In the coming months, author and prominent voice for the Emerging Church (EC), Brian McLaren, will embark on a six-city tour across the UK to promote his new book, Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?
The tour has been organized by Greenbelt in partnership with the book publisher, Hodder & Stoughton. Greenbelt’s website describes itself as “a collision of the arts, faith and justice.” It certainly appears as though Greenbelt aligns quite well with the postmodern values of the EC as the website further states:
Engaged with culture, inspired by the arts, sustained by faith, we aspire to be an open generous community reimagining the Christian narrative for the present moment. Source
On this tour, which is described as “an evening of music and conversation,” McLaren will
outline his vision for a Christian faith that must move beyond a history of defining itself over-against others and towards an engagement with and respect for other faiths – one that is hospitable rather and hostile.
Brian will be joined in each city by a faith leader from a faith tradition other than Christianity.
McLaren and other leaders within the EC have long endorsed ecumenical efforts to unite the world’s faiths, in spite of the biblical reality that salvation comes through Christ alone (John 14:6). In 2009, McLaren even participated in Ramadan, and encouraged other professing Christians to do the same. Following the publication last month of an article for CNN entitled, “My Take: It’s time for Islamophobic evangelicals to choose,” McLaren and fellow EC leader Tony Jones broadcast a Google Hangout video wherein Jones interviewed McLaren concerning the controversial video, “The Innocence Of Muslims.” At that time, CRN General Editor Ken Silva noted,
it’s not so much that we would disagree with the humanitarian statements by heretical teachers like Tony Jones and Brian McLaren; our issue is with their false new postmodern form of Progressive Christian quasi-universal poison under their spiritual circus “big tent” of Emergence Christianity. A false gospel is no Gospel.
Everyone is not going to be saved; in fact, Jesus Himself said a vast majority of mankind will end up in hell because they will not repent; and therefore, they remain on the broad path (cf. Matthew 7:13-14). The very same broad path I might add of the type of universalism Tony Jones and Brian McLaren espouse, and which Rob Bell shares as his own Love Wins mythology.
That’s why, plainly and publicly, we must tell the world in no uncertain terms that such as these are found in the very next verse after those to which I alluded just a moment ago. Jesus warns us:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)
Indeed, the idea that the religions of the world can be united, ultimately at the expense of the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ, is one of the Great Deceiver’s biggest lies.