Darryl's Blog
Reformed resources for missional work
I think it would be most accurate to say that Reformed theology has always had great resources within it for missional work. For example:
- Stanley Grenz credits Calvin for teaching on the Trinity that stresses the communal aspect of God's nature,
- Richard Muller points out that Post-reformation Calvinist theologians forged a theology that wasn't 'modern' and based on traditional rationalistic proofs of God,
- Jonathan Edwards provides theological resources for profoundly mystical personal experience of God,
- Geerhardus Vos and Herman Ridderbos stress that the Bible isn't a systematic theology textbook but rather a narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration,
- Kuyper and Wolterstorff give resources for working on justice and renewal of culture.
There's lots to work with! That doesn't mean that many or most Reformed churches have used these resources that well in mission, however.
Looks like I have a few books to add to my reading list.
Amen to Keller. You could say we're all "Reformed" if we're Protestants, but a good number of Reformed folks (a.k.a. the "new Calvinists" you're talking about, Darryl) have a lot of work to do in order to find the missional streams in their own tradition.
My impression, however, is that most (not all, but most) Reformed people, young Calvinists, etc. are more concerned about being "right" than they are about being "missional." So that's my ongoing concern, and I suppose why I identify myself more strongly as "emerging" rather than "Reformed."
On a related (perhaps interesting) note, Tony Jones (of Emergent Village) spoke recently on the differences between "Emergent vs. Missional." You can listen to the audio here:
http://emergentmidwest.com/?pagename=audio
Essentially what he says is that comparing "Emergent" (the organization) to "missional" (the movement of people into participation with God's mission) is like asking, "Are you purple? Or are you fuzzy?" The categories just aren't parallel.
Darryl, since the differences between "Emergent" and "emerging" are so hard to distinguish, is this why you would call yourself "missional" but not "emerging"/"Emergent"? It seems like both "emerging" and "Reformed" movements have a "missional" bent (dare I say, "foundation"?). So there we have some common ground, which is what keeps me personally hopeful that we can collaborate together in being faithful to the missio Dei in our day and time.
I'd love to hear more from you, Darryl, on what you mean by saying "the emerging movement seems to be slowing or changing." What are you seeing/sensing? Thanks for this conversation here!
Shalom.
Steve K, don't you think it is important to be concerned about being "right"? We are instructed to watch our doctrine closely. Ultimately bad theology tranlates into bad living.
Steve:
"I'd love to hear more from you, Darryl, on what you mean by saying 'the emerging movement seems to be slowing or changing.' What are you seeing/sensing?"
Great question, Steve. I've noticed emerging-type blogs shift and engage other approaches, like Keller's. At the same time, some of the emerging church's best contributions have gone somewhat mainstream. Some of the original deconstruction is over, and some seem ready to move on.
Even among the emerging crowd, it's common to find people speak very highly of a church like Redeemer, which is conservative in form and theology but highly missional.
I talked to one well-known missional author and leader who commented on how tired the emerging movement in North America seems for its relative youth, and he attributed some of that to not enough of a theological and missional base.
Not to say that there aren't a lot of "mission-shaped" things happening among people who call themselves emerging. It's not over, it's just changing.
Am I right? Who knows, but I'm sensing the ground shifting a little. Of course, I'm one person in one city - I'd be interested to know if others sense the same thing happening.