McLaren on the nature of salvation in A New Kind of Christian

On the issue of the nature of salvation: "Now the real issue isn't an emotional crisis or the stereotypical experience of being "saved" or "born again" or of "crossing a line" and then stopping there. The issue isn't signing on to a new set of beliefs alone. The issue is following Jesus, joining him in his adventure and mission of saving the world and expressing God's love. If a person isn't moving ahead on that journey, then no matter how many aisles he walks down and cards he fills out and "sinners prayers" he says, whether or not he is going to heaven, there is still no way we can say in any meaningful sense that he is experiencing salvation (132)."

Brian McLaren in A New Kind of Christian (p. 132)

McLaren on being saved in A New Kind of Christian

The way you modern evangelicals use the word "saved" is, I think, terribly unbiblical. (How's that for throwing down the gauntlet?) The way you talk about salvation suggests that the only thing that matters in life is getting your butt into heaven, being saved from hell, getting eternal life for yourself. ... I also think the standard definition of salvation breed passivity. It's like a line in the sand, and we say, "The most important thing in life is to be on the other side of the line." OK. People cross the line. What then? They try to get other people to cross the line. OK. What then? I see a huge contrast to crossing the line in this way, and following Jesus on a journey."

Brian McLaren, in A New Kind of Christian (p. 130)