Book Review

Finding Our Way Again: The Return of the Ancient Practices, by Brian McLaren

                In his book Finding Our Way Again: The Return of the Ancient Practices, Brian McLaren intended to address Christians and encourage them to “rediscover the Christian faith as a transforming way of life.” His goal was (and is) noble, his assessment of the problem was clear, but his solution was vague and far from Biblical. McLaren claims the Christian faith as his own, but throughout the book makes it clear that he considers the Christian faith to be anything but exclusive in its truth claims. He says that “the way – Jewish torah, Christian gospel, or Muslim deen – leads us toward the peace, wisdom, and joy that we seek.” By this he essentially says that each of these ways, which are drastically different from each other, are equally valid ways of reaching that “peace, wisdom, and joy that we seek.”

                McLaren claims that the problem with Christianity (by “Christianity” he means Muslims, Catholics, and any other religion that is remotely similar) is that it has become nothing more than a “system of belief” and that it needs to be more or a “way of life.” I couldn’t agree more, but he offers little to no Biblical support for his methods of change which are basically doing simplistic rituals to help yourself do better. The book is basically a self-help book with the façade of being Christian in nature. McLaren is a modern-day false-teacher and his teaching should not be taken seriously.