Packing Up

Even though there are some ways that I feel I really fit with those in the emergent discussion, there are also a bunch of ways that I don’t.  I could make a really exhaustive list, but it would probably be way to much for you to read and for me to write, so I’ve pared it down to three things.

1. My Non-Negotiables:  The problem with having a conversation across denominational lines is that there are some things that I feel very strongly are non-negotiable about my faith, that others within emergent do not.

Christ is THE Way- I hold to Jesus’ teachings that “He is the way the truth and the live and that NO ONE gets to the Father except through Him.”  There are those in the conversation that feel this is a limited way of thinking…that my God is too small.  More of my thoughts on the subject are here.

Authority of Scripture - I firmly believe that the Bible is the primary way that God uses to reveal Himself, His plan, and the Salvation that Christ offers to us.  I believe that God does reveal himself to us, and through other peoples teachings and writing, but it all needs to be checked back through scripture.  Others will tell you that other sources that reveal God to us are just as authoritative as scripture.  But what if they clash with scripture?  What if parts of the Bible are not Truth to them?

I could keep going, but I think you get the point.  These are a couple examples of things that I wish the “leaders” of emergent would take a stand on.  I understand that they don’t because they want the conversation to be as inclusive as possible, but there comes a point where I feel the need to make a stand on some of these issues.  I guess that’s why I wouldn’t be a good leader for emergent.

2. Their Non-Negotiables:  On the other hand, there are a couple issues that some of the leaders of the emergent discussion have taken a stand on, that other Christians either see as negotiable, or disagree about.

Women in Leadership - Some leaders in Emergent want to establish that Emergent supports women in leadership.  I assume from this article that they also mean women pastors and elders.

Anti-War - Other leaders like Brian McClaren, protest against war, especially the war in Iraq.

I’m not saying I agree or disagree with them, it just seems odd to me that they would be willing to make stands on these topics, while not making a stand on the other topics above.  The whole reason I enjoy this conversation is that it focuses on the non-negotiables that are the most important to Christians across the board.  Why are they then singling out these couple “negotiables”.  Is this the beginning of an “emergent” theology?

I know some will say that this is the beginning of the line being drawn between Emergent and Emerging, or the Emergent Conversation and the Emergent Church.  This may be true, but I think that for now the line is blurred enough that they are still one in the same…Although, if leaders keep making a stand on issues like those above the line could become more clear very soon.

3. The Bandwagon Factor:  “Emergent” seems to be a term that is becoming used very liberally to market any new program out there that is focused on “postmodern” ministry.  It’s replacing “cutting edge” as the term that means new and fresh.  I always threw out ads for ministry materials that claimed to be cutting edge.  I don’t want something that’s cutting edge, I want something that draws people closer to Christ.  There’s only one way to do that, and it’s not some program, it’s responding to the Holy Spirit.

So that, in a nutshell, is why I don’t fit with emergent.  I know I’m making some blanket statements based on the beliefs of a few, but I wanted to point out some things that are red flags to me.  There is a lot of good stuff going on in the conversation, and I don’t want to throw out the baby with the bath water. 

Just my $.02

• Pt. 1: Where Do I Fit?
• Pt. 2: Before
• Pt. 3: Now: Why I Fit With Emergent
• Coming Next, Pt. 5: Later: Where I’m Going