The Last Word: Chapter 15

This is a pivotal chapter in the book for plot development, and for Dan's tenuous hold on his job as pastor of the Potomac Community Church. The statement I want to focus on, however, comes from Carol, Dan's wife.

"It's kind of strange," she said, almost whispering, "to think that what might help our daughter's faith could actually hurt mine and that what helps my faith - having everything clearly defined and at the core at least, not changing - could actually hurt our daughter's faith."

That is a very powerful statement that personally I need to keep in mind. The questions that get me excited about being a follower of Jesus are, in some cases, the very same questions that terrify others. Sometimes I forget that and barge ahead.

As I have often said this is a conversation that we need to be invited to. You cannot rationally convince someone that deconstructing their faith is a good idea. They must reach a point where they start to ask questions... usually as a result of a crisis.

And to those of you who still think this is just a different way of doing the same thing... well, you're probably not reading this any longer anyway.

NOTE: We're half way through posting on the 29 chapters, plus introduction. I've actually finished reading the book, but I'm trying to avoid rushing - I want to maintain the discipline of commenting on an important thought from each chapter.

On Friday morning I'm hopping on a flight to Calgary, then a bus to Banff. I'm going disguised as a Baptist (there's not much I can do about the earring, but I did cut my hair...) in order to crash the Baptist Union of Western Canada's annual conference, where one Brian McLaren is speaking. I'm still trying to decide what I want to say to him about this book. I think when you distill these thoughts out of the narrative this is actually the most profound of his works - even more so than A Generous Orthodoxy, which is a bold statement to make. I'm looking forward to catching up with him in beautiful Banff!

Comments

[Poul Mrark]

Say hi to Ryan Sato for me. I wish I was still a Baptist and I could crash the Banff conference; Alas I am now an Anglican.

[ScottB]

I think too that it was a very respectful work - very honest but at the same time I don't think there's a character that doesn't end up being portrayed redemptively. It fits the book, I suppose - but I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it. I finished with the thought that he's attempting to honor all of the perspectives while critiquing how they've been used, something that I hope doesn't get missed in the critiques that are sure to follow. Profound indeed.

[Shiz]

Ah, McLaren. I haven't read him yet -- slow reader lately -- but my husband has read them and then passed them along so many times. Now I'll really have to read them.

Okay, I will. But Davita's Harp is still first.

[Steve]

Good times - Banff is beautiful!

[clark]

Mike, finished the book last week. I really appreciate your words here about not deconstructing one's faith out of convience. It is birthed out of crisis. Thanks for the reminder Mike.