never read anything he had written, but people I respected thought he was dangerous. So I echoed them, needing to bolster my reputation to my right, a sign of my immaturity and insecurity on my part. Again, things I'm not proud of.

Some time later, I was asked to speak at the same event as this person. He was easy-going and gracious. I suppose he knew what I had said about him, but he didn't throw it in my face. Anyway, at the end of the event, there were long lines of people waiting to talk to us and get books signed. His line was much longer than mine.

So when my line dwindled away, I had the chance to eavesdrop on what people said to him. Person after person said, sometimes tearfully, "Thank you. If it weren't for your books, I wouldn't be a Christian," or "Through reading your book, I became a Christian," or "I left the church 30 years ago, but when I read book X, I came back." That's pretty moving for an Evangelical to hear, you know? I realized that this fellow was actually an evangelist, reaching people for Christ who never would be reached by my more conservative friends, or by me!

Anyway, I agree with Tony on the problem of seizing the middle. One of the challenges of getting older is that you have to keep leaving behind rhetorical "tricks" that you considered acceptable (or were completely unconscious of) when you were younger.

I don't fully understand why Tony is as critical of mainline Protestantism as he is:

Yes, you’re [...] right I have something against mainline Protestantism! Have you not been paying attention?!? My entire PhD dissertation is an attack on mainline polity. My christology is an offense to many mainliners. And I could go on.

I agree that there are problems with Mainline polity, but every bishop, district superintendent, and denominational official I meet agrees, and they're trying to change things for the better. I think that Mainliners have gotten the memo about fifty years of decline, and they're realizing that the future will be different from the past and present, for better or worse. I'm continually impressed by the vitality and devotion and love I experience in what I was told were "dead" churches. (I'm sure there are some of those churches out there, but I guess I don't get invited to them.)

If the Evangelical "brand" continues to constrict and contract (I hope that won't be the case - thanks to people like David Fitch and Geoff Holsclaw and others), and if the new pope does not signal a long term "aggiornamento" in Catholicism but rather a blip after which retreat from Vatican II continues (I hope that won't be the case either), then Mainline Protestantism is the world's only large-scale expression of Christian faith that maintains significant space for free inquiry and progressive thinking. So I want to encourage, help, nurture, and contribute to Mainline Protestantism, not attack it. I actually think Tony agrees: I think his "attacks" on Mainline Protestantism are a lover's quarrel. His own background is Congregational, which (I think?) is considered Mainline, right? [Note to Tony - would love your comments on this.]

Anyway, any quarrel I have with my own Evangelical heritage is also a lover's quarrel. If Evangelicals continue to hold the line - or regress - on key issues, a whole lot of people will suffer, including the children and grandchildren of Evangelicals. If more Evangelicals can break free from being invaded and occupied by a regressive, reactive fundamentalist ethos, a lot of people will be way better off.

Which is why - again - I am grateful for people like David Fitch and Geoff Holsclaw, because I think they're taking Evangelicals many steps in the right direction. And even if I'm saddened by their assessment of me and my colleagues, I think I understand why that assessment would be made.

That's enough for today. I may return to this next week, because what interests me more than the comment on "mainline" is the comment on "substance." Thanks for drawing this to my attention.