The Emerging Church Movement

[GymRose]

The emergent church movement is a wide movement. It is difficult to make sweeping generalizations about it (just like the evangelical movement).

I agree. Something that I do like about the Emergent Church is that it appeals to those who would normally not feel comfortable in a traditional church, such as Punks and other sub-cultures.

Church is not a place to go to make people comfortable and have their ears tickled by telling people what they want to hear. Church is to preach Christ and Him crucified. Church is a place where the preacher's responsibility it to preach the truth of the gospel, such as the difference between sin and salvation. If you are a seasoned sinner the sermon should make you squirm, not feel good about just attending.

Sorry to spoil the fun, but in my own opinion, people should leave a church meeting feeling humbled, not exalted. People should leave a church meeting wanting to get closer to the God wants to forgive you for your guilt and your burden of being heavy laden down by sin. Church is there to tell you there is no other way you can have eternal rest with the Lord without repenting of your earthly life style and turning to the only way to get the father is through Jesus Christ, who gave His life so you could live. Anything short of that is not good enough.

People don't have to go to church to find out how to be a good husband, wife brother sister or a good son or daughter, When you have a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, all that will come naturally.

From what I know the post modern emergent churches are leading people astray by half truths and deception, by offering alternative ways of gaining eternal life.............wrong.

It's not about "feeling comfortable" and "having your ears tickled", it's about going somewhere where they feel they will be accepted. I'm not sure if you are aware of this, but the Christianity that shows up in the media is not the most accepting and loving entity. Regardless of whether or not this portrayal is accurate, this is what they see.

Two things, from personal experience, I think are relevant here:

1)From my conversations with people of other subcultures, several of these individuals (if not many) have been hurt by "Churches" and would not set foot in a "traditional church". Is it not a good thing that there are "non-traditional" churches that allow these people to hear the Gospel?

2)A good friend of mine went to a Baptist Church for a period of time. She went regularly, but non one would speak to her. Not even the children. Why? Because she had multiple piercings, as well as several tattoos.

So, with that in mind, this is the sense in which I meant "comfortable" in that they feel they can be accepted.

Said so well

[eric]

Hi Willing To die,

I read your reply to my post, but I think you misunderdtood my point. Anyway I'll reproduce your part of the response to my post......

It's not about "feeling comfortable" and "having your ears tickled", it's about going somewhere where they feel they will be accepted. I'm not sure if you are aware of this, but the Christianity that shows up in the media is not the most accepting and loving entity. Regardless of whether or not this portrayal is accurate, this is what they see.

Two things, from personal experience, I think are relevant here:

1)From my conversations with people of other subcultures, several of these individuals (if not many) have been hurt by "Churches" and would not set foot in a "traditional church". Is it not a good thing that there are "non-traditional" churches that allow these people to hear the Gospel?

2)A good friend of mine went to a Baptist Church for a period of time. She went regularly, but non one would speak to her. Not even the children. Why? Because she had multiple piercings, as well as several tattoos.

So, with that in mind, this is the sense in which I meant "comfortable" in that they feel they can be accepted.

I can see your point here and I agree, but I wasn't referring to the the discomfort experienced from being ostracised by any established christian church, such as a portion of baptist churches, for I know how critical some can be.

What I am referring to is that the church is a place to go when you to be discipled in the full knowledge of Christ's gospel, not a watered down version as in some of the post modern and emergent chuches are preaching. Some that I have on record are deceiving their members by implying that good works are as important as faith in seeking eternal security and that is as unbiblical as you can get.I don't want to know how to be a good parent or a good husband or citizen. I want to know how to be a good servant to the Lord.........what ever it takes.

Well that's my view, right or wrong.

[artsylady]

Why do we have denominations ???........ Because they appeal to certain beliefs and lifestyle. What is so different about a church who embraces the uniqueness of a particular way of life as long as it does not go against the Bible ??? God created those people to be who they are.

I've sat in a mainstream church as I bet many have and the preacher says, "We want to love the tattooed bikies, we want to love the prostitutes and support them and help them turn their lives around etc " But when I've heard that I've looked around the church and thought, nup not tattooed bikies here, I wonder why ??? Because the mainstream, somewhat conservative church has no idea about the lifestyle. It can be said they will be accepted and not judged but really it is not the case because they are told so quick to change their lifestyle.

We need churches that cater to different needs, personalities etc.

Amen.

I have never heard of the emergent church. I also wonder why there are so many denominations. In my city, our churches, Baptist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian seem like they are 'emerging' as the body of Christ, which I find fantastic. If that's what it means, then I am all for it. If it in any way takes away from the Truth of the Word, then it's scary.

[artsylady]

Sorry to spoil the fun, but in my own opinion, people should leave a church meeting feeling humbled, not exalted. People should leave a church meeting wanting to get closer to the God wants to forgive you for your guilt and your burden of being heavy laden down by sin.

I feel humbled because God is exalted.

Do we have to live with guilt and burdens and a heaviness?

I don't know that you are spoiling the fun so much as not believing that Christ came to bring JOY? Why aren't you experiencing it. I get the impression you would feel bad or guilty for experiencing joy.

I'm not saying people should not be convicted of sin either.

[artsylady]

There has to be a balance between true acceptence of ones uniqueness and truth.

[Arthur Durnan]

Christ's command to "Preach the Word" has never been kindly altered, slightly modified or withdrawn. All people with or without earings, nose jobs, nipple piercings and/or discreetly placed tattoos need to know that Christ Jesus loves them & died for their sins. He also conquered death for them, taking the sting out of the grave. The term "emerging" church should never be permitted to gloss over, replace or water down the Savior's call in Matthew 28:18-20 for both mass & individual evangelism thru the preaching of the cross. Let's determine afresh to forego the whims & nostrums of the continually changing human mind re church situations, currently-in-style names, personal appearances, human M.O.s - these things change with the weather - AND STAY ON TRACK with Christ's life-transforming message in John 3:1-7 of New Life from above for dying men & women! AMEN & AMEN!

http://arthurdurnan.freeyellow.com

[artsylady]

Christ's command to "Preach the Word" has never been kindly altered, slightly modified or withdrawn. All people with or without earings, nose jobs, nipple piercings and/or discreetly placed tattoos need to know that Christ Jesus loves them & died for their sins. He also conquered death for them, taking the sting out of the grave. The term "emerging" church should never be permitted to gloss over, replace or water down the Savior's call in Matthew 28:18-20 for both mass & individual evangelism thru the preaching of the cross. Let's determine afresh to forego the whims & nostrums of the continually changing human mind re church situations, currently-in-style names, personal appearances, human M.O.s - these things change with the weather - AND STAY ON TRACK with Christ's life-transforming message in John 3:1-7 of New Life from above for dying men & women! AMEN & AMEN!

[Searching soul23]

I'm glad my topic turned hot overnight and got moved to the Inner Court. I suppose proponents of The Emerging Church have valid points. It's good that there is a church that appeals to the unchurched. Maybe they will find Christ...

As for me, I just want to be true to my school. I wasn't taught any of this Emerging Church stuff. But at least I can discern that. As for the rest of them, I'll let God decide.

Here is Ecclesiastes 12, which rings true in this matter for me:

Ecclesiastes 12

1 Remember your Creator

in the days of your youth,

before the days of trouble come

and the years approach when you will say,

"I find no pleasure in them"-

2 before the sun and the light

and the moon and the stars grow dark,

and the clouds return after the rain;

3 when the keepers of the house tremble,

and the strong men stoop,

when the grinders cease because they are few,

and those looking through the windows grow dim;

4 when the doors to the street are closed

and the sound of grinding fades;

when men rise up at the sound of birds,

but all their songs grow faint;

5 when men are afraid of heights

and of dangers in the streets;

when the almond tree blossoms

and the grasshopper drags himself along

and desire no longer is stirred.

Then man goes to his eternal home

and mourners go about the streets.

6 Remember him

[GymRose]

The thing to remember is that there is good and bad in all denominations these days. To me I see the Emerging church like the Pentecostal church in the 1970s and 80s. To the mainstream this lot seems really odd and out there.... I can say that because my uncle and aunt are Pentecostal ministers who were thought were way over the top LOL. Through the 90s there became an acceptance of Pentecostalism and it in itself is seen as mainstream Christianity now.

IMHO the Emergant church will become recognised and accepted but the ones that are keeping the truth........ Not like the one that you have been to. A lot of people are going into Home churches or Emergant churches, as well as just staying at home and having prayer and reading with the family or seeking God one on one because they see altered and misleading doctrine. A straying from absolute Biblical truth and egotistical leadership making church more about themselves and legalism than God. And a lot of them are not weak, unlearned christians, the majority I know including myself are people with a deep faith, long time christians who are tired of the Word being watered down and manipulated to fit the leading of the Pastor, tired of performance based worship and the majority I know who are walking out of the church buildings are or were in positions of leadeship. These are people who have said, ENOUGH, we want absolute truth not some mans agenda or to fund his exorbitant lifestyle.

I personally think the Emergent or Home churched / Unchurched are very much misunderstood just as Pentecostalism was many years ago.

Having said all that though, one does need to be very discerning in ANY church setting these days.

[eric]

Oh dear, oh dear, I am not.. and I haven't been dicscriminating between the denominatiol churches, such as mentioned by Artsylady. I'm referring to the new breed of post modern emergent churches that are springig up and are watering down the gospel and are beginning to embrace, mysticism and new age preaching and people are joining by the droves, because that is want they want. If you don't know about the post modern and emergent church movement is, then you don't know what I am talking about. And Artsylady Jesus didn't come to bring joy, as you said, He came to take away the sins of the world so that we could be reconciliated to the Father. My joy comes from serving Him for who He is, not for who I am, not from what I can get from Him, but what I have to give Him.

Paul to Timothy......preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching.

For time will come when they will not tolerate healthy teaching, but according to their own lusts, will heap upon themselves, teachers tickling the ear.

And they will turn away their ears from the truth and wii turn aside to fables.

A picture of the new post modern church.

I rest my case.