A TRUE AND FAITHFUL WITNESS
Are you committed to being a true and faithful witness to the Lord Jesus Christ of the New Testament Gospel?
The Not-So-Secret Gnostic Redeemer/Kingdom Preacher of
Brian McLaren
(A Brief Recipe similar to the “The Secret Message of Jesus”)
“In one of my previous books, I said that clarity is sometimes overrated and
that intrigue is correspondingly undervalued. But here I want to say—clearly—
that it is tragic for anyone, especially anyone affiliated with the religion named
after Jesus, not to be clear about what Jesus’ message actually was.” page 7.
In “The Secret Message of Jesus” Brian McLaren is “getting it right” for us.
Finally—after almost 2,000 years of the most studied man in the history of the
world—someone is finally on target about what Jesus really was teaching!
Phew! We just barely made it before….. And, of course, Jesus must have
been quite an effective communicator since we have been “studying” Him with
this nebulous cloud of unknowing revolving around us all these years. His has
been a captivating message—we just didn’t know what it was—but now a
plethora of enlightened ones are finally figuring it out. Add Brian and W
Publishing with this “ground-breaking” (front jacket cover) book to the list!
I recently found this recipe tucked away in an old book and I thought I might
share it with you.
Step 1 - Take three full cups of Jesus teachings on the Kingdom of Heaven as
a “counter political message” rather than the “in-breaking of God’s Kingdom
from “outside the system” in power and new dynamic in and through the
“person” of Jesus for the salvation of souls.” {This cup is similar to the recent
historical realities of the Catholic cup of Jesus’ spiritual/political “revolution” in
the 20th century in South America. A careful study of church history would
probably find some similar and generic brands which you could use.)
“How did my thinking change to see the public and political dimensions of
Jesus’ message?...When I learned some basic information about Jesus’
historical and political context…a dynamic new picture began to take shape….
Jesus launched a global spiritual revolution.” page11, 12
“…What is the alternative? It is to see, seek, receive, and enter a new political
and social and spiritual reality he calls the kingdom…” page 17
Step 2 - Mix in 1 scoop of Jesus as a Jewish “prophet” who ushers in a “new
world order” rather than the “double-edged sword of salvation and judgment.”
This scoop should be thoroughly mixed within the full cups of the “Kingdom” in
step 1 so as to be non-distinguishable from anything that would look like “New
Age” teachings being added into the recipe. (Some have a strange
“resistance” to the smells of the “New Age,” but a mixing of the ingredients
should help alleviate any hesitations at consumption.)
“Jesus echoed and intensified the prophetic message that a new world order
was possible and coming.” page 23
“…God will see God’s own primal dream for creation finally coming true—and
that dream won’t be imposed by God from outside by domination against
creation’s will, but it will emerge from within creation itself, so that God’s dream
and creation’s groaning for fulfillment are one.” page 203
Step 3 - Thoroughly soak the mixed ingredients in a bowl of “don’t make it
seem like Paul got it wrong because he believed in the kingdom just like us”
fermented juice. This will give the seemingly strange mixture of ingredients a
special “nebulous, yet kingdom” flavor, so that it is quite palatable and
inclusive for all the types who would join our party. And there is an added
bonus if one consumes enough! He will come to “forget” (while the special
agents are marginalizing) all those nasty old-Pauline types who purposely tried
to un-spike the punch and spoil the party with “clear doctrine” which is a part
of the “old-wineskin” teachings. {Our new formulated Pauline types don’t have
this problem.} In fact, many may not notice when the old-Pauline types are
removed from the party. (An intoxicated good riddance would be in order here!)
“However, I don’t think Paul is the enemy, I think Paul is actually a friend of the
gospel of the kingdom, perhaps its best friend since Jesus.” page 91
“This, by the way, is what the problematic word ‘REPENTANCE’ is all about.
The word means to rethink—to reconsider your direction and consider a new
one, to admit that you might be wrong, to give your life a second thought, to
think about your thinking.” page 47 {over and over and over and…I've
reached a conclusion...how dare you think like that you arrogant smart
aleck…over and over and over….}
Step 4 - Place the mixture into the “Jesus didn’t like Pharisees because they
were narrow and exclusive” baking mold. Bake at 375 degrees for 25
minutes. What a wonderful odor will fill your world as you allow the freshly
baked mixture to cool. Only an idiot would dare say it doesn’t smell right since
anybody who can read knows that Jesus didn’t like Pharisees!
“Early on in my exploration of Jesus’ secret message, it became clear to me
that the exclusive attitude of the Pharisees and religious scholars angered
Jesus….This concern is especially relevant these days when the Christian
religion is too often perceived as a divisive, judgmental, rancorous, and
exclusionary movement—nearly the opposite of a kingdom of peace, available
to all, beginning with the least.” pages 162-163
Step 5 - Sprinkle the finished product with a healthy dose of “let’s change sin-
repentance-individuals to crisis-invitation-transformation-society” granulated
topping so as to give the recipe a pleasant look and eating texture. {Many do
not realize that sight and texture can be a very important part of the joy of
eating!}. Familiarity in sight and texture is an important part of recalling past
blessings in the consumption of food. {We will employ what looks like “sin-
repentance” into our mix to play upon this recall for those who are concerned
about those things – maybe we can keep them eating our product which we
know is really good for them.} But we are actually using a “crisis-invitation-
transformation” low-conscience pierced/no-guilt substitute for this texture. This
really works because every culture seems to already have this particular
texture. {And, like I always say, familiarity breeds consumption.} And since we
find “God” is actually already working in all of these cultures we are simply
acknowledging His all wise, all knowing work already displayed. This fact will
greatly enhance the willingness of others to taste our delicacy. {Please do not
use the “fallen universe/society of men is being reserved for fire” granulated
toppings because—well—the people just won’t eat it.}
“(In this light, Jesus’ invitation into the kingdom of God was an invitation into
the original universe, as it was meant to be.)” page 53
“As we’ve already seen, the ancient Jews understood humanity to have been
plunged into crisis because we humans have abused our freedom….As a
result, the whole organism or community of the world has become sick, and its
sickness is ugly, painful, and terminal, adversely affecting every woman, man,
girl, and boy.” page 54
“That’s how I have come to understand the signs and wonders of Jesus….the
kingdom of God—with its peace, healing, sanity, empowerment, and freedom—
is available to all, here and now.” page 59
“And what is the goal of this suffering sacrifice, this self-giving to the point of
blood to achieve the pax Christi? It is a new and lasting reconciliation between
humanity and God,…” page 99
{For more information on this particular aspect of Step 4 study the Gnostics
and the battle the early church fought against them.}
Forget that “Christianity” is exclusionary because Jesus made exclusive
remarks about Himself. Forget that “Christianity” can be divisive because
Jesus taught that His teachings would be like a fire that would ignite. And
REALLY forget that Jesus Himself said that His followers would actually be
hated by this world and they would actually be put to death by people who
thought they were doing service to “GOD.” And since talking about
“eschatology” is divisive and nobody really knows the answers – we shouldn’t
do it. And, oh, by the way, please swallow this very bad and subtle “kingdom-
now and emerging from within” eschatology of this “ground-breaking”
document. Hmm – I wonder if false teaching might play to people’s ignorance.
Hmm. It would seem with the emerging church, of which Brian McLaren seems
to be a guiding force, that anyone who holds to Biblical clarity has committed,
for them, the unpardonable sin. And of course if he would have talked about
ALL the texts that dealt with Jesus teachings on the kingdom - well - that would
shed quite a light on his skewed understanding.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and
gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down
and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at
the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the
righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.” “… ‘My kingdom is not of this world’…”
The “Secret” Teller Matthew 13:47-50 ESV John 18:36a NASB
“For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or
covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ
and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these
things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
The “Secret” Teller’s Apostle Ephesians 5:5-6
Quotes taken from: The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth that
Could Change Everything by Brian D. McLaren, W Publishing Group, a
Division of Thomas Nelson Publishing, Inc., 2006.
Copyright 2006, David Sheldon, all rights reserved. Can be photocopied only
in its entirety and not for profit but free distribution.
For More Articles Like This Go To: www.atrueandfaithfulwitness.com
Brian McLaren
(A Brief Recipe similar to the “The Secret Message of Jesus”)
“In one of my previous books, I said that clarity is sometimes overrated and
that intrigue is correspondingly undervalued. But here I want to say—clearly—
that it is tragic for anyone, especially anyone affiliated with the religion named
after Jesus, not to be clear about what Jesus’ message actually was.” page 7.
In “The Secret Message of Jesus” Brian McLaren is “getting it right” for us.
Finally—after almost 2,000 years of the most studied man in the history of the
world—someone is finally on target about what Jesus really was teaching!
Phew! We just barely made it before….. And, of course, Jesus must have
been quite an effective communicator since we have been “studying” Him with
this nebulous cloud of unknowing revolving around us all these years. His has
been a captivating message—we just didn’t know what it was—but now a
plethora of enlightened ones are finally figuring it out. Add Brian and W
Publishing with this “ground-breaking” (front jacket cover) book to the list!
I recently found this recipe tucked away in an old book and I thought I might
share it with you.
Step 1 - Take three full cups of Jesus teachings on the Kingdom of Heaven as
a “counter political message” rather than the “in-breaking of God’s Kingdom
from “outside the system” in power and new dynamic in and through the
“person” of Jesus for the salvation of souls.” {This cup is similar to the recent
historical realities of the Catholic cup of Jesus’ spiritual/political “revolution” in
the 20th century in South America. A careful study of church history would
probably find some similar and generic brands which you could use.)
“How did my thinking change to see the public and political dimensions of
Jesus’ message?...When I learned some basic information about Jesus’
historical and political context…a dynamic new picture began to take shape….
Jesus launched a global spiritual revolution.” page11, 12
“…What is the alternative? It is to see, seek, receive, and enter a new political
and social and spiritual reality he calls the kingdom…” page 17
Step 2 - Mix in 1 scoop of Jesus as a Jewish “prophet” who ushers in a “new
world order” rather than the “double-edged sword of salvation and judgment.”
This scoop should be thoroughly mixed within the full cups of the “Kingdom” in
step 1 so as to be non-distinguishable from anything that would look like “New
Age” teachings being added into the recipe. (Some have a strange
“resistance” to the smells of the “New Age,” but a mixing of the ingredients
should help alleviate any hesitations at consumption.)
“Jesus echoed and intensified the prophetic message that a new world order
was possible and coming.” page 23
“…God will see God’s own primal dream for creation finally coming true—and
that dream won’t be imposed by God from outside by domination against
creation’s will, but it will emerge from within creation itself, so that God’s dream
and creation’s groaning for fulfillment are one.” page 203
Step 3 - Thoroughly soak the mixed ingredients in a bowl of “don’t make it
seem like Paul got it wrong because he believed in the kingdom just like us”
fermented juice. This will give the seemingly strange mixture of ingredients a
special “nebulous, yet kingdom” flavor, so that it is quite palatable and
inclusive for all the types who would join our party. And there is an added
bonus if one consumes enough! He will come to “forget” (while the special
agents are marginalizing) all those nasty old-Pauline types who purposely tried
to un-spike the punch and spoil the party with “clear doctrine” which is a part
of the “old-wineskin” teachings. {Our new formulated Pauline types don’t have
this problem.} In fact, many may not notice when the old-Pauline types are
removed from the party. (An intoxicated good riddance would be in order here!)
“However, I don’t think Paul is the enemy, I think Paul is actually a friend of the
gospel of the kingdom, perhaps its best friend since Jesus.” page 91
“This, by the way, is what the problematic word ‘REPENTANCE’ is all about.
The word means to rethink—to reconsider your direction and consider a new
one, to admit that you might be wrong, to give your life a second thought, to
think about your thinking.” page 47 {over and over and over and…I've
reached a conclusion...how dare you think like that you arrogant smart
aleck…over and over and over….}
Step 4 - Place the mixture into the “Jesus didn’t like Pharisees because they
were narrow and exclusive” baking mold. Bake at 375 degrees for 25
minutes. What a wonderful odor will fill your world as you allow the freshly
baked mixture to cool. Only an idiot would dare say it doesn’t smell right since
anybody who can read knows that Jesus didn’t like Pharisees!
“Early on in my exploration of Jesus’ secret message, it became clear to me
that the exclusive attitude of the Pharisees and religious scholars angered
Jesus….This concern is especially relevant these days when the Christian
religion is too often perceived as a divisive, judgmental, rancorous, and
exclusionary movement—nearly the opposite of a kingdom of peace, available
to all, beginning with the least.” pages 162-163
Step 5 - Sprinkle the finished product with a healthy dose of “let’s change sin-
repentance-individuals to crisis-invitation-transformation-society” granulated
topping so as to give the recipe a pleasant look and eating texture. {Many do
not realize that sight and texture can be a very important part of the joy of
eating!}. Familiarity in sight and texture is an important part of recalling past
blessings in the consumption of food. {We will employ what looks like “sin-
repentance” into our mix to play upon this recall for those who are concerned
about those things – maybe we can keep them eating our product which we
know is really good for them.} But we are actually using a “crisis-invitation-
transformation” low-conscience pierced/no-guilt substitute for this texture. This
really works because every culture seems to already have this particular
texture. {And, like I always say, familiarity breeds consumption.} And since we
find “God” is actually already working in all of these cultures we are simply
acknowledging His all wise, all knowing work already displayed. This fact will
greatly enhance the willingness of others to taste our delicacy. {Please do not
use the “fallen universe/society of men is being reserved for fire” granulated
toppings because—well—the people just won’t eat it.}
“(In this light, Jesus’ invitation into the kingdom of God was an invitation into
the original universe, as it was meant to be.)” page 53
“As we’ve already seen, the ancient Jews understood humanity to have been
plunged into crisis because we humans have abused our freedom….As a
result, the whole organism or community of the world has become sick, and its
sickness is ugly, painful, and terminal, adversely affecting every woman, man,
girl, and boy.” page 54
“That’s how I have come to understand the signs and wonders of Jesus….the
kingdom of God—with its peace, healing, sanity, empowerment, and freedom—
is available to all, here and now.” page 59
“And what is the goal of this suffering sacrifice, this self-giving to the point of
blood to achieve the pax Christi? It is a new and lasting reconciliation between
humanity and God,…” page 99
{For more information on this particular aspect of Step 4 study the Gnostics
and the battle the early church fought against them.}
Forget that “Christianity” is exclusionary because Jesus made exclusive
remarks about Himself. Forget that “Christianity” can be divisive because
Jesus taught that His teachings would be like a fire that would ignite. And
REALLY forget that Jesus Himself said that His followers would actually be
hated by this world and they would actually be put to death by people who
thought they were doing service to “GOD.” And since talking about
“eschatology” is divisive and nobody really knows the answers – we shouldn’t
do it. And, oh, by the way, please swallow this very bad and subtle “kingdom-
now and emerging from within” eschatology of this “ground-breaking”
document. Hmm – I wonder if false teaching might play to people’s ignorance.
Hmm. It would seem with the emerging church, of which Brian McLaren seems
to be a guiding force, that anyone who holds to Biblical clarity has committed,
for them, the unpardonable sin. And of course if he would have talked about
ALL the texts that dealt with Jesus teachings on the kingdom - well - that would
shed quite a light on his skewed understanding.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and
gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down
and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at
the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the
righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.” “… ‘My kingdom is not of this world’…”
The “Secret” Teller Matthew 13:47-50 ESV John 18:36a NASB
“For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or
covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ
and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these
things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
The “Secret” Teller’s Apostle Ephesians 5:5-6
Quotes taken from: The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth that
Could Change Everything by Brian D. McLaren, W Publishing Group, a
Division of Thomas Nelson Publishing, Inc., 2006.
Copyright 2006, David Sheldon, all rights reserved. Can be photocopied only
in its entirety and not for profit but free distribution.
For More Articles Like This Go To: www.atrueandfaithfulwitness.com
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Discernment
Rick Warren
Forty Days: False Gospel
Forty Days: A Closer Look
Forty Days: Which Jesus?
PDL: God's Wisdom
PDL: Exalting the Fallen Creation
PDL: A Purpose-Shaped
Worldview
Antichrist
Will Antichrist Be Revealed
Before the Tribulation?
Staging the Worship of Antichrist
The Great Harlot
"Mystery" Babylon
"Emerging" Church
Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell - Part 1
Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell - Part 2
The "Not-so-Secret" Jesus of
Brian McLaren
Church Growth Movement
Schuller, Hybels & Warren
Review of Schuller's "Self-Esteem"
False Apostles, False
Prophets, False Revival
River of Seducing Spirits
Spiritual Warfare Script
Deception of Spiritual Warfare
Flags & Banners...Spiritual Power
Tools?
Davidic Warfare/Worship?
Jesus of the "Signs" Now the
"Christ" of Apostolic Government
Mystical Christianity?
Tenney's Mystical Deity Chase
Richard Foster: Quaker Mystic?
Willard and "The Way of Jesus"
What Oswald Chambers
Might Have Thought About
Todays "Christianity"
Discernment
Rick Warren
Forty Days: False Gospel
Forty Days: A Closer Look
Forty Days: Which Jesus?
PDL: God's Wisdom
PDL: Exalting the Fallen Creation
PDL: A Purpose-Shaped
Worldview
Antichrist
Will Antichrist Be Revealed
Before the Tribulation?
Staging the Worship of Antichrist
The Great Harlot
"Mystery" Babylon
"Emerging" Church
Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell - Part 1
Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell - Part 2
The "Not-so-Secret" Jesus of
Brian McLaren
Church Growth Movement
Schuller, Hybels & Warren
Review of Schuller's "Self-Esteem"
False Apostles, False
Prophets, False Revival
River of Seducing Spirits
Spiritual Warfare Script
Deception of Spiritual Warfare
Flags & Banners...Spiritual Power
Tools?
Davidic Warfare/Worship?
Jesus of the "Signs" Now the
"Christ" of Apostolic Government
Mystical Christianity?
Tenney's Mystical Deity Chase
Richard Foster: Quaker Mystic?
Willard and "The Way of Jesus"
What Oswald Chambers
Might Have Thought About
Todays "Christianity"