“The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McLaren was a serious disappointment to me. I really enjoyed reading his book A New Kind of Christian, but this book made me feel quite separated from him on several theological issues. First, the secret message isn't that secret: the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. We can achieve part of it here on earth by following Jesus' instructions to us. But McLaren forgets that we can't truly achieve it here on earth, because we are not perfect and are incapable of that kind of purity. Much of the book seems to focus on social justice (without him actually ever using those words). I agree, Jesus spent much of his time with prostitutes and lepers, but the message of Christianity is about so much more than simply being good to each other. In one chapter he starts to explain Jesus casting out demons in the New Testament, but segues off into talking about how "demons" can possess people making them act meanly towards others. The demons cast out are never mentioned again, but the Pharisees seem to be suffering from some kind of demonic possession according to McLaren, as does anyone else who acts in a bigoted or judgmental way. McLaren also discounts the book of Revelation as being a prophetic book. He says that it was written in apocalyptic writing, which was standard Jewish writing for the times and should simply be accepted as that now. I don't disagree that it was written as apocalyptic writing. John had to be careful how he stated things so that not only he, but any future readers, wouldn't be executed for having seditious writings. I don't know how the end of the world will come, but I do believe that there are clues to it in Revelation along with promises and threats from God to believers and non-believers alike. McLaren's assertion that God's prophets only told of what would happen if people didn't listen to them doesn't match up with the words of the Old Testament. God himself said Listen to the words of my prophets, if they don't come true, you know he wasn't a true prophet and you can ignore him. McLaren makes some excellent points about how we as Christians need to step up to the plate and live better lives, not just for ourselves but for others, to lead the world to the kingdom of Heaven. My concern is that a new believer, someone unfamiliar with the Bible would be misled by some of the content of this book. I do believe the kingdom is at hand, but I don't believe that's ever been a secret.
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clockstein wrote this review Friday, August 31 2007.
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