Kalled said:
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Lastly, McLaren promotes thinking among Christians (as does Rob Bell and others). Yes, Orthodox authors do this, but they do so to make people think about what they already believe and reinforce beliefs already held by the individual. McLaren and others actually talk about and inspire genuine thought and questioning. I don't understand why this is such a bad thing.

As someone (and I assume you believe this) who believes in historic Reformed theology, I am a little shocked that you would say something like that.
What I mean by that is when the whole council of God is preached, rather than what is happening in many Churches today. It can not help but make Christians think about what they believe.
I have been a Calvinist for about 7 years now (though I haven't counted the years) and I can tell you that at no point in my Christian walk have I been forced to think as much as I have in that 7 years.
One thing that I have found rather alarming in the Church today is that when someone such as myself talks in a dogmatic way, many Christians (or so called Christians) either change the topic, or avoid me.
This happens even in some Calvinist Churches, where one should expect to be able to talk about Reformed theology. Usually it is because of leadership, who although they believe in historic Reformed Theology (either Credo or Paedo), but don’t talk about it openly, lest they offend and their membership falls.

Start preaching the whole council of God and it will solve a lot of the problems you are referring to. Yes, some will get offended, but as CH Spurgeon once said: “If the doctrines of Grace offend, preach them all the more!” (that may not be an exact quote)

Tom