Dispatches from the Frontier of the American Church
If Chapter 1 was an introduction to all things emergent, than Chapter two begins the description of the emergent movement. A description that will not follow a normative account of who, what, when, where, and why? As the emergent crowd is “a tough group to pin down.”1 Tony does a formidable job in defining and shaping our framing story as he introduces the Reformation, the Enlightenment, the Modern age and finally Postmodernism. A framing story that will help to shift the reader’s current paradigm from his/her T.R.E.E.2 to a broader view of the forest. This dialogue will shake those who cannot see the forest for the trees.
Postmodernism - That which comes after, and in reaction to, the modern. Although the definition of the term varies widely from discipline to discipline, it often entails a revival of older styles and methods, and abandonment of sharp differences between fields of knowledge, and a flattening of former hierarchies.3
In getting us to see the bigger picture… Tony can then ascribe the problems of the church today as a mirror of the church during the Reformation. A church marred with bureaucracy, institutionalism and dogma… attributes that take away from the message of the gospel, primarily the affiliation with Christ and his teachings.
And with the church in disrepair and the added information age, many christians were confronted with radical pluralism… a condition that our parents were protected from with limited contact to other cultures and views.
Dispatch 3 – The gospel is like lava: no matter how much crust has formed over it, it will always find a weak point and burst through.4
A protection that the Internet has torn through and flooded our current social context, with the onset of globalization, postmodernity, and the beginnings of a very pluralistic society. Tony gives three choices for humanity: secularization, fundamentalism/ethnocentrism, and postmodernism.
Very cool thoughts, and more than I want to write about here… but suffice to say it brings to mind and explains a lot of our dissonance in our society, of fundamentalist christians, postmodern thinkers, and the constant flux of those who call themselves emergent.
Dispatch 4 – The emergent phenomenon began in the late 1990s when a group of Christian leaders began a conversation about how postmodernism was affecting the faith.5
My thoughts:
It is always good to contextualize the history of the postmodern/emergent movement, as I have been apprehensive to label myself as an “emergent blogger” for fear of aligning myself with heresy… but the more I become aware of the ideas and frustrations of those in the emergent movement the more I realize my heresy and my alignment with the movement. Much like Professor Scot McKnight of Jesus Creed, who never intentionally became an emergent spokesperson, but through his blogs about what he was teaching and thinking through, became a leader in the underground revolution. Tony notes the book, “A New Kind of Christian” by Brian McLaren was a rallying cry to many disenchanted or disillusioned evangelicals… and I can attest this is entirely true.
When I read the book in late 2003, it began a spiritual journey that carried me away from a stagnant ministry and a stale spirituality, into a more full relationship with God and others. It was, to me, a saving rope in a pit of despair, depression and despondency. In 2003, I was working a ministry that I could no longer stand, being measured in number of conversions and re-dedications, rather than in conversations and encouragements… I was speaking 3-4 times a week, to kids across Northeast Oklahoma, who didn’t “get it” and were filling their time with sports, alcohol, sex, and church. Saying a prayer whenever the speaker made them feel guilty, or saving their outward rebellion until their freshman year at University… where they could escape the judgmental glares of their youthworkers, teachers and parents.
For me it wasn’t working. And this book, allowed a spark of hope to bring me out of near agnosticism, into a a new world of intellectual thought, revolutionary action and a community of love. And now five years later, I sit, very much blessed and challenged to help a new generation move into a new christian movement, characterized not by church affiliation, but by community transformation.
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1. The New Christians by Tony Jones, p. 35
2. T.R.E.E. – your personal Tradition, Reason, Experience and Emotion, that dictates how you act, live, think and respond to life around you, especially in the context of religion/doctrine/theology
3. The New Christians by Tony Jones, p. 35
4. Ibid, p. 36.
5. Ibid, p. 41.
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wait… agnosticism is absent of intellectual thought, revolutionary action and community of love?
jason… you are putting words in my mouth. Intellectual critique, revolutionary action and community of love was absent in the church life I was living… A church life that made agnostic thoughts somewhat comforting, though not my desire. I desired a church/community where these things were encouraged rather than my reality where I was told what was right and wrong, and was chided everytime I asked a question that was against the established doctrine. So yes, agnosticism was comforting because it afforded these things… mainly questioning, without the lash of being called a heretic. Again, even though it was attractive and comforting it was not what I desired, I desired a relationship with my creator that was not one-way, but rather a relationship that encouraged questioning and doubt (which is the faith of many of the bible’s patriarch’s but was somehow discouraged in Western Christianity).
So, this was a overdefensive reaction to your sarcastic/chiding comment… go figure.
/nelson ha ha
: )
Yo Sam!!! First let me say hi, and what heck are you up to these days? Lacey L. has been attending church with us some and just got done babysitting for us (Jamie and I have a little 7 month old now). Anyway, we got to talking about you and here I am looking at your blog. Glad to read your thinking through some deep things. I have to admit a total understanding and connection to your thinking about conversions and re-dedications (if there really is such a thing… my theology might say no on one sense and its an everyday moment by moment thing on the other side, but definitely not what most make it out to be). Anyway, good to read your stuff. So, as we begin what I hope is a nice long conversation my comment would address the kids not “getting it” and filling themsleves with alcohol, sex, prayer and church. I particularly like the addition of the last two…you have the antinomian (alcohol and sex) on the one had (much like the younger prodigal son in the parable) and the legalist (prayer and church) on the other (much like the older brother in the same parable). I am pretty sure salvation is not particularly found in either. So, my comment is that although I love conversation and encouragement, salvation is not found there either. If I believe that I am a sinner, and that I not only sin against men and God, but I also lack what it takes to be perfect and righteous (what the Bible says we need to have relationship and have eternal life), if I believe this then I need something radical; some call it alien righteosness (Luther was told salvation was outside of himself). So if my account is credited as righteous and I am called clothed in the Christ’s righteousness then I have been give what I need and now I can love God and love my neighbor. How can I not since he is both judge and justifier? And how can I not love my neighbor without shame because I see that I am not better, and I have been shown mercy (blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy)? Sam, I am convinced people Christians, non-christians and everyone in between) need to hear this. I am convinced I need to hear this everyday because it is the only news that can truly change me from the inside out. It is where regeneration exists. What are your thoughts on such musings? I miss seeing you dude.
Michael
boyd,
dang good to read your thoughts… i hope all is well (expect an email shortly)… i agree mercy begets humility, and that is the only position we should begin a conversation from. Rather than in a superior position of “I am right, you are wrong, I have the answers, you do not.”
even if you do have the answers, this approach does not yield itself to a safe environment for others to share their thoughts, misgivings and doubts. the time is over, in my opinion, when we could beat someone over the head with a Bible and expect true submission. for the Jesus does not call for submission, but more importantly He calls for Sacrifice.
and sacrifice is much more than submission… it calls for more to be given up than just your actions, but also your thoughts, dreams and desires. again good thoughts.
Sam, I love your train of thought. Jesus does call for sacrifice, and that does call for more than action but thoughts, etc… Let us remember Phil 2 and Jesus giving up the Godhead and ultimately becoming obedient unto death on a cross. This cross that we obviously are mourning on Fri, and celebrating on Sunday is the crux of all of human history and definitely our faith as Christians. He is amazing in that He calls for the sacrifice and then is the one to accomplish it. This is what begets humility, love, devotion, true change. Without it we are no different than an athiest. We can do good deeds, say nice things, and think good things, but so do athiests. They believe there is no God and thus we are bound to each other and thus must do good deeds and love each other, it is all we have. But, obviously I would argue that in that there is no atonement for sin and no clothing and crediting of righteousness (the necessary item for fellowship with God). This is why we need Christ. You say rightly, the Bible cannot draw true submission, but in it is where we find Christ. Doctrine and theology do not save, but in them we explain Christ and the implications of the Cross. I love your thoughts.
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