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Emerging church leader Brian McLaren on Lambeth, mission and reconciliation

One of the foremost figures of the emerging church, US evangelist Brian McLaren, was at the Anglican Communion's once-in-a-decade Lambeth Conference to encourage the 650 bishops attending and offer his insights into where worldwide Christianity stands right now. We caught up with him to hear more about what impression Lambeth left on him and his vision of Christianity in today's ever changing world.

Posted:
Tuesday, 5 August 2008, 22:05 (MYT)
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BM: What a great question. People in the Global North can learn about joy and courage and hope and resilience from the Global South. They can learn about being rich towards God rather than rich in this world's economy. They can learn about living the gospel in conditions of poverty and war and disease and pluralism, rather than simply talking about the gospel in comfortable church buildings and classrooms and websites.

And perhaps people from the Global South can learn from their neighbours to the North some of the dangers, toils, and snares that await them as they "advance" - a term I have mixed feelings about - in terms of economics, education, entertainment, and so on. Because I think history teaches us that it is not easy for faith communities to go from pre-modernity to modernity to whatever comes after ... and that you can have thriving "Christian" societies at one point that are in decline and collapse a century or less later.

Most importantly, I hope both North and South can learn together about how to face our shared global challenges, because more than ever before, we are part of one integrated, linked, interdependent system, and we must face real crises together. The good news of Jesus Christ, I believe, gives us exactly the resources we need to face those crises in collaboration and faith.


CT: You suggested a new era for Christianity. What else do you think we can expect?

BM: I am just one small person with a very limited perspective in the face of such a huge question. But let me offer four small thoughts.

First, I think our future is more about the Christian way of life than it is about a rigid and polemicized systems of belief. Second, I think our future is mission-oriented - meaning that we focus on forming disciples who advance God's mission in their daily lives.

Third, I believe our future is ecumenical - with Catholics, Anglicans, Pentecostals, Eastern Orthodox, and Evangelical Christians taking a humble posture as fellow learners and collaborators for the common good rather than as competitors or us-versus-them enemies.

And fourth, I think our future will also require us to join humbly and charitably with people of other faiths - Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, secularists, and others - in pursuit of peace, environmental stewardship, and justice for all people, things that matter greatly to the heart of God.


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