1. What new information or ideas did you learn about the roots of Protestantism as you read this chapter? Is there anything you understand differently?
2. McLaren lists three (or more) significant problems that he believes were “unleashed” by the Protestant Reformation (pp. 136-138). Do you agree with his assessment? What impact do you think each of these problems has had on the non-Catholic Christian church?
3. What do you think of McLaren’s idea of redefining “protestant” as “pro-testifying” (p. 140)?
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April 6, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Brenda
In reference to question #3, I like the idea of “pro-testifying”. “Protestant” reminds me of a bunch of people at a protest rally.
This alternative language may allow “protestants” to keep it positive, something we sometimes have a hard time doing. Why is it that we act like little roosters sometimes trying to make sure our beliefs rule the roost? We need to talk about what we are about, not what we aren’t (criticizing other denominations, faiths, etc.)
It is like my preference for “Christ follower” which seems gentler and more accessible than “Saved”. “Saved” can be really intimidating to those gaining exposure to God for the first time. I talk about how, as a “Christ follower”, I have made a commitment to walk in the world as Jesus would have (even though I can walk on water, feed the masses from one loaf of bread or heal people).
In my work in disability, rehabilitation, counseling, I often get to “walk on the “fringes” like Jesus did, where people have been “left behind” due to their disability, ,struggle with drugs, have felonies, lack of access to good education, rejection by various churches, etc. To see in their eyes that they can also be a Christ follower is really incredible.
April 6, 2010 at 2:14 pm
elizachub
It’s pretty amazing what a small change in word choice can make, isn’t it? At the end of the day, the words might all have the same core definition (e.g. “saved”, “born again”, “Christian”, “Christ follower”), but the tone they set can be vastly different. Any words that make the Gospel more accessible and approachable are great, as far as I’m concerned!
Maybe this even ties in with our more recent discussion of prose vs. poetry . . . instead of defining ourselves accurately with labels, maybe we can think of expressing who we are in more poetic ways?