::conversation outside the bubble

I went down and saw Brian McLaren talk last night at Dominica University in Oak Park with my good friends Aaron and Glenn. It was a really well put on event in a series the college has been doing since early September titled, “Truth Telling in Christian America: Globalization, Poverty, and the Environment”

Very very good thoughts from McLaren and very well received from many professors and teachers at the Catholic University. As usual he got a little too deep for me at times, but overall some very thought provoking ideas on the kingdom life and what it means globally not just in the U.S. Some very alarming statistics on poverty and globalization.

One thing I took away actually was during Q&A time someone has asked his thoughts on the rapture or end of time on earth. The person noted Matthew 24:36-44 as even Jesus notes about the rapture. McLaren took a different view on this I thought was worth thinking about. In vs. 36 Jesus is talking about Noah, and how they were in essence “taken away” as the Hebrew literally translates. And then Jesus talks about the two men in the field, one taken, one left. McLaren thinks Jesus was more in line with how the Flood went, meaning the “good” person would be left and the “bad” taken away to judgment. Interesting concept when you look at the verses as a whole. And the more that makes sense with the Kingdom of Heaven is now mentality Jesus had.

We also ended up talking with Helen who was at the Emergent Midwest conference I attended. She had a very interesting side session at the conference I was able to attend. She works for Off The Map, the organization that was responsible for the “eBay Atheist” story. She considers herself an “almost Atheist”. Very unique thoughts and ideas about Jesus especially. It was really a great discussion and one I hope continues on.

Anyways, definitely worth the trip down there and good to see others wrestling with similar thoughts I have and struggle with. I picked up his new book “Everything Must Change” and have already started to dive into it. I will write a review of this at some point in the future. I know Scot Mcknight is already doing several break downs of the book here as well. Very much worth the read too.