There is a genuine desire in many churches to make changes in order to remain relevant to the culture of the twenty first century. I often wonder how committed many of these churches will be once they realize how deep the change will need to be. In talking with church leaders on this subject I often hear of cosmetic changes, (adding a café, changing from pews to chairs, or perhaps a different style of worship), but I rarely hear of the kind of change that Brian McLaren articulates. I have read most of McLaren’s books and I would recommend any one of them, but I think this is his best work to date. McLaren is often criticized for being vague or evasive in his books. However, this is a criticism that certainly cannot be applied to this book. Ironically this is a criticism that could and should be leveled at Jesus as well. He constantly spoke in evasive parables, he asked more questions than answers, and his actions were remarkably confusing. Why wasn’t Jesus more clear? This is the primary question that McLaren tackles in this work, and his answer is essentially that Jesus wasn’t interested in communicating systematic theology. He was not interested in giving us formulas to live by. He was interested into drawing us into a dynamic relationship with him that would transform our lives. But this requires thoughtful work, and the only way to do that is the way of Jesus.

There is a revolution occurring in the church right now, and McLaren is becoming one of the clearest communicators of this change. The book is certainly not original. Most of it can be found in greater detail and depth in the works of Dallas Willard, and N.T. Wright, but McLaren is able to communicate these ideas in a fashion that is more understandable to the typical evangelical. Given his Conservative, Dispensational upbringing he is able to highlight and question the baggage that is unique to this culture. Some examples would include:

• The gospel message is all about getting people into heaven after they die. (the “life insurance” gospel.) McLaren paints Jesus message as much bigger and broader than that.
• The silly (and damaging) end times eschatology that has become so popular with the “Left Behind” books. McLaren gives a clear guide to understanding Jewish apocalyptic literature; that completely undermines this view of prophecy.
• The myth of redemptive violence. How the church has, through its history, looked to the use of violence as a means to an end. This is a direct violation of Jesus’ non-violent approach, yet the evangelical church in America still engages in “holy wars.”
• The book examines how Gnostic (2^nd century heresy) the church has become. This can be seen in its attitude toward the Environment. In other words since this earth is going to end up in God’s dumpster eventually, it doesn’t really matter how we abuse it. McLaren exposes the fallacy in that thinking, as well.  
• Brian M. also offers some intriguing metaphors for God’s kingdom. (Dream, revolution, mission, party, network, and dance.)

This book shows how dramatic the change will need to be in the church. Fundamental assumptions will need to be questioned, and the church will need to be changed at the root of these assumptions in order to remain an effective tool for Christ. Will the evangelical church be able to withstand the degree to which its assumptions are challenged? Will it be able to shed the baggage of bad theology? Will God be able to continue to use the evangelical church, or will He need to raise up a new church for the challenges of the twenty-first century? Only time will tell.

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