Comments on: What Is This “Emerging Church” You Speak Of? http://www.multnomah.edu/blog/2009/02/10/what-is-this-emerging-church-you-speak-of/ The Official Multnomah University Blog Tue, 15 May 2012 18:08:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: Hipolito M. Wiseman http://www.multnomah.edu/blog/2009/02/10/what-is-this-emerging-church-you-speak-of/#comment-111 Hipolito M. Wiseman Wed, 05 May 2010 22:42:01 +0000 http://blogs.multnomah.edu/University/?p=315#comment-111 It's great to find a site like this for people like me. Keep the faith and thanks for your work and showing us these things. God bless and happy National Prayer Day! It’s great to find a site like this for people like me. Keep the faith and thanks for your work and showing us these things. God bless and happy National Prayer Day!

]]> By: John Lussier http://www.multnomah.edu/blog/2009/02/10/what-is-this-emerging-church-you-speak-of/#comment-110 John Lussier Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:23:41 +0000 http://blogs.multnomah.edu/University/?p=315#comment-110 1. There are others beyond Driscoll who should definitely be consulted on the Emerging Church dialogue/movement/what-have-you before making a judgment. Driscoll was a part of the first beginning of the "group" several years ago as he was part of the Leadership Network, along with Doug Pagitt, and Brian Mclaren, etc., and has subsequently distanced himself from these. This fact gives a marked background to his opinion on the matter. While not completely unbiased, in my mind, Scot Mcknight's article the Five Streams of the Emerging Church (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/february/11.35.html) is a good jumping off point, and Gibbs and Bolgers book Emerging Churches (http://www.amazon.com/Emerging-Churches-Christian-Community-Postmodern/dp/0801027152) is a fairly objective look at some of the characteristics of the various churches and groups involved, which has nearly become the reference book for all things Emerging Church. 2. Making judgments on the Emerging Church right now in my opinion is a hasty action and an overcommitment to a categorical assignment. The "movement" is only at the beginning of its growth, and has not put forward any kind of official theology or confession, which is understandable for two reasons: a. part of the "groups" ethos is a de-emphasis on orthodoxy (right thought) and an emphasis on orthpraxy (right action). And b., at the same time there is no official organization or leader that would be able to do so. The Emerging Church (big C) is not connected or organized to put forward one confessional statement that would represent each church (little c), but is only a sociological grouping of a movement that has no official organization, leadership, etc. etc. etc. 3. Any critique of the Emerging Church therefore needs to be done on a case-by-case basis looking at the actions and doctrine of individual leaders and congregations, and blanket statements should not be made as far as possible. As always these critiques and investigations of movements, churches, etc. need to be done with scripture in mind and love in the heart, without letting personal preference, tradition, or overly firm doctrine taking the place of these. Ggrace and Peace 1. There are others beyond Driscoll who should definitely be consulted on the Emerging Church dialogue/movement/what-have-you before making a judgment. Driscoll was a part of the first beginning of the “group” several years ago as he was part of the Leadership Network, along with Doug Pagitt, and Brian Mclaren, etc., and has subsequently distanced himself from these. This fact gives a marked background to his opinion on the matter.

While not completely unbiased, in my mind, Scot Mcknight’s article the Five Streams of the Emerging Church (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/february/11.35.html) is a good jumping off point, and Gibbs and Bolgers book Emerging Churches (http://www.amazon.com/Emerging-Churches-Christian-Community-Postmodern/dp/0801027152) is a fairly objective look at some of the characteristics of the various churches and groups involved, which has nearly become the reference book for all things Emerging Church.

2. Making judgments on the Emerging Church right now in my opinion is a hasty action and an overcommitment to a categorical assignment.

The “movement” is only at the beginning of its growth, and has not put forward any kind of official theology or confession, which is understandable for two reasons: a. part of the “groups” ethos is a de-emphasis on orthodoxy (right thought) and an emphasis on orthpraxy (right action). And b., at the same time there is no official organization or leader that would be able to do so. The Emerging Church (big C) is not connected or organized to put forward one confessional statement that would represent each church (little c), but is only a sociological grouping of a movement that has no official organization, leadership, etc. etc. etc.

3. Any critique of the Emerging Church therefore needs to be done on a case-by-case basis looking at the actions and doctrine of individual leaders and congregations, and blanket statements should not be made as far as possible. As always these critiques and investigations of movements, churches, etc. need to be done with scripture in mind and love in the heart, without letting personal preference, tradition, or overly firm doctrine taking the place of these.
Ggrace and Peace

]]> By: Joseff Farrah http://www.multnomah.edu/blog/2009/02/10/what-is-this-emerging-church-you-speak-of/#comment-109 Joseff Farrah Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:48:50 +0000 http://blogs.multnomah.edu/University/?p=315#comment-109 A helpful critique of the Emergent movement is R. Scott Smith's book, *Truth and a New Kind of Christian* (Crossway). Smith is a professor of ethics at Biola University. The book is helpful on at least two major fronts: 1. It came about as a result of Smith actually dialoging with Emergent leaders, which he has continued to this day. So there isn't this sort of distant analysis. 2. It provides helpful discussion of some of the relevant philosophical assumptions that Emergent's take to be true. A helpful critique of the Emergent movement is R. Scott Smith’s book, *Truth and a New Kind of Christian* (Crossway).

Smith is a professor of ethics at Biola University.

The book is helpful on at least two major fronts:

1. It came about as a result of Smith actually dialoging with Emergent leaders, which he has continued to this day. So there isn’t this sort of distant analysis.

2. It provides helpful discussion of some of the relevant philosophical assumptions that Emergent’s take to be true.

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