[Ian Cameron McLaren]

The morning workshop that I chose to attend was Brian McLaren’s. The first book I read of his was A Generous Orthodoxy, and I have read a couple more of his since, and I can honestly say that I can’t think of too many other people whose books and speaking has caused me to think as long and as hard about the Christian life than McLaren. This workshop was no different. Here’s a taste of what was discussed.

The topic was the Kingdom, and McLaren brought forth the idea that while Kingdom/eternal life language has often been used in terms of the next life, the reality is that the Gospel accounts draw a picture of the Kingdom on earth in the here and now and that is how we are to live. Kingdom/eternal life language is intended to point us to the truth that we are to know God and live a life that transcends the present regime, trusting in the fact that if we are willing to give up our life for the Kingdom now, we don’t have to worry about what is to come. As Kingdom people, we are to live in interactive relationship with God as King, with our fellow citizens, with the territory or land and with other kingdoms. We are to live life in a new way. We need to essentially rethink everything and believe the good news that the Kingdom is here. In some ways, modern Christianity has developed into adulthood, stingy and set in its ways; but we need to become ‘born again’, willing to admit that we don’t know everything, looking at the world around us in a fresh, new way.

One thing McLaren said really caught me. He said that nowhere in Scripture does it say that we are to bring the Kingdom of God to the world; the verbs used in terms of the Kingdom are ’see’, ‘receive’ and ‘enter’. Therefore, we are not the ones who make it all happen. We as Christians have seen and entered into the Kingdom, and we are called to open up the table to those who have not yet been ushered in. We are called to help others see the Kingdom that is already present all aound us. We are living in God’s created world, and the Spirit is at work all around us, not just in the Church. Our theology often keeps us from initiating and bearing witness to Kingdom moments within the community at large because we feel as though it all has to happen within the context of the Church. We just need to open our eyes and see that the Kingdom is at work everywhere, with or without us; as followers of Jesus, those who have seen the Kingdom and know its power, it is up to us to help others to see that as well.

McLaren told this awesome story about when he was in Australia. He and his wife went to eat in this outdoor restaurant area, and there was a stage set up with a jazz band playing. There was a grandfather sitting there enjoying the music with his mentally handicapped grandson. All of the sudden, the young boy got up and started playing a pretend trumpet and dancing around. He caught the attention of the band, who came off the stage and joined the young boy as he continued to play his finger trumpet. The large crowd eating their food caught sight of this, and everyone at once stood up and began cheering and clapping. McLaren said that in that moment, he saw the Kingdom. No one around was thinking about anything other than the sweet joy on that young boy’s face, and for a couple minutes all was right with the world. That’s the kind of thing we as Christians are to be about; helping people to see the Kingdom at work all around us. Beautiful.

And finally, McLaren said that Jesus was concerned with making disciples, whereas the today the Church is concerned with making converts. Our focus should be on discipleship and spiritual formation, not making church members. Amen.

That was the morning workshop session with Brian McLaren. Still to come, afternoon sessions of Donald Miller and Brian McLaren.

Honestly, such a good day. I am still processing some of this stuff [hence my desire to go over it and put it up here], and I am just so glad I was able to go. More to come…stay tuned and feel free to comment or ask questions.