Reviews, Interviews, News, Commentaries, Excerpts, My Top 5 Books, Wilson's Bookmarks, Book AwardsMcLaren Emerging
Emergent is no longer just emerging. It has in many respects emerged. Though some things remain unclear, what you see is what it is and, more importantly, what you see is also where it is going. Where it is going is in the direction of gospel expansion. Is emergent "evangelical"? Some answer with a hearty, "By all means!" Others, a more moderate, "Well yes, on some level." Still others, a most definite, "No, of course not!"
The emerging movement, the larger movement of which emergent is a segment, remains more or less connected to the core of evangelicalism. It contains a variety of missional impulses; it remains concerned about the church; and its theological ideas will undoubtedly continue to impact evangelicalism. John Stott recently sketched three core practices of emerging churches: the way of Jesus, breaking down the sacred-secular divide, and community living. He says that "emerging churches are rediscovering [these core practices] and giving them a fresh emphasis." Rediscovering accurately describes what is going on, but those in the emerging movement feel these core practices are a fresh discovery. Furthermore, what Stott calls the "emerging churches" involves a spectrum that deserves a closer look.
I maintain a crucial distinction between two related streams: emergent and the broader emerging movement. Emergent is crystallized in Emergent Village and its leaders Brian McLaren, Tony Jones, and Doug Pagitt. Emerging is a mix of orthodox, missional, evangelical, church-centered, and social justice leaders and lay folk. When I think of this broader emerging movement, I think of Dan Kimball at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, Dave Dunbar at Biblical Seminary in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch ...
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Teresa
REmember teh bible warned in Jude and Rev and 1 or 2ndPeter and Acts and on and on that a falling away would happen? CT is promoting this evil man, who tries to mix in some honey with teh poison. Christians HAVE been feeding the poor and so much more, even if he doesn't acknowledge all their/our work, but to think that the kingdom is only about the social gospel while he redefines Jesus and his church is the very things that the bible and Jesus ever warned about in the first place. Everytime I see the Emergent (ing) church, or Rick Warren for that matter, and their ties with the false religons and false gods of this worls, i think about the Anti-Bride of the church, the whore of REvelation 17 who is severly punished for adultery, but all in the name of Jesus. She was doing what? Speaking blaspehmies, killing any christians they could find ( post the rapture, new converts I think) and leading men and women into hell, while supporting the false Christ to come with his psuedo-peace plan.
Jacob Prasch
Your article fails to biblically assess the essential tenets of Maclaren & emergence including its abbrogation of the centrality of biblical doctrine. Evaluating something in light of scripture is the spiritual, biblical, and logical first step for any rresponsible Christian inquirey. The article in itself is 'emergent' in that it largely fails to do that. A biblical and scgholarly investigation of emergence reveals it to be post modernism religious philosophy redefining Christianity along non biblical and contra biblical lines for a paradigm shift intead of a recontextualization of biblical Christianity to meet that challenge. This delusional counterfeit of Christianity in effect idealizes the early dark ages with its mysticism, gnosticism, and incipient icon venerative proto-idolatry as the classic period in the history of Christendom instead of The Apostolic church recorded in The Book of Acts , and The Epistles. It is an unbalanced article/ Jacob Prasch
Petra
How silly is it that "east" beats "west" in Christianity. The Holy Spirit leads people to Christ and reveals His Word. He is not limited to any persons agenda. I am so thankful these Hollywood inspired stereotypes of Christians by McLaren and others are being challenged and defeated. Why is it that emergents can insult anyone and everyone and it is portrayed as deeper thinking and spiritual?