This book brought to my mind the fact that, although the world and parts of the church seem to be moving towards postmodernism, the transition is far from complete, and, in fact, may take a few hundred years! McLaren's final essay on postmodernism, while probably the most difficult passage in the book, gives a great overview of epochs of history and how different eras and transitions have played out. All in all, I find myself having more of a kinship with Campolo than I do McLaren (McLaren's view of absolute truth being relatively unimportant is totally wrongheaded, in my view, but once again, Campolo brings some sanity to the issue with his reply), but, whichever author strikes one's fancy, this is still a terrific read.
A brief overview for those who would like a little more info.
Responsibility for the writing of the various chapters fell on one author affording the second author an opportunity to add, elaborate, counter, or all three at the end of the chapter. For the most part I consider this format a benefit but at times it became annoying. The mild annoyance was caused by some of Campolo's responses. It wasn't the fact that Campolo ocassionaly disagreed with McLaren, but fact that he seemed to expect McLaren in one chapter explain every last little detail and facet of the item being discussed, or he just plain missed McLaren's point altogether. This was my only complaint. You will also become familiar with post modernity if your not already, do to the fact that McLaren talks about it in nearly every chapter that he wrote. Which could be a possible annoyance for some,it didn't bother me though.
Campolo best chapters were eschatology and environmental stewardship. In the chapter on eschatology Campolo challenges dispensationlism saying that it eliminates the motivation for working to further the Kingdom of God, in that dispensationlism attempts to rescue those jumping ship instead of recruiting laborers to make the best repairs possible until the ship reaches the harbor and can be fully restored. Environmental stewardship is pretty self explanatory, but commonly overlooked. I'm glad someone finally took the time rebuke our current policy on the environment.
McLaren shines in doubt, salvation, and worship. He also takes time to explain that often fuzzy term called post modernity. Mclaren purposes that we need to stop judging people when they have questions and realize that doubt can be good a lot of the time because it encourages growth. Salvation starting line or finish line? Worship, who have we made the audience to be, God or ourselves?
There is a lot in this book that is worth reading. You may not agree with everything but the benefit is that encourages you to think the issues through for yourself. If you found your self interested with any of these topics and want to read more on these issues, I would recommend a few other books by Brian McLaren in addition to this one, A New Kind Of Christian, The Story We Find Ourselves In, and More Ready Than You Realize.
Among the issues raised in the book are: Is salvation mean only getting to go to heaven? Can an intelligent Christian not believe in the rapture? Is repeating a prayer after someone the only way to become a follower of Christ?
One great feature is that the authors take turns writing chapters. And at the end of each, the one who didn't write the chapter throws in their 2 cents to either agree or disagree with the chapter. Great!
This book is good if you are just starting to become curious about the emerging postmodern church movement, or if you have been in it for a while.
It is refreshing to see two grown men agree with grace and disagree with dignity and class. I felt many of the chapters could have been much longer. Perhaps responses to the responses would have been good. While some of their disagreements reflect some fundamental issues to be dealt with during the transition from modern to postmodern Christianity (e.g. Campolo's concern that McLaren's Biblical hermeneutic is a slippery slope to equalizing all Biblical interpretations as valid perspectives), other responses don't seem to really engage the other author's argument.
The range of theological positions within Christianity (liberal to conservative) is very narrow, due largely to the modern assumptions within which both liberals and conservatives operate. And Campolo and McLaren are even closer together. This would be a great format for, say, McLaren and Hybels on Church Issues, or McLaren and Maxwell on Leadership.