This site seems to be a refuge for some people who define themselves, in various ways, by refuting a narrow version of evangelical theology and practice which, it seems, is much bigger in the US than the UK.

I haven’t yet read McLaren’s book; it looks very interesting. However, in response to the preceding post, it has to be observed that

- in point A: in 35 years I have never met an ‘evangelical’ who defined the kingdom of God as ‘another place’, and never read or heard it said that the kingdom of God was located anywhere other than in the midst of the world as it is;

- in point B & C, the ‘inevitability’ of the kingdom of God raises the question of what it is - and what is meant by its ‘inevitability’. If you mean it comes by passivity - obviously not;

- but the supernatural nature of the kingdom of God (clearly demonstrated in the NT in the ministry of Jesus, continued in Acts, and setting a trajectory for ensuing times) does not entail a “stagnant waiting on a divine solution”. On the contrary, it is the dynamic supernatural power of God working through those who actively put faith into practice in a multitude of ways.

Oddly, danutz wants a deistic God, who expects us to get on with things without Him, which seems to me precisely to encourage the apathy which he inveighs against. On the other hand a theistic God (the God of the bible), actively energises and works with and through those who co-operate with Him.

From what Andrew has summarised, I imagine I would agree with most of what McLaren says, and would also agree that he brings a timely emphasis. But he (McLaren) would also need to realise that Christians have been acting according to his vision for long before the ‘emergent church’ emerged and started rediscovering things. The ‘emergent church’ should not lose its sense of historical or global perspective. Social transformation is precisely what Jesus’s agenda was all about. Look at church history outside the USA, and you will see that the church has been the instrument of social reform across the world (in education, healthcare, and social justice, for instance).

But social transformation has always begun with personal transformation within the people of God. Or are we going to skip the supernatural ministry of Jesus, bequeathed to the on-going mission of the church at Pentecost? Personal transformation always addresses the heart of what needs transforming in a person’s life. Changed lives precede a changed world.

Actually this is true of the US as well. Maybe danutz needs to get out more! :)