Comments on: Still Submergent After All These Years

By: rbirkey

rbirkey — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:58:38 +0000

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!

By: Daniel Cosby

Daniel Cosby — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:13:10 +0000

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

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:45:54 +0000

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.

By: Helen

Helen — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:59:08 +0000

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.