Comments on: An Emerging Church http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/10/27/an-emerging-church/ with Mart De Haan and Friends Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:50:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bo Thunderson http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/10/27/an-emerging-church/#comment-7184 Bo Thunderson Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:57:25 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=1818#comment-7184 To understand 'emerging churches" in a nut shell they are people who want to enter into the party by the back door and are dressed in the wrong garments . They could not earn their way into traditional church systems because they simply are too impatient ( or respond out of spite to the institution of church) to follow the prescribed rules and invented a shortcut . What's really bad is their penchant to draw others onto their wide path as if you really should follow such a course . Although their intentions are well meaning remember the saying ; the road to hell is paved with good intentions .Sadly they are the seeds that fell into the briers. Our best course of action is not to judge them but instead to encourage them to step into the light and walk the prescribed narrow path . after all we're only human and have many planks in our own eyes . Our best course of action should be to pray for unity while we reach out our hand to those who reach back . I myself was once sucked into this vortex and can attest ' Spite never = Right .God's Peace and grace be with all, Bo To understand ‘emerging churches” in a nut shell they are people who want to enter into the party by the back door and are dressed in the wrong garments . They could not earn their way into traditional church systems because they simply are too impatient ( or respond out of spite to the institution of church) to follow the prescribed rules and invented a shortcut . What’s really bad is their penchant to draw others onto their wide path as if you really should follow such a course . Although their intentions are well meaning remember the saying ; the road to hell is paved with good intentions .Sadly they are the seeds that fell into the briers. Our best course of action is not to judge them but instead to encourage them to step into the light and walk the prescribed narrow path . after all we’re only human and have many planks in our own eyes . Our best course of action should be to pray for unity while we reach out our hand to those who reach back . I myself was once sucked into this vortex and can attest ‘ Spite never = Right .God’s Peace and grace be with all,
Bo

]]> By: ryanellison http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/10/27/an-emerging-church/#comment-6957 ryanellison Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:36:19 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=1818#comment-6957 Dear Mart, I very much appreciated your thoughts on this sensitive subject. I am new to this site and look forward to diving deeper in the other articles! Blessings, Ryan Dear Mart,

I very much appreciated your thoughts on this sensitive subject. I am new to this site and look forward to diving deeper in the other articles!
Blessings,
Ryan

]]> By: aboden http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/10/27/an-emerging-church/#comment-3409 aboden Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:34:14 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=1818#comment-3409 I don't want this to come across mean, that's not my intention. But if our personal relationship with God were truly meaningful and inspiring to our children, they wouldn't feel the need to come up with something drastically different. If the next generation doesn't see our eyes light up each time we talk about God's amazingness, they'll look for inspiration elsewhere. As humans, we all struggle with getting bogged down with religious formulas and tenets that leave us in a rut. 2 Corinthians 4:16 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." We tend to forget about the "renewal" once we get into a comfort zone. Also, with regards to #15: "Outreach that sounds angry and condemning rather than embodying the attitudes and methods of Jesus." I find this interesting, regardless of who is taking issue with it. Jesus had his moments when he sounded angry and condemning. It always seemed to be when religiosity was becoming a barrier rather than a support structure (turning tables at the temple, calling Pharisees "white-washed tombs", etc.). We should be equally ready to challenge ourselves with this same indignation and give ourselves a quick kick in the rear without thinking we're about to start an "emerging church". :-) I don’t want this to come across mean, that’s not my intention.

But if our personal relationship with God were truly meaningful and inspiring to our children, they wouldn’t feel the need to come up with something drastically different.

If the next generation doesn’t see our eyes light up each time we talk about God’s amazingness, they’ll look for inspiration elsewhere.

As humans, we all struggle with getting bogged down with religious formulas and tenets that leave us in a rut.

2 Corinthians 4:16

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

We tend to forget about the “renewal” once we get into a comfort zone.

Also, with regards to #15:
“Outreach that sounds angry and condemning rather than embodying the attitudes and methods of Jesus.”

I find this interesting, regardless of who is taking issue with it. Jesus had his moments when he sounded angry and condemning. It always seemed to be when religiosity was becoming a barrier rather than a support structure (turning tables at the temple, calling Pharisees “white-washed tombs”, etc.). We should be equally ready to challenge ourselves with this same indignation and give ourselves a quick kick in the rear without thinking we’re about to start an “emerging church”. :-)

]]> By: christiansoldier32 http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/10/27/an-emerging-church/#comment-3361 christiansoldier32 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:26:36 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=1818#comment-3361 If you are interested in viewing an example of what may be referred to as an "emerging church" check out Mark Driscol's Seattle church on the web, marshillchurch.org and you will see what works in attracting young people. It is extremely conservative in doctrine but connects through culture. My wife and I are late twenties and early thirties who both grew up in the "traditional church" but we did not like it for a variety of reasons. We love Marshill because its about faith and the gospel not religion and tradition. The music is loud like being at a rock concert which makes us feel like we are truly worshiping Jesus being alive, even if the sanctuary is dark. And the message is on point, direct from the Bible and communicated in a way that is easy to connect with. If there is a fear of culture, I question what was Jesus doing amongst the people. He wasn't just sitting in the synagogue worshiping as they had done for centuries waiting to have people come to him, he was out amongst the people that needed to hear the message, to me this means immersed in the culture. You can't effectively minister to people you can't or don't connect with. If you are interested in viewing an example of what may be referred to as an “emerging church” check out Mark Driscol’s Seattle church on the web, marshillchurch.org and you will see what works in attracting young people. It is extremely conservative in doctrine but connects through culture. My wife and I are late twenties and early thirties who both grew up in the “traditional church” but we did not like it for a variety of reasons. We love Marshill because its about faith and the gospel not religion and tradition. The music is loud like being at a rock concert which makes us feel like we are truly worshiping Jesus being alive, even if the sanctuary is dark. And the message is on point, direct from the Bible and communicated in a way that is easy to connect with.

If there is a fear of culture, I question what was Jesus doing amongst the people. He wasn’t just sitting in the synagogue worshiping as they had done for centuries waiting to have people come to him, he was out amongst the people that needed to hear the message, to me this means immersed in the culture. You can’t effectively minister to people you can’t or don’t connect with.

]]> By: Dave K http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/10/27/an-emerging-church/#comment-3340 Dave K Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:56:48 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=1818#comment-3340 Don't limit your emerging-church comments to the younger end of the age spectrum. I and a number of non-young people that I know are discouraged by the institutional church for the reasons cited in your "emerging communities" list. Don’t limit your emerging-church comments to the younger end of the age spectrum. I and a number of non-young people that I know are discouraged by the institutional church for the reasons cited in your “emerging communities” list.

]]> By: Rom1136 http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/10/27/an-emerging-church/#comment-3232 Rom1136 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:20:20 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=1818#comment-3232 As members of the Body, we are also to be aware of what poses as 'members', or is bent on perverting the Gospel, not to sit back and allow it. In regards to the extreme end of this movement as I mentioned before (the dangerous 'Emergent church') Read 1 Timothy 6:3-5. There are many others. As members of the Body, we are also to be aware of what poses as ‘members’, or is bent on perverting the Gospel, not to sit back and allow it.

In regards to the extreme end of this movement as I mentioned before (the dangerous ‘Emergent church’) Read 1 Timothy 6:3-5. There are many others.

]]> By: daisymarygoldr http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/10/27/an-emerging-church/#comment-3203 daisymarygoldr Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:40:46 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=1818#comment-3203 Church is indeed ekklesia and Christ has added each one of us to His Body to do what we have been individually "called" to do. He never commands me, the pinky toe to “stomach” the functioning of the other toes or even the general functioning of the entire body. He is the Head and it is His job to regulate and oversee the proper functioning of every member. Instead of accepting or rejecting the role of the other members let us be focused on our individual efficacy in contributing to the Body. However, I do understand that it will be v-e-r-y difficult for some of us to stomach this, if we never understood or accepted the Headship of Christ! Church is indeed ekklesia and Christ has added each one of us to His Body to do what we have been individually “called” to do. He never commands me, the pinky toe to “stomach” the functioning of the other toes or even the general functioning of the entire body. He is the Head and it is His job to regulate and oversee the proper functioning of every member. Instead of accepting or rejecting the role of the other members let us be focused on our individual efficacy in contributing to the Body. However, I do understand that it will be v-e-r-y difficult for some of us to stomach this, if we never understood or accepted the Headship of Christ!

]]> By: Rom1136 http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/10/27/an-emerging-church/#comment-3161 Rom1136 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:25:32 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=1818#comment-3161 And whatever you want to call it, I believe the most important thing is if we are opening our doors to change in the Church, we better carefully examine what we are letting in and why. And we should not compromise the Church for the sake of compromise. And whatever you want to call it, I believe the most important thing is if we are opening our doors to change in the Church, we better carefully examine what we are letting in and why. And we should not compromise the Church for the sake of compromise.

]]> By: Mart De Haan http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/10/27/an-emerging-church/#comment-3157 Mart De Haan Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:51:50 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=1818#comment-3157 Good point. There's a distinction not only between "emerging" and "emergent" but also between many of the critiques you can find out there-- and reality. Good point. There’s a distinction not only between “emerging” and “emergent” but also between many of the critiques you can find out there– and reality.

]]> By: Rom1136 http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/10/27/an-emerging-church/#comment-3155 Rom1136 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:37:51 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=1818#comment-3155 Again, before we discuss the "emerging church" phenomenon, we need to understand this isn’t just modernizing the church necessarily. I’m not sure where Mart’s list came from, but this blog is simplifying the emerging church movement. This is multi faceted. One blogger could be referring to one type of 'emerging church' and another arguing from what he believes it to be. A separate blog could discuss why we as the Church of Christ, feel the need to dumb down and water down our church history, doctrines, music, and worship in order to align ourselves with our present culture, so as to attract people. Again, before we discuss the “emerging church” phenomenon, we need to understand this isn’t just modernizing the church necessarily. I’m not sure where Mart’s list came from, but this blog is simplifying the emerging church movement. This is multi faceted. One blogger could be referring to one type of ‘emerging church’ and another arguing from what he believes it to be.

A separate blog could discuss why we as the Church of Christ, feel the need to dumb down and water down our church history, doctrines, music, and worship in order to align ourselves with our present culture, so as to attract people.

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