An Emerging Church Primer Assembled by Doug Gerrelts For SSEFC Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 1
Let’s Get Started….
Let’s Get Started…. I’m not going to do this… Throwing Darts at Strawmen
Why Are We Here? Why are you here? What do you think the Emerging Church is? Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 4
Video Introduction? Bolger/Gibbs Or introductory video?
Introductory Comments I am not an expert … My aim is not to tell you what to think But to help us think My aim is to help us understand the "emerging church. " Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 6
Introductory Comments As Christians, we need to train ourselves to have the mind of Christ, so that we can respond in maturity and not be “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 7
Justin Taylor “An Emerging Church Primer” Justin Taylor’s article is from the 9 marks website The 9 marks ministry is conservative, Bible centered, and ‘Reformed’ Taylor has co-edited books with John Piper and was chief editor for the ESV study bible Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 9
Scot Mc. Knight “Five Streams in the Emerging Church” Professor of religious studies at North Park Theological Sem. Author Member of the Emergent Village Coordinating Group “Insider” perspective Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 10
Mark Driscoll “Navigating the Lanes of the Emerging Church” § Connected with emerging from its earliest days § Pastor of Mars Hill - Seattle § Theologically of the “The historical reformed tradition” § Maintains a relationship with John Piper who “loves Driscoll’s theology” • Criticizes Liberals in the emerging church Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 11
Ground Rules for Discernment Jude 18 -23 Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 12
Ground Rules for Discernment 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Feb, 2009 Beware of Scoffers (false teachers) Build yourselves up in holy faith Pray in the Holy Spirit Keep yourselves in the love of God Wait on the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ Have mercy on those who doubt Save others by snatching them out of the fire to others, show mercy with fear (respect the destructiveness of the falseness) An Emerging Church Primer 13
“The Bentley Axiom” There is much to be gained by everyone if we carefully listen and sort through what is being said, then address the issues with the same sort of respect that we would like to have. Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 14
My Connections Doug Pagitt – Dorm Mate at Bethel Niece is attending Rob Bell’s Mars Hill church by Grand Rapids, MI Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 15
What Is the Emerging Church - Popular Caricatures “Where they light candles, sit on couches and try to ‘do church’” “Smells and Bells” “Funky Worship” “Candles and Incense” Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 16
Emerging Church Introductions February, 2009 Feb, 2009 Emerging Church Primer 17
What Is the Emerging Church - Popular Caricatures High-profile, youth-oriented Ability to attract (or retain) the twentysomethings contemporary worship Promotes itself to the Christian subculture through its web-sites and by word of mouth ○ Feb, 2009 Gibbs and Bolger Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures An Emerging Church Primer 18
Emerging Church Gibbs - Bolger Definition Emerging churches are communities that practice the way of Jesus within postmodern cultures. This definition encompasses nine practices. Emerging churches: 1. Identify with the life of Jesus, 2. Transform the secular realm, and 3. Live highly communal lives. Because of these three activities, they: 4. Welcome the stranger, 5. Serve with generosity, 6. Participate as producers, Feb, 2009 7. Create as created beings, 8. Lead as a body, and 9. Take part in spiritual activities. An Emerging Church Primer 19
“Nailing Jell-o to the Wall” (Defining the Emerging Church) Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 20
Nailing Jello to the Wall (Understanding the Emerging Church) Modernism vs. Postmodernism Gibbs-Bolger Terms Emergent Village Wikipedia Emerging History Emerging vs. Emergent 5 Streams 4 Lanes To help us understand the movement we will look at several definitions and models
Terminology Orthodoxy: (From Theopedia ) Ortho + doxa, meaning "right opinion" or "correct thinking. “ Orthopraxy (From Wiktionary): “Correct action/activity” Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 22
Terminology Propositional Theology: A Proposition is when we make a truth claim (statement) and support it with theorems, arguments or proofs Propositional Theology is then we make truth claims about God and support them with Biblical arguments. Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 23
Terminology Systematic Theology: “What does the whole Bible teach us today about any given topic? ” - Wayne Grudem Collections of Propositions Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 24
Terminology Doctrine of Clarity of Scripture (Perspicuity): (Theopedia) The meanings of the text can be clear to the ordinary reader The witness of the Church is that ordinary people will be able to understand what the Bible is getting at, even if there are points of difficulty Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 25
Emerging Church Wikipedia Definition circa 2006 A diverse movement within Christianity that arose in the late 20 th century as a reaction to the influence of modernism in Western Christianity. The movement is usually called a "conversation" by its proponents to emphasize its diffuse nature with contributions from many people and no explicitly defined leadership or direction. The emerging church seeks to deconstruct and reconstruct Christianity as its mainly Western members live in a postmodern culture. While practices and even core doctrine vary, most can be recognized by four values (following slides) Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 26
Emerging Church - Wikipedia Experiential / Authentic People in the postmodern culture seek real and authentic experiences in preference over scripted or superficial experiences. Emerging churches strive to be relevant to today's culture and daily life, whether it be through worship or service opportunities. The core Christian message is unchanged but emerging churches attempt, as the church has throughout the centuries, to find ways to reach God's people where they are to hear God's message of unconditional love. Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 27
Emerging Church - Wikipedia Missional living Christians go out into the world to serve God rather than isolate themselves within communities of like-minded individuals. Narrative theology Teaching focuses on narrative presentations of faith and the Bible rather than systematic theology or biblical reductionism. Christ-likeness While not neglecting the study of Scripture or the love of the church, Christians focus their lives on the worship and emulation of the person of Jesus Christ. Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 28
Implied Protests Note the element of protest about the modern church: Authenticity Protest: Full of fakery, not authentic Missional living Protest: Individualistic and isolated, not missional Narrative theology Protest: Fixated on abstract doctrine (propositional theology), not broad trajectories (stories) Christ-likeness Protest: Obsessed with church, Bible, or tradition, not Christocentric living Are these protests completely ungrounded? Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 29
Nailing Jello to the Wall (Understanding the Emerging Church) Modernism vs. Postmodernism Gibbs-Bolger Terms Emergent Village Wikipedia Emerging History Emerging vs. Emergent 5 Streams 4 Lanes
Emerging vs. Emergent The emerging church is a loose movement of Christians trying to contextualize or adapt Christianity for the “emerging” postmodern generation The Emergent Village is a formal organization and is most often associated with theological leanings of Brian Mc. Laren, Doug Pagitt, Tony Jones and some others. Has a board, coordinating group, meetings and website Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 31
Modern vs. Post-modern • Of, relating to, or being a theory that involves a radical reappraisal of modern assumptions about culture, identity, history, or language (Merriam Webster) Modern • Rationalism • Skepticism • Atheism • Materialism (Scientific) Feb, 2009 Postmodern • Experientialism • Pluralism • Spiritism An Emerging Church Primer 32
Nailing Jello to the Wall (Understanding the Emerging Church) Modernism vs. Postmodernism Gibbs-Bolger Terms Emergent Village Wikipedia Emerging History Emerging vs. Emergent 5 Streams 4 Lanes
Emergent Village Values and Practices (formerly rule and order) Commitment to God in the Way of Jesus 2. Commitment to the Church in all its Forms 3. Commitment to God’s World 4. Commitment to One Another 1. Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 34
Emergent Village Values and Practices (formerly rule and order) Some clearly positive things An emphasis on dialogue, relationship, community and seeking Some questionable things There are words about developing ideas and theology Not a word about the Word In them you will also find implied protests similar to what we’ve already seen Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 35
Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 37
Nailing Jello to the Wall (Understanding the Emerging Church) Modernism vs. Postmodernism Gibbs-Bolger Terms Emergent Village Wikipedia Emerging History Emerging vs. Emergent 5 Streams 4 Lanes
Streams Flowing in the Emerging Lake (Scot Mc. Knight) Scot Mc. Knight offers a model of 5 Streams flowing into a lake Streams = themes of thoughts/philosophies Taken together they describe the emerging movement Understanding these “streams” may be helpful to us as we consider the emerging church. Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 47
The Five Streams Model (Scot Mc. Knight) m a Stre l a ic gel n Eva ost P eam n Str stmoder Po Lake Emerging Praxis-Oriented Stream m rea t li S cal ti Po Prophe tic/Prov ocative Stream Five Streams in the Emerging Church Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 48
The Postmodern Stream § What does “Postmodern” mean? § Postmodernity is often thought of as the denial of truth – or Relativism. Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 49
The Postmodern Stream “Postmodernity isn’t the denial of truth, it is the collapse of modern explanations of life. Like science or Marxism. “‘Emerging’ upholds faith seeking understanding, and trust preceding the apprehension or comprehension of gospel truths. ” (Note the emphasis on seeking and trust over proposition) Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 50
The Postmodern Stream (cont’d) Three kinds in this stream: Some will minister to postmoderns ○ See postmoderns as trapped, must be rescued. Others minister with postmoderns ○ Accepting postmodernity as a fact of life Still others minister as postmoderns. ○ Embrace mystery ○ Attracts all the attention. Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 51
The Five Streams Model (Scot Mc. Knight) m a Stre l a ic gel n Eva ost P eam n Str stmoder Po Lake Emerging Praxis-Oriented Stream m rea t li S cal ti Po Prophe tic/Prov ocative Stream Five streams in the Emerging Church Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 52
The Praxis Stream “What most characterizes emerging is the stream best called Praxis” Emphasis in: Worship Right Living Missional Orientation Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 53
The Praxis Stream Worship: Creative, experiential, and sensory “Smells and bells”, “candles and incense”, etc. Question assumptions on: ○ Sermon ○ Prayer with incense, etc. ○ Preaching layout Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 54
The Praxis Stream Orthopraxy (Right Living): How a person lives is more important than what he or she believes. Those who believe the right things do not necessarily live the right way ○ "By their fruits [not their theology] you will know them. ” Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 55
The Praxis Stream Missional: Community Holistic Redemption ○ Doing good to bodies, spirits, families and societies ○ Restoring the marginalized Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 56
The Provocative (Prophetic? ) Stream Consciously and deliberately provocative. Believes the modern church needs to change To make its point, it exaggerates: Scripture as example (e. g. “pluck out your eye if it causes you to sin”) Such rhetoric makes its point, but it sometimes divides. Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 57
The Five Streams Model (Scot Mc. Knight) m a Stre l a ic gel n Eva ost P eam n Str stmoder Po Lake Emerging Praxis-Oriented Stream m rea t li S cal ti Po Prophe tic/Prov ocative Stream Five streams in the Emerging Church Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 58
The Post-Evangelical Stream The emerging movement is a protest It is ‘post-evangelical’ in the way that neoevangelicalism (in the 50 s & 60 s) was postfundamentalist. Theologically Evangelical, with following exceptions: Post-systematic theology: The emerging movement tends to be suspicious of systematic theology. In versus out: Many in the emerging movement are skeptical about the "in versus out" mentality. Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 59
The Political Stream Emerging types tend to lean left in politics. They think the Religious Right doesn't see what it is doing (wrong). I tell my friends that I have voted Democrat for years for all the wrong reasons. I don't think the Democratic Party is worth a hoot, but its historic commitment to the poor and to centralizing government for social justice is what I think government should do. I don't support abortion—in fact, I think it is immoral. I believe in civil rights, but I don't believe homosexuality is God's design. --- Scot Mc. Knight Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 60
The Five Streams Model (Scot Mc. Knight) m a Stre l a ic gel n Eva ost P eam n Str stmoder Po Lake Emerging Praxis-Oriented Stream m rea t li S cal ti Po Prophe tic/Prov ocative Stream Five streams in the Emerging Church Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 61
Nailing Jello to the Wall (Understanding the Emerging Church) Modernism vs. Postmodernism Gibbs-Bolger Terms Emergent Village Wikipedia Emerging History Emerging vs. Emergent 5 Streams 4 Lanes
Driscoll Video Introduction Add the desiring God video here… February, 2009 Emerging Church Primer 63
“LANES OF THE EMERGING CHURCH” Emerging Reformers Feb, 2009 Emergent House Emerging Liberals Church Evangelicals An Emerging Church Primer 65
Emerging Evangelicals Interested in adapting… Worship styles Preaching styles Leadership Structures …relevant to postmodernminded people Differences within group: Role of women in ministry Mode of baptism Charismatic gifts Leaders: Criticisms: They are doing little more than “cool church for hip young Christians” Chris Seay Dan Kimball Rich Mc. Kinley John Burke Donald Miller Feb, 2009 66
House Church Evangelicals Commonalities: Dissatisfied with current forms of church Propose more informal, organic house churches Differences: None cited Leaders: Criticisms: Collecting disgruntled Christians -reacting to the mega-church trend. House churches not effective in West Neil Cole Shane Claiborne Michael Frost Alan Hirsch George Barna Feb, 2009 67
Emerging Reformers Interested in/Agree on: Semper Reformanda (always reforming) Differences: None cited Adapted for post-modern age Reformed Theological tradition Aggressive church planting Gender role definition Leaders: Tim Keller Mark Driscoll (…) Mentors: Historical Reformers (Luther, Calvin…) John Piper D. A. Carson J. I. Packer Feb, 2009 Criticisms: Merely a repackaging of tired Reformed fundamentalism Outdated in understanding of gender roles Too narrow theologically Don’t fit in emerging church 68
Emergent Liberals Interested in reconstructing historic Christian orthodoxy: Authority or clarity of scripture Deity of Jesus Christ Substitutionary Atonement Sexual Ethics Exclusivity of Christ Reality of Hell Propositional Theology Leaders: Tony Jones (Dir. Emergent Village) Doug Pagitt Brian Mc. Laren Karen Ward Tim Keel Rob Bell (informally) Feb, 2009 Differences: Degree of revision of historic doctrines Criticisms: They are recycling liberal doctrinal debates of a previous generation Not seeing conversion growth but attracting disgruntled Christians And those attracted to unorthodox teaching 69
WHERE DO THE LANES LEAD? (DRISCOLL’S OBSERVATION) Apostasy Right Lane Exit Only Contextualized Orthodoxy Left Three Lanes Emerging Reformers Feb, 2009 House Church Evangelicals Emerging Evangelicals An Emerging Church Primer Emergent Liberals 70
If Driscoll is right, this is where Emergent Liberals exit Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 71
…Or they end up here… Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 72
IF THIS IS THE FOUR LANES OF THE EMERGING? Emerging Reformers Feb, 2009 House Church Evangelicals Emerging Evangelicals An Emerging Church Primer Emergent Liberals 73
WHAT WOULD FOUR LANES OF EVANGELICALISM LOOK LIKE? Baptist Feb, 2009 Lutheran An Emerging Church Primer EFCA ELCA, PCUSA 74
Summing up the emerging church: “Deconstruction”: Some are just “Remodeling the House”, stripping it to the bare walls, then repainting, adding carpet, couches, candles, desks, rock bands, etc. Some are “Deconstructing the House” to its foundations and reconstructing it in different forms like house or community churches Some are “Deconstructing the House and the foundations” - abandoning core foundational doctrines like substitutionary atonement… Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 75
Summing up the Emerging Church (John Piper) Seems to be a reaction among younger believers to several things: Reaction to large, plastic, programmed megachurch phenomenon ○ Prefer creative, “authentic” experiential services, smaller gatherings, poetic, gutsy, down-to-earth, sofas, candles, etc. . Some react to formalized doctrinal statements ○ Prefer stories and trajectories ○ Disdain for ‘infighting’ over systematic theologies Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 76
Summing up the Emerging Church Emphasis on practice and being missional. No one summary or model applies to all who would be described as “emerging” Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 77
Summing up the Emerging Church Modern • Rationalism • Skepticism • Atheism • Materialism (Scientific) Postmodern • Experientialism • Pluralism • Spiritism The Emerging Church is filling a hunger and thirst for experiential and loving spirituality amongst postmoderns Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 78
Summing up the Emerging Church Before we move to areas of concern… are there any questions? Of what you’ve heard, is there anything to appreciate about emerging? What concerns you? Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 79
Evaluating the Emerging Church Four Areas of concern to keep in mind with evaluating the Emerging/ Emergent Church: The Bible The Cross Truth and Knowledge Sexual Ethics Other Concerns: Gender roles, exclusivity of Jesus, reality of Hell Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 80
Emerging Concerns – The Bible Narrative Emphasis Avoid Details Some deny clarity Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 81
Emerging Concerns – The Bible Propositional avoidance The scriptures are propositional Christ is the Word Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 82
Emerging Concerns – The Bible In fact, as the Bells describe it, after launching Mars Hill in 1999, they found themselves increasingly uncomfortable with church. "Life in the church had become so small, " Kristen says. "It had worked for me for a long time. Then it stopped working. " The Bells started questioning their assumptions about the Bible itself—"discovering the Bible as a human product, " as Rob puts it, rather than the product of divine fiat. "The Bible is still in the center for us, " Rob says, "but it's a different kind of center. We want to embrace mystery, rather than conquer it. “ "I grew up thinking that we've figured out the Bible, " Kristen says, "that we knew what it means. Now I have no idea what most of it means. And yet I feel like life is big again—like life used to be black and white, and now it's in color. " – From “The Emergent Mystique” in Christianity Today http: //www. christianitytoday. com/ct/2004/november/12. 36. html? start=2 Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 83
Emerging Concerns – The Cross ‘Emergent’ Christians have difficulty with the brutality of the Cross Some conclude that the cross was not about substitionary atonement Partially true But it is not less Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 84
Emerging Concerns – The Cross The fact is that the cross isn't a form of cosmic child abuse —a vengeful Father, punishing his Son for an offence he has not even committed [as the doctrine of penal substitution makes it out to be]. Understandably, both people inside and outside of the Church have found this twisted version of events morally dubious and a huge barrier to faith. Deeper than that, however, is that such a concept stands in total contradiction to the statement "God is love". If the cross is a personal act of violence perpetrated by God towards humankind but borne by his Son, then it makes a mockery of Jesus' own teaching to love your enemies and to refuse to repay evil with evil. Steve Chalke in “The Lost Message of Jesus” § Mc. Laren says this book “could help save Jesus from Christianity” Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 85
Emerging Concerns Truth and Knowledge Emergents have difficulty with truth “Can’t fully know it” “Such truth belongs to God” Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 86
Emerging Concerns Truth and Knowledge Mc. Laren says : "Certainty is overrated. . . History teaches us that a lot of people thought they were certain and we found out they weren't. " When we talk about the word 'faith' and the word 'certainty, ' we've got a whole lot of problems there. What do we mean by 'certainty'? . . . Certainty can be dangerous. What we need is a proper confidence that's always seeking the truth and that's seeking to live in the way God wants us to live, but that also has the proper degree of self-critical and self-questioning passion. In A Generous Orthodoxy, Mc. Laren even makes it a point to champion ambiguity. A warning: as in most of my other books, there are places here where I have gone out of my way to be provocative, mischievous, and unclear, reflecting my belief that clarity is sometimes overrated, and that shock, obscurity, playfulness, and intrigue (carefully articulated) often stimulate more thought than clarity. (pp. 22 -23) He readily admits that he is not even sure if what he is espousing is correct. Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 87
Emerging Concerns Truth and Knowledge John Piper Comments: The single greatest concern for me is their attitude towards doctrine. Stylistic things are neither here nor there. They come and go: whether you meet in a home or meet in a church, sit in a circle or sit in rows, paint on the walls or not—they're all just peripheral issues. They're the wineskins, not the wine. The issue is their attitude towards truth…They don't believe that truth itself is an objective propositional thing that has a yes and a no. Nothing is ever either/or, good or bad, right or wrong, ugly or beautiful. It's all vague. I've talked with some emergent types and tried to understand even their concept of truth, and you can't get your hand around it. Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 88
Emerging Concerns Truth and Knowledge Exhaustive knowledge vs. certain knowledge Making seeking an end in itself G. K. Chesteron offers us a biblical alternative to Mc. Laren's methodology: "The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid. ” Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 89
Emerging Concerns – Sexual Ethics Some Emergents either accept or evade answering on homosexuality Want to pursue other authorities than the Bible Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 90
Emerging Concerns – Sexual Ethics Frankly, many of us don't know what we should think about homosexuality. We've heard all sides but no position has yet won our confidence so that we can say 'it seems good to the Holy Spirit and us. ' That alienates us from both the liberals and conservatives whom seem to know exactly what we should think. Perhaps we need a five-year moratorium on making pronouncements. In the meantime, we'll practice prayerful Christian dialogue, listening respectfully, disagreeing agreeably. When decisions need to be made, they'll be admittedly provisional. We'll keep our ears attuned to scholars in biblical studies, theology, ethics, psychology, genetics, sociology, and related fields. Then in five years, if we have clarity, we'll speak; if not, we'll set another five years for ongoing reflection. Mc. Laren on Homosexuality Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 91
Emerging Concerns – Sexual Ethics The Bible says many things, and some topics are clearer than other topics. Its teaching on homosexuality, however, is clear (e. g. Romans 1) It may not be popular, but it is not ambiguous. Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 92
Emerging Concerns - Summary Concerns exist on other points of doctrine: Reality of Hell Gender Roles Exclusivity of Christ Is this different than modern evangelicalism? Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 93
Response So how do we respond to this movement? Are we more fearful of emergent liberals than evangelical liberals? Why or why not? Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 94
Responses - Mc. Knight I ask my fellow emerging Christians to maintain their missional and ecclesial focus, just as I urge my fellow evangelicals to engage in the social as well. All in all, it is unlikely that the emerging movement will disappear anytime soon. If I were a prophet, I'd say that it will influence most of evangelicalism in its chastened epistemology (if it hasn't already), its emphasis on praxis, and its missional orientation. I see the emerging movement much like the Jesus and charismatic movements of the 1960 s, which undoubtedly have found a place in the quilt called evangelicalism. Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 95
Responses – D. A. Carson I have to say, as kindly but as forcefully as I can, that to my mind, if words mean anything, both Mc. Laren and Chalke have largely abandoned the gospel. Perhaps their rhetoric and enthusiasm have led them astray and they will prove willing to reconsider their published judgments on these matters and embrace biblical truth more holistically than they have been doing in their most recent works. But if not, I cannot see how their own words constitute anything less than a drift toward abandoning the gospel itself. . As far as I can tell, Brian Mc. Laren and Steve Chalke are the most influential leaders of the emerging movement in their respective countries. I would feel much less worried about the directions being taken by other emerging church leaders if these leaders would rise up and call Mc. Laren and Chalke to account where they have clearly abandoned what the Bible actually says. Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 96
Responses - Driscoll Mark Driscoll – Responded as Carson Suggested: "I was part of what is now known as the Emerging Church Movement in its early days…. I had to distance myself, however, from one of many streams in the emerging church because of theological differences. Since the late 1990 s, this stream has become known as Emergent. The emergent church is part of the Emerging Church Movement but does not embrace the dominant ideology of the movement. Rather, the emergent church is the latest version of liberalism. The only difference is that the old liberalism accommodated modernity and the new liberalism accommodates postmodernity" (p. 21). --Excerpt from Mark Driscoll's Confessions of a Reformission Rev. (Zondervan, 2006)
Responses What should we as modern, evangelical Christians who may or may not have ‘postmodern’ inclinations do?
Responses What do you think of these responses? “I’m glad we’re safe here in SSEFC with our strong commitment to the Bible” “We need to hunker down and defend against this whole movement” Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 99
Responses Humble Orthodoxy What’s more humble – denying the existence or comprehensibility of truth or submitting to the truth of God’s Word? Speak the truth in Love While remembering to be merciful to the doubter Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 100
Responses Contextualized Confession Without compromising the gospel Being careful to transform, not conform Refusal to accommodate can result in not conforming to the gospel (1 Cor 9: 19 -23) Feb, 2009 “We must retain the essentials and adapt the non-essentials” (Taylor) An Emerging Church Primer 102
Responses Questioning – Fuel for the Emerging Church What environment are we creating for shepherding through doubt? Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 103
Responses – Dwight Moody § If you find yourself being critical of even the adaption of form – the contextualizing of the gospel, consider the following from D. L. Moody Feb, 2009 104
Responses – Dwight Moody There's an old story attributed to Dwight L. Moody, who was once criticized for his methods of evangelism. He responded, 'I like my way of doing it better than your way of not doing it. ‘ Are we building friendships with postmodern non-Christians, the type who bristle at the sight of steeple and pew? Do we even know such people? Feb, 2009 105
Final Thoughts The emerging church is capturing the minds of many postmoderns Spans broad styles and doctrines There are clear areas of concern There is a need to be willing to contextualize the gospel, while affirming its essentials
Next These sessions have been instructional Aimed at providing a context for understanding the emerging church In the next sessions, we will explore the writings, videocasts and teachings of some emerging leaders Solidifying and applying what we’ve learned Countering or Affirming what we see
Emergent Focus – Rob Bell History NOOMA excerpt on Peter walking on water Message on Woman at the Well “changing the subject” Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 108
Emergent Focus – Doug Pagitt History and Background Questioning not allowed Pantheism On Hell Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 109
Emergent Focus – Brian Mc. Laren History Pick a few things Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 110
Emergent Focus – Analyzing the Atonement Podcast Metaphors Feb, 2009 An Emerging Church Primer 111
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