It is possible that I am a
little late on this subject. I have had many people ask me what I think of the
emergent church movement that is sweeping across Christianity. Part of the
reason I haven't jumped at the opportunity to write about something so controversial
is that I didn't really understand it. Despite my love for controversial
subjects I generally don't like writing about things that I don't understand.
I'd argue that my confusion
is not unique to me. I think it's likely that even the emergent church's
staunchest adversaries don't really understand. What they see is people leaving
structured belief, and for most people that is enough to label it as heresy and
condemn it as an invention of Satan. The emerging church is a threat precisely
because of its unconformity to rite and ritual. It has no stated fundamental
beliefs, no structured church government, and no denominational affiliation,
there is absolutely no way for someone to point at a specific church, group of people, or a specific practice and
definitively state it is the emerging church.
The emerging church is not
spiritual formation, it is not contemplative prayer, it is not spiritualism, it
is not pantheism, and it is not emotionalism. It seems to me that antagonists
of the emergent church movement are frantically struggling to put a label on
what they perceive to be the greatest threat to their religious system in the
modern era. Once something has a label, real or not, it becomes easier to
vilify it and label people you don't like. I have noticed a trend in certain
religious circles, if there is something going on that they don’t like all
they have to do is label it as the emerging church and it is enough to shut it
down, in their minds, forever. The emerging church accusation is the go-to argument
against anything that fundamentalists do not like. And just as an aside, it
should be noted that if fundamentalist religion doesn’t like it you better take
a close look because it is likely that God is leading it.
In reality the emerging
church is not a unified group of people. It is not composed of a bunch of
religious leaders gathering in secret rooms with a plot to destroy
fundamentalist Christianity. The emerging church is merely the next step in the
evolution of religion. It is an outcry against stagnant and restrictive
religion. It is a rebellion against a system that cares more about its bottom
line than it does the people it steam rolls over.
The emerging church
movement is alive and active. Rather than attempting to exclude and contain,
the movement is constantly pushing the boundaries, cutting holes in the boxes
of religious idealism. The fundamentalist's cry rings out,
"conserve, conserve!" While those emerging from fundamentalism
are crying out for change. One thing that is true for humanity, no matter what
group or institution you are addressing, is that if you are not constantly
adapting, changing, developing, and learning, you are stagnant, on your way to
becoming irrelevant, and no longer a leader in the community.
One thing that was pointed
out to me by my pastor is that the church is not emerging, it has emerged. The
emerging church is represented by all those who refuse to give in to
mediocrity. It is full of young people who are fed up with the theological
politicking and meaningless banter of our leadership. It is led by those with a
true desire to know God more. Most importantly it is led by people who are
advocating for social change and awareness. They will not stand by while the
church oppresses and passes by those whom it deems unredeemable. While the
church is arguing about women in leadership, the emerging church is fighting
for equality and unity for all.
The emerging church cares
more about unity and equality than it does about religious ideology. It cares more about
unity and equality than it does about religious correctness. While the churches sling insults at
each other, declaring themselves more righteous than all others, the emergent
church seeks common ground on which to meet people in love, understanding and
with an ear to listen. It is acceptance and love. It does not sit by advocating
complacency as some would claim, it is active in forging the tools to use to
advocate for social change and equality. Rather than worrying about condemning
and correcting the sins of others, it seeks to advocate for those in need who
suffer persecution and pain from the very institutions that claim to be
followers of Jesus. The emerging church grasps a hold of the mission of Jesus
in all its glory, "...go and learn what that means, I will have mercy, and
not sacrifice: for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance (Mat 9:13)."
In short the emerging
church is plain and simply emerging truth. In fact I wouldn't even call it
emerging, I should call it just plain truth. It is the message of Jesus carried
forward as it should have been long ago. It is a recognition that Jesus came to
seek and save those who are lost, not establish new doctrine with which to use
to exclude those we feel are unworthy of everlasting life. Truth recognizes
that the one true church is the church where people gather in community to
strengthen, encourage, and uplift one another. It recognizes that God Works
through all alike, regardless of gender, religious affiliation, age, race, or
sexual orientation. It recognizes that God is just as likely to spread the
gospel using the voice of a homosexual couple, as he is the voice of a
ministerial graduate. Unlike humanity, God plays no favorites. God will use the
atheist who does not even believe before he chooses to use the churches that
slander his character.
If you
are not a part of the emerging church, then you are a part of a church that has
lost its mission and purpose. I for one intend to forge a new faith, one founded
on the principles of God, and they are to know and love more. Christianity will
change; it must if we are to see the fulfillment of the mission of Jesus. In the
churches current state that mission will not and cannot succeed. Let the truth emerge!
