I have read a bunch of books in the last year that have helped me reshape my view of God and the Bible but I had a real hard time expressing what I now believe to other people (my wife and other people at church in particular). I started reading “A new kind of Christian” by Brian Mclaren and I couldn’t put it down (thaks Chad!). I read the whole thing last night. I feel vindicated by it. I also feel like I spent a year walking from NY to CA when there was a plane ticket sitting on my kitchen table that I didn’t know was there. I wish I had read this earlier. Although maybe it is better that I found these ideas on my own and now find others that came to the same conclusions. Maybe my belief system will be stronger since I feel like I have more “ownership” of the ideas rather than if I was just following the herd and doing what I was told.

Just like the lead character in the book if I actually expressed how I felt I thought I would get kicked out of the church or something. That’s why I refused to lead a small group when I was asked by our group. I am tired of being controversial but I didn’t want to keep preaching the party line either. I have felt like I am “in between” theologies and haven’t nailed it down yet or figured out exactly how these views should effect my everyday life, but this book made me realize that maybe I don’t have to (or can’t) get it all carved out in stone before I begin moving again.

http://www.anewkindofchristian.com/