The Wisdom of Mr McLaren - Part Six: Post-Evangelical, Post-Protestant

I’m trying to fit two chapters in together here - I’m not certain that I’ll cover every chapter but I feel like these two are interlinked enough to get through with one post. I started reading McLaren’s chapter on why he sees himself as (small e) evangelical with some trepidation. Evangelical is certainly a term that has some resonance with how I see my place as a Christian, particularly having read “The Quest for the Radical Middle” recently.

Fortunately for me, is seems that McLaren is quite close to my thinking (if perhaps a little bit less so, but I’ll take it). He describes the four characteristics of evangelicals that are the essence of the idea. They are:

1. An esteem for the bible as the Word of God. To the point where the term “biblical” almost becomes a synonym for good or right.
2. Emphasis on personal conversion
3. A belief that God can be experienced intimately - “a personal relationship with Jesus”
4. A desire to share these beliefs with others - “evangelistic

Brian McLaren describes taking on these values without the extra baggage that goes along with “Evangelicals” as being evangelical or post-evangelical. It’s an attempt to distance himself from the religious right/focus on the family/religious broadcaster type image of Evangelical.

His views on Protestantism are interesting and insightful too. McLaren holds up the concept that the initial shift against the crass practices of indulgences and the like was a legitimate response. But he believes that once the protestants had done enough protesting against Catholocism, they were all in protest mode so started protesting against themselves. Which is hard to argue against when you see the vast array of denominations across the spectrum of Christendom. (woah, big words there Geoffrey)

McLaren describes the current climate as being one of a “Free-market economy” for religion, where churches feel like they need to justify themselves as being the better, or truer, or cooler, or more traditional or more anything option for the discerning Christian. Which brings about the sad and probably destructive practice of church-shopping that has become an unfortunate reality.

McLaren calls for a “post-protestant” methodology, where we build on the lessons from the past, and lose the “faithful remnant” mentality, and instead concentrate on offering what our specific remnant has and work on adding that to the people against whom we have previously been protesting. Rather than protesting, become pro-testifying. Rather than focus on being distinctive for whatever it is that we specifically have working in our area, testify to the wider body about how they might get some good out of it. Sure it’s unrealistic, and it’s an optimistic concept, but the world needs optimists who want to back up their act with some good old fashioned love.