Why We’re Not Emergent: By Two Guys Who Should Be
It is well written. I found it to be an engaging mix of serious theological thinking and discussions combined with humorous stories, experiences, reflections and personal musings. In fact, it’s like an “emergent conversation” without the typical “emergent” excesses.
To any younger (say in their 30’s or younger) Christian raised in the evangelical tradition and also in the predominant post-modern culture, who finds themselves drawn to the “emergent” church, it’s celebrities (Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt, and others), it’s theology (or lack thereof), and its values (social justice, mercy, justice, service), I highly recommend this book. You need to hear the call in this book to biblical balance and wrestle with where you will stand.
I am personally sympathetic to much of what the emergent church is saying, especially in terms of our “orthopraxy” (right living). We evangelicals have focused strongly on “Orthodoxy” (right beliefs), and in this mostly left-brain process we have almost ignored the call of Jesus to become disciples. We have also ignored the mostly right-brain realm of the Holy Spirit. Following Christ is not just about saying a prayer and being all set for heaven because you verbally assented to a certain set of propositions. It is also a call to sacrifice, service, community and a life transformed. It is about learning to live under the control of and within the power of the Holy Spirit. It is all about becoming more and more like Christ.
Ravi Zacharias has said that the toughest question he gets asked is:
“Why, if Christianity is true and claims to change lives, do we see so little evidence of that transformation in the lives of Christians?”
How do you defend against that? This is the existential indictment that the ‘emergents” are pointing their finger at. There is the lack of real difference in the lives of most of us Christians and our almost full-scale adoption of the culture around us. We don’t look that much different. Why should someone follow Christ if that is the case? We don’t even seem to care, or to even notice we have a problem. Our churches are full of lukewarmness and lack the powerful life changing work of the Spirit.
This is where the emergent church has got it right. Sadly, many of their spokespersons do not want to be nailed down on what they will base their alternatives on. Their truth seems to be very relative. The movement cannot last if this is the case. It will become a passing fad. Any true insights and indictments there may be in the emergent movement are doomed if they cannot rest it upon God’s Truth.
I think the book’s Epilogue is especially good: “Listening to all the churches of Revelation.” In it, the authors call the emergent church (and all believers) to assess where we are in light of what the Spirit had to say to the seven churches. The cultural, philosophical, social and spiritual parallels are amazing. I think they really nailed it in their assessment of where we are as the western church, at the beginning of the 21st century. It begs the personal question: Am I ready to confess my sins of lukewarmness, tolerance of sin, loss of my first love, numbness to the lost around me, and my focus on the material world? Am I ready to hear Jesus say, “But I have this against you?” Will I let Jesus come in and clean house - I mean really clean it?
Chapter Titles:
- Intro: Still Submergent After All These Years (Kevin)
- Intro: Maybe (Ted)
- 1 - Journey: Are the Pilgrims Still Making Progress? (Kevin)
- 2 - Rebel Without A Cause: What Is Worth Submitting to? (Ted)
- 3 - Bible: Why I Love the Person and Propositions of Jesus (Kevin)
- 4 - Thank You for Smoking: On Dialogue, Futurism and Hell (Ted)
- 5 - Doctrine: The Drama is in the Dogma (Kevin)
- 6 - A Funeral for a Friend: On Churches, Story, and Propositional Language (Ted)
- 7 - Modernism: The Boogeyman Cometh (Kevin)
- 8 - Where Everybody Knows Your Name: Dialouging for the Sake of Dialogue (Ted)
- 9 - Jesus: Bringer of Peace, Bearer of Wrath (Kevin)
- 10 - Real Topeka People: In Search of Community (Ted)
- 11 - Why I Don’t Want a Cool Pastor (Ted)
- Epilogue: Listening to All the Churches of Revelation (Kevin)
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Randy, I really enjoy reading your thoughts on here because of the perspective you’re coming from.
The name Brian McLaren might throw up a red flag but I’d encourage you to give his latest book Finding Our Way Again a go. I just read it and I loved the vision of Christianity he presents in there. It’s not a book about doctrine - it’s a call to a deeper walk, to Christianity as a way of life, not just a system of belief and to practices which lead Christians to be all they were intended to be. And speaking of right brain, much of it is delightfully poetic.
I think a lot of what he says would resonate with you even if you’ve heard things that trouble you about him.
I’d love to know what you think of Finding Our Way Again if you decide to read it. I posted my review of it on my blog today, if you’re interested.
Randy, I read an excerpt from this book and I also found it pretty fascinating. I would like to get my hands on the book, but here in Israel it is hard to find books like that.
I regards to the Emergent Church, I feel very similar to you. I think the emergent church is missing out on a huge part of the gospel, most specifically on obedience and sanctification. I just hope to see more people my age actually give their all to Jesus and not just as much as they feel like. By giving their all they can experience a true life transformation that is evidence of the Holy Sprit dwelling inside.
And on another note. I was talking with my room mate yesterday and he brought up that there is supposed to be a large scale earthquake in Jerusalem next year. I’m not sure if you have heard anything about this, but he told me that they are already assembling for it. Let me know if you have heard anything about this, or you can write a blog on it to clue us all in.
Randy, I just came across your blog today and am so refreshed by your sober assessment of this thing called the emergent church, and how it has some good points but all too often trades a real life in Christ for an anything-goes type of vague spirituality. I’m definately going to try and get a copy of the book, and I plan on visiting your site often. I originally found it while searching for positive reviews of Pagan Christianity, which it turns out seems to be a fairly accurate barometer for where a person stands on all the big questions regarding the church. I look forward to reading more…
Daniel
Helen, Dave and Daniel. Thanks for your comments. Sorry it has taken me so long to respond. Helen, I will read McLaren’s book… thanks for the suggestion. Dave - so good to hear from you all the way from Israel! I have not heard about the earthquake… but I will look into it. Daniel, thanks for your encouraging words. I am receiving a copy of Frank Viola’s next book and will review it here after reading it. I find myself being a house church, organic church guy in an institutional church. I’m trying to figure out what God wants me to do with that! God bless!