Deep shift January 10, 2008
Posted by Zack in Missouri | 3 commentsThis is an add-on to my previous post. I want to make sure you read Thom Stark’s latest entry on his blog. It’s an amazing look into how a new generation is struggling with its elders over complex theological issues. If I tried to explain the actual content of this struggle, I would get a lot of it wrong. But it amounts to a deep shift (to use Brian McLaren’s phrase) in the very foundation of Christianity.
In his post, Thom tells the story of attending a funeral of a 16 year old boy who was killed in a car accident. The pastor tried to console people with the “he’s in heaven now, so let’s not grieve” line. And also used the death as an “are you right with God?” evangelistic opportunity. Later, he wound up talking to the pastor and told him what he thought:
I told him his gospel was unbiblical, that it was a neo-gnostic escapist fantasy, and that the life and teachings of Jesus proclaim a gospel in which “life after death,” while significant, is certainly not “what it’s all about.” “It is what it’s all about!” To which I could only respond, “Well, I guess you’ll have to read it all again. Focus on the teachings of Jesus. Oh, and do you remember the shortest verse in the Bible? [John 11:35 - “Jesus wept.”] Read that one again, and then go on and tell these families at these funerals that they don’t have to grieve.”
Proponents of this “new” theology believe that it is actually a return to a very old theology, the original Way of Jesus and the first Christian communities. It’s not “all about the afterlife” but about building a new kind of life on earth. And it’s about feeling, experiencing, joy and suffering here and now in solidarity and celebration with all of humanity.
…at least that seems to me what it’s all about. Check out Brian McLaren’s “Deep Shift” website and tour here. And one last thing to note: the “generations” involved in this shift aren’t necessarily age-defined. Leaders appear from all age groups, and some of the most important recent texts behind the shift were written decades ago.
Those of you in the church: please give me some other examples of this kind of struggle between the “generations.” You can redact all the names and places to protect the innocent! 
