by Brian D. McLaren

See this item in the bookstore...

review by AJ Schwanz

THE BUZZ on the online weblog communities was hot. Brian McLaren had a new book coming out—one that would be more challenging and controversial than any of his previous writings, one that would make non-Christians and Christians truly evaluate what they believe and how they act, one that focuses on what's the wheat and what's the chaff in the way we live out the call of Christ to participate in the kingdom of God. Now that sounds like a zinger of a book!

I quickly put it on hold at the library and checked it out a few weeks after that. I started into the book, eager to have McLaren lay down his thoughts and ideas in such a way that I could decide whether or not he'd gone too far off of the postmodern deep end, but the chapters mostly started off with questions; they caused me to think about myself and my actions more than about McLaren's thoughts and ideas. The reading became more time consuming than it would be if I were simply breezing through someone's opinions and findings. I had to apply this reading to my own life, and sometimes I didn't like what I discovered.

Then life picked up. I found less and less time to experience the book, and suddenly the book needed to be returned. It seemed like a fortuitous means of not having to do the “hard work” of applying Christ's principles and teachings brought up by McLaren. But then someone asked me to do a book review! God doesn't let folks off the hook all that easily; he very “kindly” gives us multiple opportunities to learn lessons from him (special treat).

As the title states, this book explores the idea of the secret message of Jesus. And in reading a book with such a title, folks inevitably ask: “So, what is the secret message?” This goes for those who have never heard of Jesus as well as those who claim to have walked with him for years and years.

This book takes a fresh look at the message of the gospel and the life of Christ, wondering if we might have misinterpreted the good news. What if Jesus meant for the lives of his followers to be completely different? What if we've barely scratched the surface of his teachings and instructions? What if rather than continue to seek and experience, we prefer to intellectualize and theorize from a safe distance?

These unsatisfied people—and I'm one of them—have this unshakable intuition that both he and his message are better than anything they've heard or understood or figured out so far. They—I should say “we”—feel that there's a missing puzzle piece without which the big picture won't snap into place. There's a hidden door somewhere behind a curtain or bookcase, and through that door there are rooms we've never imagined.

“They—we—have this hunch that there's a secret we don't yet get.” (xiii)

In a time when the number of folks leaving the church is greater than the number staying, an author who is willing to explore such a question—not to mention share that he is in the same league with those folks—is a welcome change. Instead of providing pat answers and formulaic instructions, McLaren uses this book as an opportunity to look again at the person and teachings of Christ and to challenge what is often known as accepted in the traditional church. He gives thoughtful and understandable background into the culture and times that Christ was teaching, noting certain teaching elements or topics that had different meanings then than they do now.

McLaren's message echoes that of Christ: The kingdom of God is here! We are called to live in God's kingdom at the present moment. What did Christ say that would look like? Is it just to abide on earth until we get to the pearly gates, or is there more? And why can Christ's teaching seem so confusing? “Because his message wasn't merely aimed at conveying information. It sought to precipitate something more important: the spiritual transformation of the hearers” (46). Transformation comes about through relationship. McLaren reminds readers over and over that all of God's actions came about due to a desire to be in relationship. What a blessed thing!

After finishing the reading, my soul was stirred up. But where do I go from here? A good book drives the reader to learn more from the primary source. I often found myself wanting to put down the book and pick up another—my Bible. That's something McLaren encourages; he also encourages continuing the discussion with others. A last chapter provides options for “plotting goodness”—putting the teachings of Christ into practice, beginning to live in the kingdom of God, and further exploring individually and corporately our call in being Christ followers.

When asked, I still can't adequately summarize the secret message of Jesus, but McLaren states that neither can he. Instead, we are called to share our experiences as we explore journeys with others and as we turn to the true, primary source: Christ himself.

Have you read this book? Add your comments below.