Emerging church movement

Post by **_Anonymous** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 6:12 pm

Any comments? Good or Bad?

I will be attending a lecture this Monday by J.P. Moreland on this topic.

Post by **_mattrose** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 9:31 pm

In my limited observation the movement has many fine qualities. The emerging church aims to be a more genuine church than we observe today. The emerging church attempts to rid themselves of traditions that have lost their meanings.

But I have also noticed a major negative. Many in the movement come across as quite arrogant. They seem to have an us vs. them mentality when thinking about themselves and the contemporary church.

Post by **_Anonymous** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 8:59 pm

So Michael...did you go to the lecture? What did you learn?

Post by **_Anonymous** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 10:28 am

Hey Michelle,
Thank you for your insight and to answer your question, no. My son was sick and I my wife took him to the hospital in the morning but I chose not to go in case something else were to happen. Since the church where the lecture was held was far from me. I plan to buy the lecture so I can hear.

From my study so far (limited as well) I find that there are some good aspect to the movement. I agree with you in the sense of letting go of some of are useless traditions but my problem comes from doing it because of the culture change (post Mordenism) rather than chaging the culture to Christ.

More later

Michael

Post by **_Rae** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 11:13 am

Hey! I've looked on the internet for information regarding the "Emerging Church Movement," and while I've found a few things (like them trying to be more post-modern), I haven't found anything real definitive. Anyone know anything more about the movement?

Post by **_Anonymous** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 1:15 pm

Rae ~ my interest is piqued, too. I was hoping that Michael would have some insight after atttending that lecture.

Michael ~ sorry to hear about your son's illness and I hope he's o.k. I can understand not wanting to be far from home in that circumstance. After you listen to the lecture, would you be willing to share any insights you gain?

Post by **_Anonymous** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 3:59 pm

First, I want to make a correction, thank you for your insight mattrose not michelle. Sorry! But thank you also Michelle. Now both of my kids are sick one is getting better, the other might have to go to the doctor tomorrow if the fever does go away by tonight. Please pray for them.

As for the lecture, when I get it, I'll be sure to take notes and pass on what I have learned. I did hear a lecture by Dr. James R White the Monday before J.P. Moreland. In the lecture Dr. White mentioned something about the emerging church movement, he said something along these lines " They will snatch your children away from the church" something like that. My research (which is limted) as led me so far as to say that while I think certain things in the church can change, like things of worship music and style. As long as the truth is not comprised at all. I also believe that, what you win them (Non-Christians) by is what you win them to.

I believe as long as scripture has a model, we should follow it, like having Pastors and Deacons in the church. I think that having things like Sunday schools and other things like that are fulfilling a function like equipping the saints is good also. So I don't believe that you have to do something a certain way, just because it's always been done that way. It is more important to fullfill the function than the model, unless it is demanded in scripture. Having said all that, the emerging church is changing the face of the church, not because they believe that scripture calls for it, but because the culture demands it. Which in my mind is wrong. The church should conform the culture to Christ not the other way around. It's a sad sight to see that the church, the pillar and ground of truth is bowing down to post modernism. "Controversy for the sake of controversy is sin, controversy for the sake of truth is a divine commandment" Walter Martin

Post by **_Rae** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 5:05 pm

So, whereas the homechurch movement would generally say that they are changing the way things are done based on what they believe Scripture to say, this movement is only changing things because of the culture?

Post by **_Anonymous** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 8:24 pm

Hmm, interesting. The Los Angeles Times Magazine (the L.A.TIMES!?) had an article about a church in Hollywood that is part of the emerging church movement. Of course it's hard to base any opinion on what you read in the L.A.Times, so I'll have to read more about this...

Michael, I'll be praying for your kids.

Post by **_Anonymous** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 8:30 pm

Hey Rae

Correct! This movement believes that since the culture is post modern, so should the church, so they could reach the culture. While all that might not seem to bad, when it comes down to worship music, or the way serivce is conducted as far as programs are. Post-Modernism teaches that there is No objective truth, which is in sharp contrast with what Jesus taught that he was the truth. Like the seeker senitive movement, which Rick Warren is a big leader in. These churches are looking for seekers, but at the same time trying to be senitive to them. The seeker senitive movement may have some good things like the emerging church movement may have some too. But they both are in a positions to water down the gospel. Not saying anything bad about Rick Warren, but some of the things he said on the Larry King interview troubles me. His tactics on growing a church some what troubles me too, and where he learned it from. That's a whole different thing. Just because your church is big, doesn't mean that your a good church.