 |
|
|
I was shocked when I found out who the biggest failure in the Bible actually is…The biggest one in the whole Bible is God…I mean, He lost His top-ranking, most anointed angel; the first man He ever created; the first woman He ever created; the whole earth and all the fullness therein; a third of the angels, at least - that's a big loss, man….
-- Kenneth Copeland, Praise-a-thon on Praise The Lord, April 1988
|
|
| |
News: Five Streams of the Emerging Church
Posted on Friday, January 19 @ 18:14:21 PST by Virgil |
|
by Scot McKnight
It is said that emerging Christians confess their faith like mainliners—meaning they say things publicly they don't really believe. They drink like Southern Baptists—meaning, to adapt some words from Mark Twain, they are teetotalers when it is judicious. They talk like Catholics—meaning they cuss and use naughty words. They evangelize and theologize like the Reformed—meaning they rarely evangelize, yet theologize all the time. They worship like charismatics—meaning with their whole bodies, some parts tattooed. They vote like Episcopalians—meaning they eat, drink, and sleep on their left side. And, they deny the truth—meaning they've got a latte-soaked copy of Derrida in their smoke- and beer-stained backpacks.
Along with unfair stereotypes of other traditions, such are the urban legends surrounding the emerging church—one of the most controversial and misunderstood movements today. As a theologian, I have studied the movement and interacted with its key leaders for years—even more, I happily consider myself part of this movement or "conversation." As an evangelical, I've had my concerns, but overall I think what emerging Christians bring to the table is vital for the overall health of the church.
In this article, I want to undermine the urban legends and provide a more accurate description of the emerging movement. Though the movement has an international dimension, I will focus on the North American scene.
To define a movement, we must, as a courtesy, let it say what it is. Eddie Gibbs and Ryan Bolger, in their book, Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures (Baker Academic, 2005) define emerging in this way:
Click here to read the entire article
|
| |
|
|
Average Score: 3
Votes: 2
 |
|
|
^^Go to Top -  E-mail to Friend -  Print -  View PDF -  Subscribe -  Comments RSS
Re: Five Streams of the Emerging Church (Score: 1)
 by Islamaphobe on Friday, January 19 @ 20:13:09 PST
(User Info | Send a Message) | I read this article and found it informative. I also find the author to be an absolute simpleton when it comes to understanding basic economics and the biblical view of economics. I love this sentence: "I don't think the Democratic Party is worth a hoot, but its historic commitment to the poor and to centralizindg government for social justice is what I think government should do." In a word, crap!
I have been thinking for some time about doing another article on basic economics that analyses the way liberals, including liberal Christians, tend to think about economics. This article tipped me over, and I am now hard at work. I shall soon post a two-part series entitled "Biting the Invisible Hand."
John S. Evans |
[ To reply to this, please login or register ]
- by JL on Friday, January 19 @ 20:50:06 PST
- by MiddleKnowledge on Saturday, January 20 @ 08:21:27 PST
Re: Five Streams of the Emerging Church (Score: 1)
by Missina on Saturday, January 20 @ 02:04:08 PST
(User Info | Send a Message) | "Experience does not prove that those who believe the right things live the right way."
This stood out to me, because it reminds me of Virgil's recent podcast where he was talking about how our definition of "believe" has come to mean a rational decision rather than a "belove", a struggling, relational, connection with God. Therefore, verses like "believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved" come to mean just that- a thinking or knowledge rather than the intense practical application and lifestyle. Even our English term comes from "be" (to exist/live) and "lyfon" (according to)... to live according to something. The separation of thought and action that we've come to know today has done more damage than good, especially when many can't seem to understand the significance of "faith without works is dead" and how that fits into a message of grace.
All this to say, that while I'm as of yet unsure of where I stand in regards to the emerging church and its effects on Christianity, there are definitely aspects I admire and encourage- this being one of them. I think they have a solid understanding here of a balance that needs to take place in relation to belief and faith, and this article outlined that very well for me. Thanks for posting it. |
[ To reply to this, please login or register ]
- by chef on Saturday, January 20 @ 06:07:23 PST
- by Virgil on Saturday, January 20 @ 08:45:22 PST
- by KingNeb on Saturday, January 20 @ 10:26:20 PST
- by chef on Sunday, January 21 @ 05:51:32 PST
Re: Five Streams of the Emerging Church (Score: 1)
by Starlight on Saturday, January 20 @ 10:42:13 PST
(User Info | Send a Message) | Scott,
I had not realized that after all these years I had emerged into an emergent point of view. I had not even realized that there was such a movement identified out there. I had always thought that as I grew in my understanding of the word that those were attributes of Christ producing fruits within me and others. I didn’t realize I had to leave the confines of my home tradition to find those aspects. I didn’t realize that my eventual recognition of the tradition laden aspects of doing church would call for me to abandon my church family and seek a new one. One that although beginning with less traditions and bindings would within a few generations lead us right back into the same bindings that we would be trying to dispel presently.
I find this discussion of developing an emergent church all very interesting. The now tradition laden movement that I find myself worshiping within started out with very similar ideas and convictions. Unfortunately these beginners were children of the Enlightenment and it has taken nearly 200 years for many of us to recognize those burdensome bindings and free ourselves intellectually (although I bet you that many of our members figured this out during the past 200 years). We don’t really have to leave a group of people necessarily to pursue these issues, as the word has been working and performing it’s freeing spirit constantly since about 30AD.
Of course I’m overstating the points but it is to make this point; which is that your description of emergent sounds no different to me than just good ole fashioned spirit led living. We have every form and variety within our congregation of spiritual maturity. Trying to develop a new movement has continually been and is being exercised constantly in believer’s lives no matter where they are found.
Blessings
Norm
|
[ To reply to this, please login or register ]
| 
|
