“I’ll be your friend even if you become an atheist.” Criticism & Brian MClaren

Out of Ur has a good post today about handling criticism. Brian McLaren has received a lot of it (and a lot of praise too) for his books, A New Kind of Christian and A Generous Orthodoxy. People criticize McLaren for the same kinds of reasons they criticize the rest of us: Some have honest disagreements with him. Others misunderstand. Some define themselves by tearing down anything or anyone who seems to be rising.

McLaren, who served as a pastor for years, touches a nerve when he says that “pastors know what it’s like to have people they’ve cared for—people they’ve married, and baptized, and counseled—come up and say, ‘You’re not meeting our needs anymore, and we’re leaving.’” To balance that, ministers (and all the rest) need “non-utilitarian friends”, people we’re with simply because we like them, not because they can help (or hurt) our ministry.

When McLaren was a young man struggling with his faith, a Christian friend and mentor told him: “Brian, I’ll be your friend even if you become an atheist.” That profound demonstration of Christian love freed him to open up to God.

Do you care for anyone like that?

March 8, 2007 · Filed Under Books, Discipleship

Comments

4 Responses to ““I’ll be your friend even if you become an atheist.” Criticism & Brian MClaren”

  1. Sam Clark on March 8th, 2007 10:56 am

    great question, along with that could be who haven’t I cared for like that?

  2. Marsha on March 8th, 2007 10:03 pm

    That would be a beautiful friendship.
    Unconditional love, Wow, what a concept!

  3. Kristen on March 9th, 2007 10:48 pm

    I certainly hope so… Once again a great thought provoking post.

  4. Valerie Ann R on March 9th, 2007 11:10 pm

    thanks dennis. kristen gave me the url for your blog. it helped so much. i thank god athat he gave you these words to display… i needed this

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