The scarily brilliant Romantic poet and visionary William Blake dared to say what many of us have perhaps thought but kept to ourselves: โA good local pub has much in common with a church, except that a pub is warmer, and thereโs more conversation.
Brian D. McLarenI'm so grateful for Living the Questions. These progressive voices offer less rigid and more expansive approaches to Christian faith, and make room for people who practice critical thinking and question the gatekeepers. They help us see that questioning the gatekeepers is exactly what Jesus was all about.
Brian D. McLarenYou might tell me that you have been engaging in some deep questioning and theological rethinking.1 You can no longer live with the faith you inherited from your parents or constructed earlier in your life. As you sort through your dogma and doctrine, youโve found yourself praying less, less thrilled about worship, scripture, or church attendance. Youโve been so focused on sorting and purging your theological theories that youโve lost track of the spiritual practices that sustain an actual relationship with God. You may even wonder if such a thing is possible for someone like you.
Brian D. McLarenOur message and methodology have changed, do change, and must change if we are faithful to the ongoing and unchanging mission of Jesus Christ.
Brian D. McLarenWhat if the Christian faith is supposed to exist in a variety of forms rather than just one imperial one? What if it is both more stable and more agileโmore responsive to the Holy Spiritโwhen it exists in these many forms? And what if, instead of arguing about which form is correct and legitimate, we were to honor, appreciate, and validate one another and see ourselves as servants of one grander mission, apostles of one greater message, seekers on one ultimate quest?
Brian D. McLaren