Emerging Church
Are you the emerging church?...you just might be...but I hope not. I love to listen to different preachers and teachers and glean from them, learn some things, and just prosper the inner man. But who can you trust now-a-days? It seems like every single time you find a pastor or teacher or professor to glean from they fall into sin, live a secret life, or just have major different views about life. It’s really hard to put your trust into people because they always seem to let you down. If you have found a church that you love, then congratulations are in order for you. Just make sure that your church and pastors are legitimate. Don't be afraid to ask your pastor questions about his personal life, theology, and views about true discipleship and what it means to be a Christian.
The Emerging Church is a movement of people who believe that most of the 20th century churches have lost touch with the people. They are a movement of people that try to teach others about God through different means...they are very liberal. This is a quote from Scot McKnight who wrote an article for Christianity Today entitled "5 Streams Of The Emerging Church."
"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 charismatic’s—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."
Make sure that you are not the emerging church personally and that your pastor, mentors, teachers, and professors who you let into your life are not the emerging church either. Do research on them and find out who you are letting speak into your life.
If you want to read the full article just click here//http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/february/11.35.html?start=1
Pastor Lucas
Your thoughts are well taken.
Your thoughts are well taken. Thank you for bringing this up. It is reassuring to know that Cornerstone is not "the emerging church". I give my thanks to God for directing me to this place over many many others that are much closer.
Hey Lucas, Blogs and typing
Hey Lucas,
Blogs and typing are not my favorite way to discuss things, but today I like it well enough. They are certainly no place for debate in my opinion. It makes the discussion too cold. I would smile at you if we were together now. I hope this can be taken not too heavily.
I think we read that article from different angles, but I didn't realize it until just now. I think that there are some valuable and powerful ideas behind the emerging church movement. I've been running around with some folks from the Vineyard for a while now, and it seems that much of what we do could be considered "emergent" although it is technically "Neocharismatic Evangelical." Wow, just writing that turns me off. Postmodernism is such a touchy subject. It is so polarizing. I find myself drawn to the idea of the emerging church's willingness to discuss life and relationship with God openly and with much prayer.
Hey, I don't want to write a response longer than your post, so I must stop. I know I haven't seen you in years and only knew you for a couple of weeks, but you really changed my life at Converge. You inspired me to be myself as much as anyone ever has. Thanks.
--Wesley Robinson
I was looking for this link;
I was looking for this link; thanks for posting it. The emerging movement has not been completely monolithic; some of their methodology has gone a long way to reaching the unchurched (though there also exists the accusation that they're doing a better job of reaching young, disgruntled Christians). There is a growing concern about the hemorrhage of young people from the church. In your ministry, what have you seen as effective ways of communicating the gospel?
Chris Wiles
www.thornscompose.wordpress.com
Wesley, it's so great to hear
Wesley, it's so great to hear from you. I think that a lot of churches consider themselbes emerging or what to be emerging. But there is a group of churches that belong to the organization of emergent churches...and it's those churches that are off base. The emergent church group does not believe in the Bible as all truth...they tend to accept other ideas that come along the way...this is a recipe for disaster. Our church is always emerging and gaining ground trying to be relevent with the culture. I say, "Always change your method but never the message."
Thanks for such the kind words. I didnt know that you read our young adults blog that i oversee. Thanks for reading and keeping in touch...i miss you company and friendship a lot.
Lucas
Thats completely true that
Thats completely true that the emergent church is not completely monolithic. They are very hard to pin down and define. They do reach the young disgruntled Christian very well but that means nothing for the kingdom of God...are they producing true disciples of Jesus? Getting them into your doors might be the easy part but keeping them after they have heard the hard truth of the Gospel is the important part.
An effective way of communicating the Gospel has been through first relationships built...and then our young people love good hard word from the Bible...nothing watered down. We also show plenty of great inspiring videos, along with powerful worship.
I hope this helps.