Conservative Emergence
Can those two words co-exist? From my perspective, most of what I hear and see from the Emergent Church Movement has been a dance on the edge of practices that many consider unbiblical. TSK provided some great information about Chuck Smith’s (Sr.) reaction. Someone help me out here. I am not out to beat up the emergent church. I would like to understand it. Our local experience has been a tendency toward some newage type practices like contemplative prayer (ie. transendental meditation).
February 26th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
http://www.cameronfbc.org/weblog/wp-images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif
Followed TSK link and am probably struggling with where you are coming from - do they not teach Church history on your course - since when has the contemplative tradition within the Church been new-age or linked with transcendental meditation - it has been a mainstream tradition with Western and Eastern Christianity since the second century. I am also intrigued how on a training course it seem acceptable to write a thesis based purely on a selection of things you have read - is there no requirement for first hand experience, or for practice focused reflection from some-one like TSK. Clearly the situation is very different in the States from the UK where emergent/missional theology is part of the mainstream denominations and seen as a renewal movement by most Christian leaders.
February 26th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
Tom, TSK was mistaken (and he corrected it) that this was a dissertation. It is not. It was a reaction/research paper as a completion to one seminar on evangelism (of six seminars) Dissertations are praxis oriented and field tested. I am not doing my dissertation on the emergent movement, but I will have to examine it as part of the research I am doing on generations and communication, biblical interpretation, application, current audience, etc. Thanks.
BTW, I almost left out the New Age comment for fear that it would skew the conversation away from the original question of my post.
February 26th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
I can say that I am encouraged that NT Wright is loved by most emergents. I am impressed with his ability to peel back the layers of the last 20 centuries and reveal the mind of the 1st century Jew.
February 27th, 2007 at 4:34 am
I would like to comment from a lay person’s perspective on what I have read so far regarding the emergent church. First off I was completely unfamiliar with it until I read Bro. Jay’s paper and the article from ChristianityToday. What little reading I have done leads me to believe that those two can and in all reality should co-exist. I see American churches becoming complacent about “putting feet to their faith”. We sit in our pews on Sunday morning singing our praise and worship songs and listening intently as the pastor brings the message. Then we walk out the doors and do NOTHING! Oh we may help with this program or that program but we are not meeting people where they are when it comes to reaching the community. That is not to say that different ministries in the church are not important and worth while investments of our time but I can definitely see where the emergent movement “goes to the people” and meets them exactly where they are and as they are. Jesus prefered tax collectors and harlots to hanging out with the pharisees and saducees. I do believe those terms can co-exist the challenge is applying them in such a way that people are hearing the gospel without the church compromising or “riding the fence” about things that we (believers) should have very clear position on.