Why this blog about this subject? At one time I thought I
would be able to write a book about this subject but have not. It is not my
profession to be a writer. If I had a profession it would be the profession of
easily distracted and a very professional procrastinator. Despite this, I feel
I still have a unique understanding and insight into The Emerging and Emergent
Church. One of the most common things said about the Emergent Church is that
their beliefs or belief system is hard to understand, akin to nailing jelloe on
to a wall. Call me the jelloe nailer because that has never been a problem for
me. I do attribute this to my formative years as a Christian when I was an
Independent Fundamental Baptist. If you did not know one thing about them, the
one thing you ought to know is they despise and hate modernism. Because of this,
you begin to learn all about modernism and why it is wrong. As an Independent
fundamental Baptist, we saw this as part of our history in the formation of
fundamentalism as against modernism and modernity.
When you begin to hear such judgments that fundamentalism
is a product of modernism, you start thinking, “Wha…what…WHAT?” When you read
that the emergent church wants to be the middle ground between rational scientism and fundamentalism, it
struck me as quite odd that what the emergent church intended to do was already
done in America in the confines of modernism. Some wanted a middle ground
between science and traditional Christianity and it happened. The results? Liberal
Christianity which rang the death bell of all those who decided to take this
path. Mainline denominations who took this path withered and died. What was the
reaction to this new conception? How did traditional churches stand against the
compromise? This saw the birth of fundamentalism. This being there are certain
doctrines that we will never compromise and will base our fellowship on; to
define those doctrines that are fundamental doctrines to the faith that can not
be compromised. If you do not hold these truths to be evident in the
scriptures, our church, our denominations will not fellowship or get involved
with churches, denominations, schools, and para-church organizations if you do
not believe our fundamental beliefs. What beliefs? The scriptures are
infallible and inerrant, the deity of Jesus Christ, the virgin birth, blood
atonement for sin, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Since this was already done (carving out a middle ground in American
Christianity) and failed so miserably, why would the Emergent Church want to do
the same thing? This thought began formulating in my mind, how modernistic is
the post modern emergent church? When you begin reading their many books and
blogs, one starts getting the feeling that they do not want the middle ground,
they want to kill fundamentalism outright. While some think it hard to nail
down what those in emerging circles will take a stand for, it is very easy to
see what they are against: They hate fundamentalists and fundamentalism.
This begs the question: Would this not entail hating the
fundamentals of the faith? Does this mean that they hate that the bible teaches
Jesus Christ is God? Does Brian Mclaren hate the virgin birth? Rob Bell hating
the word of God as infallible and inerrant? Does Doug Padgitt hate the blood
atonement, Christ shedding his blood and dying for your sins? Does Tony Jones
hate the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
As there are many details about the beliefs and practices of
the Emergent Church, we can still paint with a broad brush. Some of the errors
of the emergent church are:
1.
Philosophy such as postmodernism and other
related philosophies is the paradigm from which they operate.
2.
Orthopraxy (what you do) triumphs over orthodoxy
(what you believe.)
3.
Taking on new age and Mysticism beliefs and
practices
4.
The bible seen as strictly narrative but not
propositional or for the teaching of doctrine and theology.
5.
Transformation of secular spaces to be sacred
places
6.
Evolution
7.
Against Meta-Narratives and the concept of
absolute truth
8.
Being co-creators with God to usher in the
kingdom of God
9.
Fundamentalism is a reductionist belief system
and a product of modernity.
10.
Emergentism or Emergence which is a systems
conception that sees a new structure “emerge” from old structures but you
cannot really break down or reduce to the base parts that make up this system.
I am positive I could add much more and wish to share how
they define themselves:
Emerging churches (1) identify with the life of
Jesus, (2) transform the secular realm, and (3) live highly communal lives.
Because of these three activities, they (4) welcome the stranger, (5) serve
with generosity, (6) participate as producers, (7) create as created beings,
(8) lead as a body, and (9) take part in spiritual activities.” http://www.catalystresources.org/theology-and-the-emerging-church/
Many in this movement have stated that this movement has
died out. When looking at some of the people involved websites, you find that a
new term is cropping up-convergence. Also, many in this movement are still
writing books and influencing many.
The reason I have called this blog, The Ways Of Man Emerges
is because I believe this is what exactly is going on-the Emergent Church is
adopting the ways of man while shoving the ways of God out the back door. It is
based on this verse: 12 There is a way that seems right to a
man,
But its end is the
way of death.
The New King James Version. (1982). (Pr 14:12). Nashville:
Thomas Nelson.
