Why Is Emerging Bad?
March 6, 2008 by Jonathan Brink
The other day I had a conversation with a friend about labels. I was explaining that I actively considered myself part of the emerging church. I say this because I have always loved what is emerging in general.
What is interesting is that in most of the world, emerging is appreciated. In business the world, emerging is the new business that radically transforms our lives and the way we live. In our homes, emerging is the new flat panel that sits on our desktop and takes up sooooooo little space. In our garage, emerging is the new car that now has integrated satellite navigation. In schools, emerging is the minds of so much promise waiting to make positive change in the world. In politics, emerging is Kiva and its capacity to bring real possibility for change in third world countries. In science, emerging is the new vaccine that cures a serious disease. In technology, emerging is the new iPod we so desperately want and crave at Christmas time. In nature, emerging is the dawn of spring that releases a festival of color.
But in the church, emerging is bad. Why is that? Why are we so afraid of God doing something new in our midst? I’m serious. Is it possible that God could be doing something new in our midst, something we’ve never seen before? What’s your take?
“in most of the world, emerging is appreciated.” Thanks for bringing in this perspective. So true!
Good point. The “new” is usually heralded as a great accomplishment (of humanity), but when we get talking about God, people like to believe (as Ecclesiastes says) “There’s nothing new under the sun.”
The problem is that people forget that at one point Christianity was new. It was messy, it was full of confusion and fear and hope. So was Lutheranism and Anabaptism and Evangelicalism. Church people are so scared of change in the church but fail to realize how much the church has changed.
Maybe in 50 years, people will be talking about how we can’t just leave emerging behind… it’s TRADITION.
Jake, that’s just plain funny brother.
Even though the emerging church is ecumenical, transcending most denominational differences, I feel that it has a definite irreligious flavor. That’s one reason why I like it. I think Jesus was rather irreligious. But this attitude would certainly be perceived as a threat to those who have placed religion ahead of God. (Not on purpose now, it’s just human nature. No one has been more of a legalist than myself).
I see similarities in the way some elements of the traditional church are reacting to the emerging church and the way the traditional Jews reacted to this new radical cult that appeared in their midst nearly 2000 years ago.
BTW - is that Brennan Manning over on the right? You heard him speak?
Is it God doing something new or are we finally catching on? It seems to me that what’s happening is that groups of people are starting to find out that there really is Good News.
And if He is actually doing something new, I’m glad, because what He’s been doing wasn’t really working! (did I say that?) At least what I was told He was doing wasn’t working…(I’m back-pedaling).
Perhaps emerging seems bad to the church because it means our safe notions and current m.o.’s are being challenged. Nobody likes change, unless of course you realize that what you’ve been doing just doesn’t work or has fallen apart.
Christian, Jesus was so subversive wasn’t he? I love it.
Yes that is Brennan Manning. I saw him yesterday. I haven’t posted on it yet but I will.
monachusbellator, did you say that? Yes you did. And now you get to discover the freedom that comes from being released from it all.
When God says “Behold, I do a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19), he’s not asking for our permission, he’s saying look out, or you’ll get run over. He immediately goes ahead and does the new stuff, saying “There! Now it springs forth! [lit. it's blooming, it's sprouting!] Do you not perceive it?” Look, I’m not over there anymore, I’m over HERE now, doing something completely new! Come over and join in!
If we don’t grok what He’s doing because we don’t dig change, or are too busy yearning for the way things used to be, He says “Fine! The beasts of the field are gonna love this. The jackal and the ostrich will get on board and will praise Me for what I’m doing in their midst.”
Clue: whenever God starts talking like that, he’s saying we’re about to get left behind if we don’t get on board with what He’s doing.
Monachus Bellator? Who is this guy? And WHAT did he just say?! Sounds like a pretty cool guy to me (even if he looks like a NASCAR driver in his picture)!!
I think the emerging, emergent, whatever it be called, is much more widely wccepted than we realize. In fact, I would say 80 percent of those I brush shoulders with are all for it.
You run in good circles Nate.
There is an intriguing quote from experimental composer John Cage that we all could learn something from: “I can’t understand why people are frightened by new ideas.
I’m frightened of old ones.”
While we affirm that Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday, and forever, why do we act like the Holy Spirit always and only leads us in the ways of yesterday even though the world has moved way on to tomorrow? Surely there is a difference between being countercultural and being left behind …
Emergent is bad! It is an abomination to the Christian church. If everyone who was emerging would spend that energy evangelizing, then we would have a wonderful world. Get off your lazy behinds (don’t want to swear and go to hell) and get out into the the streets. Give everyone the law and guilt them, that is the way to win converts. Ask everyone if they are a good person and follow the Way of the Master! This is your final warning! Repent of your sinning Emergent ways.
I am glad I am elect, but I don’t know about you,
Dr. Seymore Spurgeon