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Question: What does “emerging” mean in the emerging church movement?
Answer: Emerging means what is changing has not fully formed yet. |
We all have a sense that we live in two worlds, especially here in
America. We live in a very strong, striving, modern world, and yet it
feels that we are also extending into this new, postmodern world.One of the huge changes we’re dealing with is from a world dominated
by white people, Europeans and Americans, to a world that is a
partnership between Africans, Latin Americans, Asians and
Euro-Americans. We want to get as many of these voices at the table
and be listening to one another and actually appreciate differences of
opinion, because they make you think about things you wouldn’t have
thought of otherwise.- Brian McLaren in an interview with the Dallas Morning News; full article can be accessed here.
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Speaking of Mclaren, did you ever finish Secret Message? I still distrust the revisionist side of the EC (essentially McLaren’s camp) but they do have some good things to say.
Yes, the “revisionist” theme and motivations are easy to see, but I do not believe that’s his intention. I have not finished the book as school has taken control of my life, but I will probably finish it after May 8th.
More on the revisionist:
It seems as though in some of McLaren’s argument he blatently ignores specific scripture relating to “end times”, “hell”, and “eternal life”. While emphasizing the importance of bringing “The Kingdom of Heaven/G-d” unto the world, to here and now, to sinners and believers alike. I think his point (though I can’t be sure) is that those who preach those topics often misconstrue the truth and in effect become divisive rather than unifying. Christ came to transform the Jewish culture as well as the gentiles, not to conform them to Christianity, but to transform them from the inside to be Christlike.
Christlike-Jews;
Christlike-Samaritans;
Christlike-Gentiles;
Christlike-tax collectors;
Christlike-prostitutes;
Christlike-fisherman;
Christlike-Americans;
Christlike-etc…etc…
As we become Christlike, the Holy Spirit, transforms and conforms us into the image of Christ. Do we have to become an Anglo-Saxson Christian, or can we remain a Jewish-Christ follower, a Nigerian-Christ follower, keeping the traditions of the culture (those that do not put anything before G-d) and glorifying G-d with our diversity and our different perspectives? Now of course those that are in sin, prostitutes and others must give up their life of sin and pursue righteousness.
Still muddling through where exactly I stand, am up for discussion on this topic.
Out of pure curiosity, why do you write “G-d” instead of “God”? Like the post, by the way — very informative.
Nevermind … I just saw your answer in the previous post. Interesting. I see the concept behind it, but if I applied it, I’d be more inclined to leave letters out of “Jesus.” Something to think about, though, I guess!
Nevermind … I just saw your answer in the previous post. Interesting. I see the concept behind it, but if I applied it, I'd be more inclined to leave letters out of “Jesus.” Something to think about, though, I guess!