How to Emerge Without Being Emerging
Friday, June 22, 2007 at 8:11PM My latest column at Christian Week:
Whenever someone tells me that the emerging church is a fad, I say that I hope so. As much as I appreciate some qualities of the emerging church, I also have my concerns. And, in the end, the whole church matters more than the emerging church.
I believe we can learn from the emerging church without joining its ranks. In fact, some who are opposed to the emerging church are arguing for ministry that has a lot in common with the emerging church.
For instance, a group of Reformed pastors and leaders met in Chicago in May to form what they call The Gospel Coalition. Many of the organizers have been scathing critics of the emerging movement. Yet they released a document that blends the best of their tradition with some emphases normally associated with the emerging church. This approach makes sense. Instead of becoming emerging, why not learn what we can while holding on to the best of our tradition and theology?
Here, then, are some ideas on how to adopt the best of the emerging movement without actually becoming emerging.
Challenge the status quo - The Gospel Coalition Foundational Documents state, "We are troubled by the idolatry of personal consumerism and the politicization of faith; on the other hand, we are distressed by the unchallenged acceptance of theological and moral relativism." Like many within the emerging church, The Gospel Coalition identifies some key problems within the North American church. Most of us recognize that we are not as counter-cultural or as vibrant as we had hoped. Pretending will not help. We should raise the alarm and look at the causes of our current crisis.
Engage the issues - Many of our doctrinal statements were written to address issues of half a century ago or more. The Gospel Coalition addresses current issues like the cultural crisis of truth (epistemology), how to read the Bible both propositionally and as narrative (hermeneutics), and how to relate to the culture around us (contextualization). We can learn from the issues of the past, but we must also wrestle with the new issues facing the church today.
Think theologically - Many in the emerging church express frustration with the pragmatism of North American Christianity. They argue that we must engage with the issues we face at the level of theology, and reject pragmatic solutions that are not rooted in theological reflection. The Gospel Coalition does the same, outlining a confessional statement and a vision for ministry rooted in that theology.
Get past our subculture – Many see the evangelical church as self-righteous, tribal, and more concerned with personal morality than social justice. The Gospel Coalition argues that the gospel "removes self-righteousness and selfishness and turns its members to serve others." It is not only concerned with personal morality but with "the relief of poverty, hunger, and injustice." It leads churches to not only reach cultural conservatives but "highly secular and postmodern people" as well.
Get past religion - Many see religion as detrimental to society. In a sense, this is true. "Religion and morality in general tend to make people tribal and self-righteous toward other groups," The Gospel Coalition says. "But the gospel of grace, centered on a man dying for us while we were enemies, removes self-righteousness and selfishness and turns its members to serve others." As in the emerging church, the church ceases to exist for its own advancement and benefit and instead turns toward service for the good of the community. It gets past the trappings of religion to true gospel.
Engage culture - "Christians glorify God not only through the ministry of the Word," says the Coalition's Foundational Statements, "but also through their vocations of agriculture, art, business, government, scholarship - all for God's glory and the furtherance of the public good." Therefore, churches should envision ministry that includes "cultural engagement with art, business, scholarship, and government."
I have been struck by the similarities between The Gospel Coalition's emphases and the values embraced by the emerging church, even though these two movements are radically different. Maybe there is a way for us to learn from the best of the emerging church without actually becoming emerging.
Reader Comments (8)
Darryl, have you written somewhere about these concerns you have about the emerging church? Also, I don't quite understand this statement: "I have been struck by the similarities between The Gospel Coalition's emphases and the values embraced by the emerging church, even though these two movements are radically different." They are radically different, yet have similar values? How so? I like what I have read coming from the The Gospel Coalition but about the only thing I see they have in common with what the emerging church is saying is this recognition of the consumeristic attitudes of many so called evangelical Christians. Many conservative Christians like John MacArthur are saying the same things, yet obviously someone like MacArthur is poles apart from most emergers, in fact is warning Christians about them, with regards to heresy. That's a point that all serious Christians should be concerned about.
George, Yes, I've written a few posts/articles on my concerns, including one called "What's bad about the emerging church." Just Google this and you'll find it. "They are radically different, yet have similar values? How so?" See the column - I described six areas. I agree Christians should be concerned about heresy, George. That's why I'm excited to see a group like The Gospel Coalition that aims to combine good theology with practices like social justice and cultural engagement. That's something worth applauding.
"See the column - I described six areas." 1. you say "The Gospel Coalition Foundational Documents state, "We are troubled by the idolatry of personal consumerism and the politicization of faith; on the other hand, we are distressed by the unchallenged acceptance of theological and moral relativism." Like many within the emerging church, The Gospel Coalition identifies some key problems within the North American church. Most of us recognize that we are not as counter-cultural or as vibrant as we had hoped. Pretending will not help. We should raise the alarm and look at the causes of our current crisis." Q. When the coalition says: "we are distressed by the unchallenged acceptance of theological and moral relativism." do you think the emerging church shares that view with them or is the coalition maybe referring to the emerging church with that kind of a statement? 2. you say "Engage the issues - Many of our doctrinal statements were written to address issues of half a century ago or more. The Gospel Coalition addresses current issues like the cultural crisis of truth (epistemology), how to read the Bible both propositionally and as narrative (hermeneutics), and how to relate to the culture around us (contextualization). We can learn from the issues of the past, but we must also wrestle with the new issues facing the church today." Q. If the coalition is concerned about the cultral crisis of truth, do you think the emerging church shares that concern? When the emerging church for the most part denies the inerrancy of Scripture, how would their concerns be similar to that of the Coalition? As an aside, can you point me to an emerging church that even has a doctrinal statement? I have more questions as I read the other four categories, but maybe a couple at a time will do.
George: You're right. There are very real differences between The Gospel Coalition and the EC. I don't really feel a need to defend the EC. In my column I was trying to show that you can care about things like social justice and challenging our modern religious subculture without becoming part of the EC. I really appreciate what The Gospel Coalition is doing. I think if more groups come along and embrace holistic ministry, while avoiding some of the negatives of the EC, we'll really be moving forward.
Your argument is inadequate. If I found some parallels between Christianity and Jehovah Witnessism and then lauded the J.W.s for having some things right and encouraged Christians to celebrate the J.W.s for this, the advice would be misguided. The associations are unworthy of mention and inadequate for endorsement because the differences are so radical.
Dave: As you know, I don't have as completely negative a view of the emerging church as you might. I've tried to be open about its faults, but I believe that we are all part of the church and need to learn what we can from each other, even as we also challenge each other where we may be off. I understand that not everyone shares my view. The church at large really can benefit from some emphases of the emerging church, such as a rejection of consumerism and a therapeutic gospel, formulaic and individualistic versions of salvation, an embrace of social justice, etc. It is quite right to reject other emphases of the emerging church which may not be as helpful and may even be harmful. I also question if the differences are quite so radical as you imagine, at least in some parts of the emerging church. In any case, D.A. Carson, no friend of the emerging church, makes the comparisons himself between a solid church like Redeemer Presbyterian in New York and the emerging church. He's right, just as he's right in saying that what is good about the emerging church isn't exclusive to the emerging church. We need to avoid painting with a broad brush where a fine brush is needed.
"The church at large really can benefit from some emphases of the emerging church, such as a rejection of consumerism and a therapeutic gospel, formulaic and individualistic versions of salvation, an embrace of social justice, etc. " Not sure I understand what you mean here. What is a "therapeutic gospel"? Also, are you saying that the church at large can benefit from the emerging church's rejection of a formulaic and individualistic version of salvation? In my own experience these last six years I have seen many "individuals" come to be saved. I'm one of them. It was an individual thing, they were in darkness but God brought them into His marvelous light. It was also a very individualistic coming to salvation for me. All because of God. What it has brought me is a desire to reach out to others. To engage in that social gospel that the emerging church espouses. But the difference would be that in reaching out I always want to tell them about the love of Jesus that can set people free like it has set me free, as opposed to just reaching out to feed and clothe and forget the spiritual need. Where I think the line is being drawn is in the motivation of why we reach out. Are we reaching out because we truly love God, have been saved (as an individual), seek to glorify Him in all that we do, and seek to become more like Christ in how we reach out, loving people as He did, or are we reaching out because yes we care about people, we see that we need to reach out and in reaching out we hope to gain God's favour (by our works)but when it comes to other areas of life, to wit: holiness, there is no evidence that we are really in Christ, we are so much a part of the world. I believe for the most part what the emerging church really espouses is a works gospel. Just be engaged in social gospel and you are ok in the eyes of God, that is the message. It really is false though, that message. What about sin, your own individual sin, what needs to take place in your life in order for one to get right with God. That's very much an individual thing, we all need to be broken over our sin and seek God's forgiveness. Only then, can we get right with God and receive eternal life. That would be another individual thing, receiving eternal life, you can't receive it for me and I can't for you, I need to believe in Jesus for myself in order to receive it. Interesting discussion Darryl, you and I have had some recent discussions on the lack of holiness so clearly evident from emerging leaders and then this dismissal when they are called on it, or this incredible rationalizing that goes on. But hey, they are engaged in all these buzz term ministries like missional, community, social justice, criminalization of poverty theory, all that fuzzy stuff. Holiness? Righteous living? Godliness? What's that all about they would say. Excuse my cynicism, its just the way I see it. There are exceptions. I just don't see the similarities like you do between the emerging church and something like that coalition. I also really do believe we are living in those last days where we really are contending for the faith. The Bible is so clear on what is going to happen and its happening. People want to get saved by their works and hoping that will happen, so they don't have to deal with their sin problem. They will never be set free that way. We have to tell the world the truth.
Hi George, The Reformed and the Emerging Church share similar concerns about the state of the modern church, although they come up with different solutions. For instance, both criticize a therapeutic gospel - using Jesus to achieve our own purposes, which can vary from health to wealth to emotional contentment. Both also criticize individualism, which makes life about me. Although they believe God saves individuals, they emphasize that these individuals become part of the community of God's people. Again, nobody would call D.A. Carson a friend of the emerging church. But in his critique, he lists at least four emerging church strengths. Surely we can learn from its strengths even as we're open about the weaknesses? Carson writes: "The emerging church has numerous strengths, and we should be grateful for them - but they are not exclusively theirs [note: this is what I was trying to say in this column]...the emerging movement is on to something...more and more of the church senses a need for change in response to the culture, even if it isn't of one mind to what that change should look like." (p.56, Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church)