Take heed.
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” Ephesians 4:14
Even though it has now become evident that Brian McLaren came and offered a new wind of doctrine to the students at Canadian Mennonite University, according to one CMU student, the ‘Refreshing Winds’ conference was very refreshing.
Refreshing Winds was very cool.
It’s CMU’s blockbuster conference on worship which they host every two years. Stretching from last Thursday to Saturday, it attracted people of every denomination from all over Canada. This year, we had Brian McLaren and Steve Bell as special guests. Steve Bell is a prolific singer and songwriter based right here in Winnipeg, and Brian is one of the most prominent Christian writers in North America.
The campus was packed. Many of those attending were living on campus for the weekend and many more were eating in the cafeteria. The days were also extremely warm (just below freezing) which is very weird for Winnipeg!
My favorite part was the 1/2 hour presentation Friday morning about us as Christians being open to other faiths, rather than continuing down the road of not listening, but attacking the other. Brian talked about the four stages of faith. It was about how we move from “us-vs-them” thinking into a more relaxed, more loving attitude. Here are the four stages:simplicity – Us vs. them, where only one can be right.
complexity – There are many ways of doing things.
perplexity – There are so many perspectives. Who knows who is right?
holistic – Give up the search for knowing everything, and just follow God using basic essentials (such as ‘love your neighbor’).Brian stressed that it’s too simplistic to call the fourth stage the best. Each stage has something to teach us, and you can’t rush people through the stages. They will move when they are ready. Unfortunately, though, many churches will cater to a single stage (like stage 1) and leave people in others out in the cold.
This is big thinking, which goes beyond what some churches would be willing to consider. Taking this larger view and looking for the patterns allows us to understand what’s going on, where our path might lead. It legitimizes those who are having difficulties with their faiths who may feel marginalized in their churches.
I’m glad I was able to attend this conference. It raised many points about faith that I hadn’t considered before.SOURCE: http://cmustudentblog.blogspot.com/ February 2011
====================================
NOTE: Parts [1-5] of Menno-lite’s review on the Refreshing Winds conference at CMU can be found here:
McLaren’s Refreshing Winds at CMU – Part 1
https://mennolite.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/mclarens-refreshing-winds-at-cmu-part-1/
McLaren’s Refreshing Winds at CMU – Part 2
https://mennolite.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/mclarens-refreshing-winds-at-cmu-part-2/
McLaren’s Refreshing Winds at CMU – Part 3
https://mennolite.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/mclarens-refreshing-winds-at-cmu-part-3/
McLaren’s Refreshing Winds at CMU – Part 4
https://mennolite.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/mclarens-refreshing-winds-at-cmu-part-4/
McLaren’s Refreshing Winds at CMU – Part 5
https://mennolite.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/mclarens-refreshing-winds-at-cmu-part-5/
Menno-lite 
Wow…hook, line and sinker!! Down the garden path! So utterly deceiving and incredibly sad! Institutes of higher learning??
I wonder how much of God’s Word was shared at the Conference?
Verses like Colossians 2:8
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
James 4:4
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
1 Timothy 2:5
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”
John 14:6
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 8:31-33
“…If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Matthew 7:13-15
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
2 Timothy 3:12-14
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;”
Matthew 7:22-24
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:”
Who was at that Conference who was willing to stand on the Rock and boldly proclaim the Word of God and renounce the lies told from that stage at CMU? Where is the man who will stand in the gap?
Psalm 119:104 “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.”
If there was such a man, he was silent. This Mennonite university should at least drop the name of ‘Menno Simons’ as there appear to be none there that follow in his footsteps, let alone the footsteps of our Lord.
Forgot a couple of verses.
Titus 3:5
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Just follow the basics like “love your neighbor”? What about repent, what about believe, what about ye must be born again? What about the Great Commission – Go and preach the GOSPEL? These are the basics. McLaren is teaching a “good works” salvation, another gospel.
Galatians 1:6-9
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” (Edmund Burke)
Pingback: Mennonites and World Peace « Menno-lite
Pingback: CMU’s New President comments on McLaren’s Controversial Visit | Menno-lite
Pingback: McLaren’s New Book – A New Kind of Year Long Church Curriculum | Menno-lite
Pingback: McLaren’s Palestinian Justice Speech, Part 2 | Menno-lite