McLaren shared his story, which begins with a conversion in high school and led to him seeing the power of God to change not only his life, but the lives of those around him. He pursued a degree in literature and became a teacher, but a Bible Study in his home turned into a church. He began to notice that the academic shift in how we read and study texts was finding its way into the common mind. It led him to begin asking hard questions of scripture, questions that make preachers (like him) nervous.
Now he's seen as a leader in the discussion on what a faithful presentation of the Gospel looks like in our times, which he labels more as "post-colonial" than post-modern. The reason for the tag "post-colonial" is that Christians no longer have the authority of culture or state behind them.
Steve Chalke's (whose last name is pronounce "chalk") story was even more interesting. McLaren said the real reason he came to speak at Asbury is that Chalke was coming (some within the Asbury faculty have attacked some of the theology of Chalke and McLaren).Chalke is with the baptist church in the UK . . . kind of. He's not your normal British Baptist. He has planted churches in the UK under the name Church.co.uk. He was recently asked to "restart" a congregation near the Parliament building that had dwindled to "12 old ladies." It appears to have worked.
He is wholly dedicated to planting churches that are "24/7 always open, never shut, we are always there." By "there" he means available to address spiritual, social, educational, emotional, financial, and other problems people are having. He is committed to the gospel's implications to life in the here and now, not just eternity. "Christ comes to bring liberation at every level," he said.
He also started a group (I think around 1985) in England called Oasis. Oasis receives funding from British governments and also from benefactors in the US (including the US government) to start hospitals and schools in places like India. Oasis is preparing, as we speak, to open three schools in different ghetto areas of England. These schools will house youth clubs, clinics, and churches as well.I will report more on tomorrow or Sunday. We've got a full day with them tomorrow. I should be working on my dissertation, but this is too good an opportunity to pass up. . . yet another perk from being here this year.
I realize that I haven't begun to explain what "emergent" church is, nor have I explained the terms "Post Modern" or "Post Colonial." But . . . it's probably too much for one blog.
By the way, Meghan and Anna watched the Layer children while we all went to the lecture. Before we left I got this great picture of Scott, Maggie, Pierson, and Anna.
2 comments:
I have quite enjoyed and appreciated your recent blogs on different churches and leaders in the church
Thanks, Amber, I'm amazed how much I learn just by sitting down and blogging things I've been through. I'm glad you found something worth reading.
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