A New Kind of Christianity

A New Kind of Christianity by Brian McLaren is getting lot of attention during its first month of release. A Christianity Today reviewer wrote, "Unfortunately, this book lacks the ‘generosity' of genuine orthodoxy and, frankly, I find little space in it for orthodoxy itself." Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Albert Mohler held a panel discussion on the book where panelists referred to McLaren's "rejection of the gospel" and "new kind of apostasy."

McLaren has written a dozen books including last year's A Generous Orthodoxy. He says he is "conflicted" about whether to consider himself an Evangelical.

"My background was evangelical, and I've never felt that I've left anything that was essential to being an evangelical, but on the other hand, if evangelical is defined by certain people, then I know they wouldn't want me there and I wouldn't be comfortable with the way they define it."

"If liberal means open to fresh thinking, open to asking questions, having an environment of free inquiry about the social dimensions of the gospel, then I'm happy to be liberal. But if it means disregarding the Bible, demoting Jesus to just another moral teacher, downplaying the need for personal commitment, being careless about personal spirituality and discipleship—then I think the label is very inaccurate for me."

You can watch a video of the panel discussion here.