Q&R: Christ and His Death

Last updated on: May 21, 2013 at 2:13 pm by Brian McLaren

Q&R: Christ and His Death 2013-05-21T14:13:53-04:00 Brian McLaren

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Here’s the Question:

Hi Brian. Great work you doing, Bro. Hang in there.

A question about your Christology. Have read several of your books but can’t really get a handle on your idea of the need for Christ and His death. If you don’t believe in original sin, what do you think was the purpose of the cross then?
Thanks and will keep following yr blog.

Here’s the Response:

This is an important question. The places I deal with this most pointedly in my writings are:

A New Kind of Christianity: You’re very perceptive to realize that Christ is valuable and essential in what I call the “six lined narrative” because his death solves the problem of “original sin.” If you’re working in that narrative, if you take away original sin, the whole thing collapses. What never made sense to me, though, is that Christ was truly important to the early Christians before the doctrine of original sin had ever been articulated (which happened in part through Irenaeus in the 2nd century and mostly through Augustine in the 5th century). I propose a different narrative or “framing story” – one more based on the Hebrew narratives of creation, liberation, and reconciliation – and in that story, all dimensions of Christ – his birth, life, teaching, deeds, death, resurrection, ascension, sending of the Spirit, etc. – are truly important, meaningful, and needed.

Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road? You’re right that I question the popular conception of original sin, but it’s not true that I don’t believe in original sin. In my most recent book, I follow the work of James Alison and others in reading the key biblical texts behind the doctrine – exposing “the desire to acquire,” the tendency to rivalry (including rivalry with God), and our proclivity to achieve peace through violence as our original sin. In that light, Jesus’ death is more important than ever before … but in a radically different way. I deal with this throughout the “Doctrinal Challenge” section, but it comes to a climax in my “Liturgical Challenge” chapter on Eucharist as table of fellowship and reconciliation, not altar of sacrifice.

Previous Post

May 1, 2013

Q&R: Bible Study Materials for a 7-Year-Old?

Next Post

June 3, 2013 An Open Letter to Worship Songwriters

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Faith and Climate Uncategorized

Select a Month November 2017 September 2017 July 2017 October 2016 June 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 May 2015 April 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 November 2012 October 2012 April 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 June 2011 June 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I came to Jesus at night to ask about being born again. Who was this Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Caiaphas Joseph of Arimathea Gamaliel Nicodemus