The one reason the emerging church exists
Tuesday, July 12, 2005 at 12:17PM A great rant on why the emerging church exists and why evangelicals should think before throwing stones:
But I want to proclaim this to all the orthodox believers out there, particularly those who label themselves Evangelicals, and especially if you enjoy throwing stones at the EC. The EC exists for one reason and one reason only: because Evangelicals blew it. The EC exists as a reaction to the fact that Evangelicals have largely failed to address several key aspects of Christian life and practice. The EC exists because some people got sick of the concessions to materialism and worldliness that have defined many Evangelicals in America. The EC exists because far too many Evangelicals in the United States and Canada have lost their first love.
The issue as I see it is that Evangelicals are only compounding the very problems they are accused of by the EC by their constant tirade against it. It is possible to reject the doctrinal aberrations in the EC and still thoughtfully listen to its criticism of today's strain of Evangelicalism...
Now before I get lumped into the EC crowd just because I'm pointing out this truth, I want to appeal to someone well-respected within Evangelical circles who has made every single point I listed above--points that the dreaded EC is making, too. That would be Francis Schaeffer. Schaeffer prophesied (and I believe his voice is prophetic) each of the five points I mentioned above, points that are considered EC today. Despite the near sainthood status that many Evangelicals give to Schaeffer, it appears that too few are willing to listen to the criticisms he leveled at Evangelicalism in North America in books like The Great Evangelical Disaster.
And so I end with this: take the fingers out of your ears, Evangelicals. Be more willing to admit that you've made mistakes and fumbled the Gospel in several places. No one will hate you for it; in truth, some might be more willing to listen to what you have to say. Keep the Lord's doctrine pure, certainly, but be more human with it at the same time.
(Via Boar's Head Tavern.)
Reader Comments (8)
"The EC exists because some people got sick of the concessions to materialism and worldliness that have defined many Evangelicals in America. The EC exists because far too many Evangelicals in the United States and Canada have lost their first love." If its true that the EC exists for those reasons does it follow, in your opinion, that the EC is more biblically based and is not compromised in the same way by materialism and worldliness. I certainly don't have the impression that it is, from what I read. David Jeremiah is doing a series on the book of Revlation and today is speaking of the very thing "churches and people that have lost their first love" Check it out, its a great series. In our area you can hear him on AM 1250 at 12:30pm and or FM WDCX 99.5 at 10am and 10pm
George: The EC is largely motivated by the right reasons, but this doesn't mean they are right in how they've reacted overall. I guess I'd say the record is mixed. That's why I think it makes a lot of sense to embrace what is good about the ec (including the concerns outlined above) and to leave the rest.
The Evangelical Church in the US has become very wealthy. Only one third of Americans consider themselves evangelicals, but (and the recent election showed this) two thirds to one half the wealth is evangelical. Most evangelicals are "comfortable to wealthy", there is little need and outright poverty is rare. True, there are a large number of divorcees and single parents, but child support and alimony is plentiful. Plus 80 percent of United Way (a national, secular "community chest") money flows to single parents and their kids. The reduction in mortgage interest rates produced a spending binge, and filled may Christian homes and garages with things. This is much like the suburban boom after WWII, which spawned the Levittowns and the cars to fill their garages. Fifties-Sixties suburbia was very materialistic and plastic. It took suburbia more than two decades, and a mismanaged war (Vietnam) to get America to wake up and smell the coffee, and realize that happiness is not money. My prediction is that the evangelical church will need the same two decades to realize that the newfound wealth won't buy happiness. I think much of the sniping at emergents comes from the beginning of this unhappiness, similar to the tranquilizer days of the early fifties.
Darryl, (or anyone else), do you know of any EC type churches, or others, in the downtown area of Toronto where its obvious that God is at work. I'm looking for churches that are intentional in their outreach to the inner city folk, the homeless, hookers, drug addicts, alcoholics etc. I desperately want to encourage people that we serve at the mission to get plugged into a church where God is at work. I'm still looking, anybody have any ideas? I know some good churches on the periphery of the downtown (I've heard of one called Richview) but I'm searching in the downtown core itself. I'd really appreciate any suggestions.
George, Churchill Heights Baptist Church is not in the downtown core but is in the Toronto area. It is a great church! It has a very intentional mission to reach minority type people. They preach an uncompromising, salvation based message and God had blessed them with over 1200 in attendance each Sunday. Jacob.
Hey Jacob, thanks for that info I did not know of that church. Interestingly, we just had a guy from Scarborough pray to receive Christ as his Lord and Saviour a few weeks ago at the mission. Not being that familiar with Scarborough we didn't know where to send him. It'll be great if we see him again, to recommend that church, if not we pray God would lead him to a great church. That's a great story on their web site of the growth in that church.
Churchill Heights is a great church. The senior pastor there, John, is a very good man. Georg, I don't really know of many downtown churches other than the ones we've already talked about (Sanctuary and the one attached to Yonge Street Mission). There definitely is potential there for more inner-city missional churches.
I wrote the rant in question. Thank you so much for featuring it! Although I do not support the current expression of the EC, I think this it is foolish for anyone to ignore a critic. Nine times out of ten a critic is wrong (usually because he does not have an insider's persepective), but it is that one time in ten that should trouble us, especially when so much is at stake. That the EC is more accurate than just one in ten when it comes to labeling Evangelicalism's follies should give all Evangelicals pause. Having said this, the EC needs to listen to Evangelical criticism, too, especially when it comes to elucidating a coherent theology. Too much of the EC is rife with universalism and religious syncretism, plus a missing theology of the cross and an underdeveloped take on holiness and discipleship. These lacks paint it as Christianity-lite, not a position any serious reform movement should be in.