If people did what you suggested it would be built on false assumption and a false presumption. If you convinced enough people that fasting and praying was the way to biblical understanding you would be starting a new denomination of priest who fast and pray and claim infallible interpretations. That would only create another split because many in Christianity would not agree that biblical understanding comes mainly from fasting and prayer. It really comes by earnest study of the scriptures and learning from other teachers. We build correct doctrine precept upon precept line upon line by learning a little here a little more there. God gave the Church teachers as one of the five fold ministries for the equipping of the saints to bring the Church to maturity.

Also the Bride is spotless because we are members in the Body of Christ and our filthiness is covered by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus gives us spotless robes to wear because we reflect His righteousness when we are born from above, not because the Church is going to become sinless before our bodies are changed to become incorruptible. The spotless Bride is people that have Faith in Christ not those who have all theology correct.

Jesus said

Mt 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

The Bible teaches that there are wheat and there are tares on earth. The tares were sown by the enemy. They are sons of the enemy and they cannot become wheat. Just as Jesus said the leaders of Israel in those days were sons of their Father the Devil.

Most of anything you need to know are answered in two article that I wrote

http://www.thepropheticyears.com/comments/theonlyway.HTM

http://www.thepropheticyears.com/comments/How%20one%20is%20saved.htm

The gospel of salvation is simple it does not take advanced degrees to know it. You don’t get to God through ancient practices that God condemn you come through Jesus alone, The Bible is quite clear on that.

Yes, Jesus kept the Law because He lived by the Spirit of God. He is the only one who ever kept the perfect law and that is why we all need the Savior so we will not become condemned by the law. For the wages of sin is death. Jesus kept the law for us and paid the sin price so we would be free from the condemnation that comes through the law. Now salvation comes by the law of faith in Jesus, who is God’s righteousness to save all those who trust in Him.

There are not millions of version of the same God in Christianity. You are blowing the differences in denominations totally out of proportion the only way to know God is through Jesus and most denominations believe in all the essentials about Jesus for salvation. They do not have millions of different versions of the same God. Also, don’t confuse institutional Christianity with true Christianity. Christianity comes only be believing and trusting in the Savior that God sent.

I am a “retired” MK trying to make it in these united States. While I don’t necessarily disagree with you about the over-arching threads in McLaren’s work (and most of the emergent church), I must state that for people like me who knew all along that Jesus was not JUST a glorified salvation light switch, these “ancient practices” have been the ONLY way to reconnect with God. I strongly believe in orthodox doctrine (having been an amateur theologian my whole life), and am still trying to wrap my head around McLaren’s use of the word “evolution”, but I am also refusing to throw the baby out with the bathwater. To forge ahead in what Christ taught, we cannot dismiss the fact that even Jesus said that he came to FULFILL the law, and that not one word would pass from it until the End. That seems to me as though Jesus lived BY the law, and the ancient practices…

The church IS suffering, whether or not the Mainstream cares to admit it.

“Brian Mclaren is obviously a blind soul who could not even find his way with his seeing eye dog” ( I hate to break the news, but that is a very harsh and judgmental phrase and we all know what Jesus said about those who live by the sword)

Does this mean that “YOU” have all the answers? Or do you mean that the fragmented, man created institution known as “Christianity” (with all its denominations and factions) IS the ANSWER?

Let me ask you something… Would Jesus seek to divide people? Or would he actively seek reconciliation?

Even the Bible is clear about One God, and not millions of versions of the same god (which has been the unfortunate side effect of “Christianity” and its respective fragmentations), so I’m still unclear why you would dismiss so much of what McLaren is trying to talk with us about.

So I offer this view, broken as it may be, since it comes from a broken human being and not a perfect God:

Reconnecting with God through “Ancient Practices” can be assumed to be a “satanic illumination”, but ultimately, we all know what happens when we assume.

Brother Don, thank you for taking the time to review McLaren’s work, and I hope you do not take my comments as aggressive or angry, I merely hope to keep the discussion about what Jesus said about how we need to behave here on Earth and why, alive.

I would recommend for anyone reading this, the book “In Constant Prayer” by robert benson. It helped me remember why prayer, and even routine prayer, can be so incredibly helpful and important!

God bless!

Thanks for your support, I will be looking forward to your comments in the future.

Blessings in Christ,

Don

Just a quick note to let you know I’m with you on the Emergent Church.

I have recently left myChurch of 37 years for a great Bible thumping one and though I do look back, (my parents still attend) they are with me on my decision.

I will be checking in more often now that I’ve found your blog.

God Bless You,
-Jim
California