Q & R: Belief VERSUS Practice, or Belief AND Practice?
Here's the Q:
As a 20+ year employee of a conservative Evangelical organization, I may seem an unlikely one to appreciate your work. However, that is not the case.I have long articulated what I believe to be a false dichotomy made during the fundamentalist-modernist controversy between the “beliefs” chosen by the fundamentalists and the “practice” adopted by the modernists. In reading “The Great Spiritual Migration,” I resonate so much with a large portion of what you embrace. Admittedly, I still find myself compelled to not abandon most of what might be identified as fundamental beliefs, but I resonate with the posture that sees Christianity as much larger than any of our theological systems, and see the desperate need for a movement to break the grasp that holds “evangelicalism” captive to valuing doctrine over practice. Candidly, I almost feel the same dichotomy coming from your writing but from the opposite perspective, as if one must “give up” certain beliefs in order to adopt a healthy posture toward justice, stewardship, etc. I, for one, do not believe that is the case.
I attend a mainline church, one that… ordains women, baptizes infants, is “open” to LGBTQ involvement… because I see them as healthier than any “evangelical” church in our area. While I am certainly in attendance as a “minority” with my beliefs, our pastor also embraces a distinction between “position” and “posture”… between what one personally understands scriptures to teach and one’s way of interacting with others who are at a different place on the journey. We constantly help each other be respectful of the way in which we portray those who believe differently (from either or both of us), while trying to attract those who might practice the faith well at every level.
In light of the nature of humankind and our “tribalism,” your writing doesn’t get much steam among the more conservatively theologically leaning part of the church… at least from what I observe. My question to you is, “Do you see leaving certain beliefs inherent in your message, or are there at least pockets of more theologically conservative Christ-followers who are embracing the call to practice a more widely-redemptive Christ-following well?” If there are, I’d love to connect with them to see how they gain traction in the movement among conservatives.
Your brother in Christ,
Here's the R:
Thanks for your letter (and so sorry for the long delay in responding).
You asked, "Do you see leaving certain beliefs inherent in your message?"
Short answer: No. Most of the people I talk to, however, are struggling with being required to believe certain things, and it is for them that I am emphasizing that you can live the way of life Jesus taught and embodied with or without assenting to this or that group's requirements. (That may be another way of affirming salvation by grace through faith, and not by works?)
You also asked, "Are there at least pockets of more theologically conservative Christ-followers who are embracing the call to practice a more widely-redemptive Christ-following well?"
Short answer: Yes. But if the Trumpcult continues to take over more and more of conservative Christianity (Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox alike), more and more of these pockets will feel themselves squeezed to the margins. They'll hear their "conservative Christian" fellows saying, "We have no king but Caesar," and they'll be forced to make some tough choices. I have no idea where this will lead, but I think the current situation is quite volatile, even where Sunday by Sunday, business as usual seems to reign.
The good news in this ... I think we are closer to the conditions for a genuine spiritual movement of justice, joy, and peace than at any time in my life.
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Where I’ll be This Fall –
The fall season kicked off with the wonderful CONSPIRE gathering in Albuquerque, NM, with the Center for Action and Contemplation. It's always a joy to speak with Fr. Richard Rohr, one of the most truly brilliant and genuine people you'll ever meet ... along with Barbara Holmes, Barbara Brown Taylor, and Mirabai Star. You'll find information here, and you can see my slides here and here.
September 8-9 I'll be at Peace Lutheran in Ohio. You'll find a link here.
September 22, I'll be with the Student Farmworker Alliance and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers here in Florida. Info here.
September 30 - October 1 I'll be at Mercer Seminary in Georgia, and then at Drew Seminary in New Jersey October 3-4. Links here.
October 5, I'll be in North Carolina with Vote Common Good, and I'll be with them in Sioux City, SD on October 11. Information here. Be sure to check out Vote Common Good events in your area too!
October 9-10 I'll be in Des Moines with folks who focus on Faith Formation ... links here.
October 13 I'll be with the Presbytery of Long Island. Link here.
Then, October 15-20, I'm co-leading (with Aisha Brooks-Lytle) a pastors' retreat at Montreat in North Carolina. You're invited - or pass this info on to your pastor. Information here: https://www.convergenceleadership.org/fall-leader-retreat
November 3, I'll be in Austin TX with the New Story Festival. Info here.
November 9-10, I'll be at the Mountaintop Lectures. Link here.
Then November 12-13, I'll be at an event called Just Worship at Perkins Seminary in Dallas. You'll find information here:
https://www.smu.edu/Perkins/PublicPrograms/Perkins-Fall-Convocation/JustWorship2018
My busy fall ends in Denver with W/, November 13-15. Information here.
I hope to see you at one of these events!
0 Comments2 Minutes
A reader writes: Kindness
I am grateful for the song "Kindness"that you wrote performed by Steve Bell. As a parent supporting a young adult with severe autism/cognitive disabilities the words of the song struck a chord. Thank you for these words and the strength that emerges. In gratitude I wish to share this blog post with you.
Thank you kindly
Thanks for these kind words.
For people interested in the song, you can get it here:
https://brianmclaren.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-a-revolution-of-hope
... and listen to it here:
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Q & R: DEATH PENALTY?
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Brian McLaren
website: www.brianmclaren.net
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What I Shared at the CONSPIRE Conference (2/2): Centering Social Action in Contemplation (and vice versa)
Here's a PDF of the slides of my workshop at Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque last weekend.
For more about the CAC, founded by the beloved Richard Rohr, check out:
Home
To learn more about my conversation partner in the lecture, Howard Thurman, just google his name. I'd recommend you begin with Jesus and the Disinherited and then read his autobiography, With Head and Heart. What a treasure!
The beautiful final song, The Same Song, by Andy Gullahorn, is from his new album, Beyond the Frame, which is available here:
You can learn more about Andy here:
http://www.andygullahorn.com/
and you'll find the lyrics here:
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