The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Shane Claiborne

Recently my daughter went to an event called ‘Missions Fest’ and she was particularly impressed with one speaker by the name of Shane Claiborne.
Being her dad, I thought I would see why she was impressed by him. My first impression when I saw a picture of him I had concerns because he has long dreadlocks. However, I ignored that in order to listen to what he had to say. After listening to a few videos and reading a few articles by him, I actually could see why my daughter was impressed by him.
Shane Claiborne is truly hard not to like, in that he is very humble and he lives what he believes. This is also something that is admitted by some of his worse critiques. As such, when I read him if I wasn’t a discerning Christian, I would probably be very impressed with Shane.
However, what I started to notice is that it wasn’t so much what he said that I had a problem with, it is what he didn’t say. He spent a lot of time talking about fruit, such as helping the poor etc… and very little about theology. So much so that I still do not really know what he believes about the essential doctrines of the faith.
Doing more research, I noticed that he was in an evangelical branch of a movement called ‘The New Monasticism’. Probably the biggest tell tale sign that my suspicions are correct about him however is his biggest mentor is none other than the liberal Tony Campolo .
I could go on and on about things I found out about Shane Claiborne, but that isn’t actually why I am I started this thread.
Although, I am showing my daughter what my concerns are about Shane Claiborne. What I had in mind in addition to this is to find an alternative person to introduce to my daughter that combines solid doctrinal teaching that flows right into faith in action.

Can you think of someone that matches that description, that perhaps I could read or watch a video of?

When I think about someone who matches that description I think of someone like George Muller.

Tom

Wouldn't that "someone" be YOU? What better example could she possibly hope for Tom than her own father who professes to have true faith in Christ, professes to be doctrinally sound, and says he has a desire to be a faithful servant to the Lord Christ. Why look elsewhere for some alleged "hero"?

Pilgrim

After I started this thread, I thought perhaps that might be one answer I would get.

I couldn't agree with you more, however my daughter is married now and doesn't even live in the same city I live in. That doesn't mean I don't do what I can, as I am trying to do even now.
However, just like I have been influenced by the writing of people like CH Spurgeon and RC Sproul, Edwards, Muller, yes even you and others. I thought perhaps my daughter might be influenced by someone who is solid doctrinally.

Tom

Tom,

Are you looking for a missionary-type individual specifically?

Of course, there is always the Apostle Paul. His theology was perfect, his life exemplary as a redeemed sinner and he certainly was influential on quite a number of people.

If I were you, the fact that your daughter would find this Shane Caiborne 'attractive' at all would be a concern for me. A simple substitution of an earthly model I think would be nothing more than a temporary band-aid and not deal with perhaps a far more serious problem.

Troubling yes, but not surprising. One of the things about people like Shane Claiborne is that most of what they say at these events, is not bad in itself. In fact unless one digs further into what people like him believe, it is hard to criticize what they say, without looking foolish.
In my case, what makes me check out people like this is because I have been burnt in the past.
I am actually quite proud of my daughter, she genuinely tries to live her faith and as reflected by her growing knowledge of Scripture.
This doesn't mean that she will not make her mistakes along the way.

I am not looking for a band-aide, just an example of what God can do to someone who takes their faith seriously.
Like I said before, George Muller is one man that is an example for me. Of course like anyone even the most dedicated Christians have their faults. So I am not advocating that my daughter follow someone without lots of discernment.

Tom

Tom,

Why not look through the Banner of Truth catalog (click on the "BOOK CATALOGUE" link on the menubar)? They have LOTS of great books and biographies on 'heroes' from the past, e.g., George Whitfield who as you know what quite the itinerant preacher in his day.

That is a good idea, but I was thinking of someone alive today that someone my daughter's age can relate to. This doesn't mean 20 something’s can't relate to people like George Whitefield.

Surely, there are people alive today who match that description. Men like George Whitefield were once young and not well known, but their love for God moved them to great feats to the glory of God.

Understand that this is just an add on to the information I already showed my daugher about Shane Claiborne.

Tom

Tom,

1. At this point I'm wondering WHY this incessant need/desire to find a 'hero' for your daughter? As I tried to point out in one of my previous replies, her attraction to this Shane Claiborne could be indicative of a far more serious problem; something beyond simple lack of discernment and the consequent deception.

2. The Bible is full of REAL 'heroes of the faith' which God has chosen to preserve for our edification by revealing both their strengths as well as their weaknesses and sin. In short, ALL the characters recorded in the Bible are given as examples by which we are given to know how to live before God, both in those things to be avoided and those things enjoined upon us according to the perfect will of God. (cf. Jh 13:15; 1Cor 10:1-14; 2Tim 3:10-17; Heb 11; Jam 5:10)

3. Where is her husband's leadership as the spiritual head of his wife in this matter?

I see far too many people today following after men rather than Christ, e.g., those enamored with MacArthur, White, Piper, ______________ (fill in the blank). And that to me is what most often leads many to fall into error, both in doctrine and life. It is the Lord Christ who should be the one we are looking to in all things. Only He was perfect in doctrine and life. And it is Christ and Christ alone who is the one to whom we must put our faith, render our mind, heart and will, unwaveringly unto justification and then sanctification. Admiring someone who is following Christ is fine. But beyond that I think it is not only a dangerous mistake but something Scripture would warn us against. ALL of mankind is under the curse of Adam and susceptible to all manner of sin. Thus, we are to be ever so mindful to be discerning in all things. It is good that you took the time to do a little research on this Shane Claiborne. But your daughter and particularly her husband should have done this on their own as well.

Pilgrim
Now I understand where you are coming from. However, I am not advocating finding a "hero" for my daughter, nor do I believe that my daughter thinks of Shane Claiborne as a "hero". She was impressed with what Shane had to say at the event and was moved to tell others about him.
Watching a few videos of Shane concerning helping the poor etc, a lot of what he said is very true. However, they could very well come from some humanists such as Gandhi.
In other words, it is not so much in what he said in the videos that gives him away as heretical it is in studying further into his actual beliefs that cause him to want to help the poor etc. What I found was that he in in a movement called 'New Monasticism" and studying further, I found that Shane had ties to Emergent’s and perhaps the biggest clue was that one of his mentors is Tony Campolo.

I myself don't have any "heroes", mainly because by making heroes out of imperfect people, they set themselves up for error.
However, that doesn't mean there are not people such as yourself that I have learned a lot from. Funny thing is, as I have read even these people, I have yet to find even one that I always agree with.
Yet, one thing remains true about all of them is they point me (if I can put it that way) towards the Lord, as revealed in Scripture. It is also clear that they do not want anyone to take their word for anything, but to be like a Berean and search the Scriptures to see if it is so.
Perhaps if I do find someone to recommend to my daughter, I should put in a word of caution.

Concerning her husband's role in my daughter's life; I do not know where he stands concerning this, mainly because he was not involved in the discussion.
However, if I feel that this is more serious than it appears to me at the moment, because my daughter's husband is her head, I will make sure he gets involved in the matter.

Tom