Divergent Streams
Any reader of my blogs is familiar with the spiritual & ecclesiastical reformation that I've been going through for the past year or so. Throughout this reformation I have found myself strongly drawn into the
"Emergent Conversation." From some who know me I've received criticism for seemingly moving away from the "absolute truth" of scripture and for becoming more "postmodern" in my thinking. As I've spent time in this "conversation" over the past months I have an understanding of how someone could fear this theological drift. But I also see more clearly how someone can miss some important points of the conversation. To fully understand what's beginning to happen in this new movement of ministry across America you have to pay attention to what I see as two divergent streams: The Emerging Church & The Emergent Conversation. What began as one stream a few years ago has diverged into two separate channels. I see much beauty and potential in one stream. I see some danger in the other. And unless we have a clear understanding of what is happening in both channels we run the risk of missing the good in one stream through our fear of what is found in the other.
The "emerging church" is made of up churches like
Mars Hill in Seattle and
Vintage Faith Church in California...and countless other church planting movements. These churches place a strong emphasis on intertwining the ancient truths and practices of our faith into a spiritual life that is holisitic and de-compartmentalized. In other words, there is a deep devotion to Biblical truth. There is a deep respect for our rich heritage; seeing our current place and time as but one thread in a vast tapestry that spans two-thousand years of time and culture. And there is a deep commitment to being more holistic in our approach to spirituality; recognizing that a relationship with Christ is an immersion of our whole life into His way in which no part of our existence remains untouched. In this movement we see the emergence of house churches. We also see a renewal of the practice of communal living. In the "emerging church" movement the idea of Sunday-only Christianity is a strange, offensive anomoly.
And then there is the "Emergent Conversation." I'll refrain from mentioning names of people or names of churches here. I will admit that I find much resonance with what is being said in this conversation, particulary in regards to a greater openness toward people of other religions and lifestyles...for the purpose of loving them into the Kingdom. I believe that what I see in the Emergent Conversation is an openness that is quite similar to that which was demonstrated by Jesus; the friend of sinners. For example, I see churches be-friending gays and lesbians and welcoming them into their gatherings where they can experience the life-changing power of Christ. This is in contrast to more fundamental churches like
Westboro Baptist Church that marches in front of gay bars and military funerals holding signs that say "God Hates Fags" and "Thank God For Dead Soldiers."
I see a genuine desire in the Emergent Conversation to open the doors of dialogue between us and those of other religions in which we look for grains of truth in their worldview and then use those grains of truth to point them to Christ - much the same way Paul did in Athens.
But in this stream I also see a tendency that could lead to great theological error. There is a strong tendency toward
deconstructionism through which everything that we have embraced as orthodox Christian doctrine through the millenia is broken down and questioned. As a by-product of this some in mainstream Christian denominations are beginning to question things like the deity of Jesus, the exclusivity of salvation through Christ alone (maybe there is salvific value found in other belief systems), etc. This to me is un-settling.
I do believe there is value in examining our beliefs. I make it a practice to dialoge with 4 or 5 atheists and agnostics every day for the sake of sharing the gospel, but also for the purpose of forcing myself to examine why I believe what I believe. Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." I believe we could also say, "The unexamined faith is not worth sharing." But as I see some in the Emergent Conversation asking questions but never settling on answers, I become fearful that there is indeed an emerging acceptance of the postmodern denial of absolute truth.
I will continue to watch and listen with interest to the "Emergent Conversation," but I am fully caught up in the stream of emerging churches that I spoke about first. Christianity is growing everywhere in the world, except in America. In America Islam is the fastest growing religion. I believe that this new stream of emerging churches that carries people into more authentic and holistic spiritual devotion is the stream that will bring genuine revival to our soil.
technorati tag: emerging church