Emerging "Christianity" - Part 3   

Who defines the Kingdom of God?

A rebuttal to Brian McLaren's book:

The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth that Could Change Everything

by Berit Kjos -  May 2006

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Where is the Kingdom of God?  How inclusive is it? Who defines the terms? 

"What if Jesus' secret message reveals a secret plan?" asks Brian McLaren in his new book, The Secret Message of Jesus. "What if he didn't come to start a new religion--but rather came to start a political, social, religious, artistic, economic, intellectual, and spiritual revolution that would give birth to a new world?"[1-page 4]

Nothing secret about that notion! That's what many believed back when Jesus first demonstrated His power among His people. But Jesus corrected them with these words: "My kingdom is not of this world." John 18:36 (See Time and Eternity)

Yet emerging church movements today are still trying to move the boundaries of His Kingdom. They have redefined God's Word and are fast embracing the latest versions of the old Gnostic quest for secret knowledge (gnosis) and self-actualization, whether through mystical experience or collective imagination.

Stamping out faith in Biblical absolutes is central to this transformation. A mind anchored in God's Word won't compromise, but when that anchor is removed, the current of change can carry that mind anywhere. As Jesuit scholastic, Mark Mossa, wrote in his endorsement of Brian McLaren's latest book: "The Secret Message of Jesus challenges us to put aside our sterile certainties about Christ and reconsider the imaginative world of Jesus stories, signs and wonders."[1]

 

In this imaginative world, church leaders envision a spiritual oneness that must exclude God's "divisive" gospel and the "offensive" certainties that spawned its hope. Deeds, not creeds -- that's what counts! Popularized by Rick Warren, this slogan paves the way for all religions to agree on the new terms. McLaren summarizes it well:

"...many Hindus are willing to consider Jesus as a legitimate manifestation of the divine... many Buddhists see Jesus as one of humanity’s most enlightened people....  A shared reappraisal of Jesus’ message could provide a unique space or common ground for urgently needed religious dialogue—and it doesn’t seem an exaggeration to say that the future of our planet may depend on such dialogue. This reappraisal of Jesus’ message may be the only project capable of saving a number of religions."[1 - page 7]

Which religions might be saved by this project? What about the first commandment: "You shall have no other gods before Me"? Exodus 20:3

 

Today's reappraisal of truth challenges us to examine this earthly "Kingdom of God" from the perspective of the Biblical Kingdom of God. Let's start with a look at our King.

 

1. A sovereign King or a utopian guide

Growing up in Norway during the post-war years, I loved our human king. The tales of his kindness and courage during the Nazi occupation had continued to inspire our nation, and he became my model for goodness and courage. Like him, I wanted to be brave enough to die rather than surrender to an enemy.

Years later I discovered that this heroic leader was nothing compared to my heavenly King. Yet my earthly king gave me a glimpse of approachable majesty that I continue to treasure. I began to see that we, the citizens of a heavenly Kingdom, resemble a nation of loyal subjects who -

The world didn't welcome our true King, for "men loved darkness rather than light." [John 3:19] They didn't want a Savior who questioned their shallow delights and crushed their hope for an earthly kingdom. They despised his call to repentance, rationalized their own need for redemption, and ignored His message: "My kingdom is not of this world." 

This wonderful King now reigns from His heavenly realm, yet is ever present in and with His own people -- those who are "crucified with Christ," filled with His Spirit, and delight in His Kingdom. "The kingdom of God is 'within you,'" He tells us in His Word. [Luke 17:20]

"Enter by the narrow gate," He said, "for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it." But "narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14 

2. Universalism or Biblical Christianity


Few choose His narrow ways these days. The world's superhighway looks far more enticing! Its deceptive blend of truths and lies thrills the human nature, and McLaren's inclusiveness fits right in:

"Jesus seems to say, 'The kingdom of God doesn’t need to wait until something else happens. No, it is available and among you now.... Invite people of all nations, races, classes, and religions to participate in this network of dynamic, interactive relationships with God and all God’s creation!" [1 - page 74]

 

"...the kingdom of God will be radically, scandalously inclusive. As we’ve seen, Jesus enjoys table fellowship with prostitutes and drunks.... He affirms and responds to the faith of Gentiles—Romans and Syrophonecians and Samaritans."[1 - page 94]

He responded to those who put their faith in Him -- no matter what their background, but He certainly didn't affirm the faith of Roman who embraced a pantheon of mythical gods and goddesses! Jesus never set aside His eternal laws in order to affirm paganism. Nor did he "enjoy" drunks and prostitutes. But He loved and forgave humble and repentant sinners. The apostle Paul illustrates this unmerited grace:

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Actually McLaren does mention "repentance." But he redefines it in terms that fit today's transformational process:

"This, by the way, is what the problematic word repentance is all about. The word means to rethink—to reconsider your direction and consider a new one, to admit that you might be wrong, to give your life a second thought, to think about your thinking."[1 - page 47]

Wrong in what way? By breaking God's law? Or by resisting the new way of thinking? The context suggests the latter, for the new view of the cross ignores God's moral laws and eliminates the need for genuine repentance.

 

Words such as "repent" or "rethink" now imply a willing rejection of the supposedly "narrow" Biblical thinking, which hinder the envisioned change. The new thinking must be flexible, natural, and collective -- a habitual group-think. Notice again how McClaren blends bits of truth with deadly lies:

"...what is the goal of this suffering sacrifice, this self-giving to the point of blood to achieve the Pax Christi? It is a new and lasting reconciliation between humanity and God, and among all the at-odds individuals and groups that comprise humanity. ... Paul said it like this: 'Old distinctions like Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female no longer exist, for you are all one in Christ.'

      "Today, he might speak of reconciliation of the war veteran with the pacifist protester. The tattooed and pierced granddaughter with her prim and proper grandmother.... Christians with Jews and Muslims and Hindus."[1 - pages  99-100]

But Paul wrote his letter to Christians, not to unbelievers. His assurance of oneness "in Christ" applies only to those who have been joined to Jesus through the cross. They alone are washed and made holy through their union with God. Remember, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" (John 14:6)  Such Biblical terms may not fit into today's postmodern conversations, but they are true whether people accept them or not.

 

3. Man's finite purpose or God's eternal purpose

In spite of his call to radical inclusiveness, McLaren's earthly kingdom does exclude certain groups. The criteria for inclusion is the "new way of thinking" -- a phrase emphasized in UNESCO's 1995 report, Our Creative Diversity. It tells us that -

"The challenge to humanity is to adopt new ways of thinking, new ways of acting, new ways of organizing itself in society, in short, new ways of living."[2]

Compare that UN goal with McLaren's mission:

"A high fence that excludes everyone won’t do, nor will no fence at all. What we need is a requirement that those who wish to enter actually have a change of heart—that they don’t sneak in to accomplish their own agenda, but rather that they genuinely want to learn a new way of thinking, feeling, living, and being in 'the pastures of God.'” [1 - page 165]

"The kingdom of God, then, seeks a third way: not exclusiveness and rejection... but rather purposeful inclusion. In other words, the kingdom of God seeks to include all who want to participate in and contribute to its purpose, but it cannot include those who oppose its purpose."[1 - page 167]

Whose purpose? God's or man's? Since McLaren's worldly kingdom stands on man's imagination rather than God's unchanging Word, we can't trust his "purpose!"  That's why this system must exclude us -- which it does! We see the sad results in Purpose-Driven and other transformational churches around the world. Church members who still treasure God's ways and question the new management strategies and amoral "environment" are either asked to leave or are cruelly excommunicated -- not for actual sin but for refusing to conform to the unbiblical changes! [See Dealing with Resisters"]

McLaren isn't alone. "America's pastor" Rick Warren predicted that "fundamentalism, of all varieties, will be 'one of the big enemies of the 21st century.'"[3]  He would probably agree with McLaren's criteria for citizenship:

"...to be truly inclusive, the kingdom must exclude exclusive people, to be truly reconciling, the kingdom must not reconcile with those who refuse reconciliation.... Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela learned what happens when you try to expand the borders of who is considered 'in'...

"So what do you do? If you’re Jesus, you take whatever space you are given and let God’s kingdom be made visible and real there. ... And if critics see you as a transgressor and criticize you for opening the doors and expanding the boundaries, you go pursuing your purpose, making it clear that the kingdom of God is open to all, except those who want to ruin it by dividing it against itself."[1 - page 169-170]

4. An earthly kingdom or a heavenly hope (See Time and Eternity)

 

"Instead of being about the kingdom of God coming to earth," wrote McLaren, "the Christian religion has too often become preoccupied with abandoning or escaping the earth and going to heaven."[1 - page 78]

 

That may be true of some who call themselves Christian, but the faithful servants I know are focused on fulfilling -- not escaping -- their God-given assignments here on earth. By His grace, they serve their beloved Lord wherever He sends them, be it in hostile lands or among the needy at home. Many would rather face persecution and death than deny His gospel. Bearing His sweet fragrance, they are despised by those who hate His truth but loved by those who follow the King. (2 Cor 2:14-16) 

 

Knowing their true citizenship is in heaven, they seek heavenly treasures rather than earthly thrills. Their faithful deeds are recorded in heaven, not tracked in the high tech data banks of churches that give far more praise to people than to our King. And when their work on earth is done, they, like Paul, will delight in the Master's welcome: Well done, good and faithful servant.... Enter into the joy of your Lord.  [Matthew 25:23

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:1-3

See also The Kingdom of God

The Historical Record rebuts DaVinci lies & shows the authority of the Bible!

Are you in the throes of Transformation?

Dialectic and Praxis: DIAPRAX and the End of the Ages

Endnotes:

1. Brian McLaren, The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth that could change everything (Nashville: Thomas Nelson's W Publishing Group, 2006), page 4.

2. Our Creative Diversity, UNESCO, 1995, p.11.

3. Paul Nussbaum, "The purpose-driven pastor," The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 8, 2006, at www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/living/religion/13573441.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

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