Posted by Rachel on: 10.21.2007 /
What are the biggest problems in the world?
What do the life and teachings of Jesus have to say about the most critical problems in our world today?
Brian McLaren seeks to address these central questions in his new book Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope. He systematically examines humankind’s great challenges, using the image of a giant “suicide machine” to describe our global addiction to violence, domination, and unrestricted consumption. He concludes that our planet is on a self-destructive trajectory and that the Christian religion has often failed to provide an alternative to “the dominant framing story that currently drives human society.”
McLaren critiques the “incredible shrinking gospel” of popular Western Christianity which promises peace, forgiveness, and eternal bliss for the individual, but fails to also address our most pressing global and societal problems. He believes that Jesus offers a revolutionary message of hope…
…a vibrant form of Christian faith that is holistic, integral, and balanced - one that offers good news for both the living and the dying, that speaks of God’s grace at work both in this life and the life to come, that speaks both to individuals and to societies and to the planet as whole.
He challenges us to recover the radical belief that God’s will truly CAN be done here on earth as it is in heaven and urges us to join God in his mission of healing and reconciliation. McLaren’s book left me feeling inspired and hopeful and gave me a renewed vision for the work of the Kingdom.
Visit Conversation at the Edge for Helen Mildenhall’s review
Comment by: Helen
1Thanks for mentioning my review, Rachel! You summed up Brian’s book nicely. I’m glad you found it inspiring. It will be interesting to hear what Brian says at Off The Map Live. I’m sure it will be related to what’s in the book since that’s what’s on Brian’s heart.