There is lots of discussion on this today. The Emerging Church is defined by Wikipedia as:
The Emerging Church is an incipient ecumenical movement within the Christian church (primarily, but not exclusively, among english-speaking Protestants) that focuses on rethinking theology within the cultural context of Postmodern culture.
The more fundamental Christians are arguing that some Christian leaders are “copping out” to more liberal aspects of the movement and embracing concepts found in Hinduism, Buddhism, and New Age. I don’t wish to engage in theological arguments, but see a LOT of people putting together their own religion with concepts that tend to minimize the risk of Grace and omit the fact that Jesus said He was the only way. When Ashley Smith read to muder suspect Brian Nichols from Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life, Ashley was not arguing her faith – she was taking a risk of Grace. The book was only a tool in what happened. The Kingdom had come.The ending is not always a happy ending from our perspective. When Dietrich Bonhoffer took that risk of faith, he lost his physical life. It is always a confluent event in spiritual history, however. The Kingdom has come.As I read a recent article on this subject, I had just come back from the hospital after visiting a friend with multiple health problems who had just broken a rib in a fall. The kidneys had shut down, and with his diabetes a dialysis was not an option. As we prayed, I remembered that all the theology in the world could not save him – only Jesus. We claimed healing in the name of Jesus. Many other visitors came through from multiple churches, all praying for him. I visited again a few days later. The kidneys had kicked in again as they were taking him to the ICU. His doctor told him he did nothing – that his doctor was better than him. Jesus is the healer – and the only healer. That’s the bottom line for any theology. Jesus said He was the Way, and the only way.The true emerging church today is the church that moves beyond the rationalization that has historically been a part of our western culture. It believes in miracles – and in fact depends on them. It prays for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Want to see this emerging church? Start with the transformation tapes (I & II) from the Sentinel Group. Start researching (it’s called spiritual mapping today) your community to see spiritual patterns through history. Pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit in your church and community. But don’t forget – there’s a war going on.
