Categories: uncategorized
Date: 05 August 2008 19:27:15
Sometimes I think books find you when you need them rather than you choosing them.
I'm currently two thirds of my way through the Brian McLaren triology on "A New Kind of Christian" and I'm getting one of those feelings. The books are basically a blueprint of "emergent" theology and the questions asked of Christianity in the early 21st century written in a form which is part fiction and part theology text.
Book one "A New Kind of Christian" was an easy introduction. There is perhaps too much emphasis on the whole evolution debate for my liking, but it is an American book and I guess it's more of an issue over there.
Book two, "The Story We Find Ourselves In" is a more challenging book and is the one which I think chose me rather than me choosing it. A central theme within this book is Abraham, his calling and his setting out on his nomadic journey. The discussion surrounding on stepping out on an adventure with God, but not knowing at all where it is going to lead is something I really need reassurance on right now. Linked to this the book explored the concept of "calling" and again gave me the reassurance I need at the moment.
The only way I can describe the journey I am currently on is as following a "calling", yet when I use that language questions start to be asked about how I have tested my calling, etc. In answer to the question I have to say that I have talked and prayed it through with people, but it doesn't really fit into the way people normally think of these things. I mean normally people are "called" and follow a path into a definate career or clear religious training system.
The book, however, describes "calling" as a way "of saying that you have signed up with this higher purpose or mission in life. You're not just here for your own agenda, or for a company agenda or a national agenda or an economic agenda. You're here for God's agenda. You want to be part of God's ongoing creation of the world - against all the forces that are working against that creative process. You want the world to become the kind of world God dreams for it to be." (pp103 &104). This sums up more about the spirit of the adventure I'm on.
I still have the final book to go, but I'm finding the trilogy useful. That's not to say I'm comfortable with it all or that I don't find it cringeworthy when I have to keep reading about a character called Neo (the Matrix connection is just way too cheesy). Full review of the three will follow when I get through the last book.