A New Kind of Christian: A Tale of Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey

The first book of a trilogy written in the style of The Shack, McLaren introduces you to A New Kind of Christian. Pastor Dan Poole has almost given up on the ministry. He is disillusioned and isn't even sure what he believes anymore. Upon taking his daughter to a homegrown rock concert, Pastor Poole meets Neil Oliver - a High School science teacher. Dan and Neil begin a relationship that will cover faith, doubt, reason, mission, leadership and spiritual practice. This relationship isn't without its barbs. Some readers may find themselves identifying with Dan as his foundation of spirituality is reconstructed in the postmodern world. Have you given up on faith, God and the church? If you've read The Shack and were impacted by it in a positive way, I believe you will gain much from reading the first book of McLaren's New Kind of Christian Trilogy. Brain McLaren shares his views on a number of topics via the conversations between two fictional characters. It's amazing how a story can present ideas better than a lecture or even a non-fiction inspirational book. This book was provided for review by Jossey-Bass Publishing.

A New Kind of Christian is Brian McLaren's introductory work into understanding how the postmodern era--as well as the modern, medeival, and Roman eras--have all shaped our perspectives on Christianity. McLaren argues that current evangelical Christianity is one cultural motif--one modern achievment--in conceptualizing the Christian God. Though many aspects of evangelical Christianity are beautiful, true, and good, many aspects are mere "byproducts" of a modernistic worldview and do not necessarily reflect truth and love of Jesus Christ. McLaren calls Christians to confront the components of Christianity that reflect human culture more than authentic spiritual encounter, and also confront the current postmodern age.

Wow, what a book. A fictional tale of a pastor facing burnout amidst questions about his effectiveness. He makes friends with his daughter's high school science teacher and informs him that he's planning on quitting the ministry and taking up teaching. The high school teacher helps the pastor understand that we are at a critical turning point in history, similar to the turning point that marked the modern world from the medieval world, similar to the turning point that marked the medieval world from the classical world. We stand at the brink of the postmodern world -- and everything around us is changing. The pastor and the high school teacher embark on a spiritual journey together, one that turns out to be transformative for both of them. The book thus invites the reader into an imaginary conversation that reflects real conversations that are taking place around the country and across the globe. Something is changing, something is different . . . as Galadriel says in a voice-over at the beginning of the theatrical version of The Fellowship of the Ring, "The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air." This book invites the reader to consider the fact that we stand at a major crossroads in our collective history . . . and we have a role to play. This is the first book in a trilogy; the next two are The Story We Find Ourselves In: Further Adventures of A New Kind of Christian (which is mainly about retelling the biblical story in ways that connect with the postmodern world) and The Last Word and the Word After That: A Tale of Faith, Doubt, and a New Kind of Christianity (which is mainly a deconstruction and reconstruction of hell). In my opinion, A New Kind of Christian is the best of the three. Also, don't miss McLaren's book The Church on the Other Side, which articulates the shifting tectonic plates in more detail.

Bryan McLaren, who I'm certain is no stranger to being misunderstood, takes a great risk in "A New Kind Of Christian." He risks finding himself on the wrong side of the Christian establishment. McLaren's attempt is to open the door of understanding that if we as the Church are going to gain an audience with younger generations (and older post-modern thinkers, as McLaren would point out), we better stop pretending to have all the answers and start being open to some questions. McLaren's premise is that we're not just talking about adding candles to existing services, we're talking about changing the way we think about the Church. McLaren doesn't advocate an addition to or subtration from the gospel. He doesn't advocate a "touchy feely" faith with no moral imperatives at all. What he asks for is an admission that we may not have cornered the market on truth and that there still may be some mystery in this ancient faith. McLaren asks that we realize that we're fallen people in need of a savior, and that we start following Jesus and making room for others to do so as well. It's not a liberal/conservative duality any more. McLaren is a well-spoken advocate for an emerging generation that otherwise may not ever find their way into the Church. If you radically disagree with everything McLaren says, look in your church on Sunday or Wednesday and see how many people between the age of 18 & 35(ish) are there that didn't grow up in the church. If your experience is that Christianity is often to stale and rigid, or if you're dissatisfied with what you've found in your traditional Christian practice, this book is for you. It was a freeing perspective for me, and it helped me find my way back to Christ.

I have a lot of respect for Brian and this book is a rare gift. I fear that some won't hear the essential message because they'll get bogged down criticizing some of the details. I walked away from it disturbed and refreshed - disturbed because Brian challenged me to a deeper understanding of faithfulness; refreshed because he takes the first steps toward clearing a path for those willing to set aside preconceived notions about what it means to be a Christian. Pastor Dan and his mentor Neo address some of the key issues concerning how we can be faithful followers of Jesus in a world that has largely rejected institution-propped faith as out of touch with both current reality and the original message of Jesus. This book made me rethink my own journey both as a disciple and a pastor trying to navigate new terrrain. Aspects of this book are guaranteed to distress Bible worshippers, denominational loyalists, and institutional addicts. With a firm but loving challenge, McLaren dares 20th Century evangelicalism to pack up and move out of the house of its introverted individualistic salvation and onto the front porch of a 21st Century faith where it can once again be engulfed in the fresh air of a world where God is at work and people are hungry for authentic faith.