McLaren, BrianA New Kind of Christian: A Tale of Two Friends on a Spiritua

A New Kind of Christian: A Tale of Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey, by Brian D. McLaren, (San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishing, 2001), 173 pages, hardback, $21.95. Obtain from Jossey-Bass Publishing, 350 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA 94104-1342, www.josseybass.com

My guess is this book will be a best seller. My guess is that this book will cause the author to lose some longtime colleagues. My guess is that this book will gain this author the ear of many yet-to-be connected followers of Jesus. My hope is every pastor will read this book.

The book is Brian McLaren’s, A New Kind of Christian. Every pastor ought to buy, borrow or steal this book. It is without a doubt one of the most important books written by a pastor in a long time. It put words to unspoken thoughts I have had for the past five years but have not found a voice in which to say them. I’m eternally indebted to Brian for the courage to say what I know so many pastors are feeling at this moment in history.

A must read for every pastor who at times has questioned his or her calling. A must read for every Christian who knows in their spiritual gut that there must be more to their faith than they are experiencing in their church. A must read for every Christian who feels the sting and pain of organized religion but who for some reason can not abandon Christianity. McLaren challenges the evangelicals and the liberals to abandon their positions and to walk a higher plane of faith. This book will cause the hair to rise on those who have stiff necks and will open the door for serious conversations between followers of Jesus and the yet-to-be connected unchurched spiritual pilgrims of the third millennium.