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Looking For Your Opinion

Seriously.  I need your help.

Q: What would be the response of the critics and naysayers of the emergent world…IF a compelling and sound presentation of an emergent theology were made.

I’m looking for your gut opinion on this one.

About the Author

Jonathan BrinkI am an business development and communications consultant. I am also the senior editor and publisher for Civitas Press. I recently published, Discovering The God Imagination: Reconstructing A Whole, New Christianity. (Civitas, 2011)View all posts by Jonathan Brink →

  • http://www.adamlehman.us AdamLehman

    I think the those in the emergent church sphere tend to use words that christians who are outside of it have a hard time tracking along as they're used to giving out their “amens” to phrases littered with Christian-eze.

    One thing I think those within the Emerging Church could do to better learn – only at certain gatherings – to be able to present emergent theology in their terms. That may mean using that old, misunderstood theological phrase, but I think it'd be much easier for the religious to track with our ideas.

    (i think that emerging theology is already “compelling” and “sound” to average, everday westerners. They don't want the theology they've seen on the news (if any at all), and the Emergent church offers that)

  • http://www.adamlehman.us AdamLehman

    I think the those in the emergent church sphere tend to use words that christians who are outside of it have a hard time tracking along as they're used to giving out their “amens” to phrases littered with Christian-eze.

    One thing I think those within the Emerging Church could do to better learn – only at certain gatherings – to be able to present emergent theology in their terms. That may mean using that old, misunderstood theological phrase, but I think it'd be much easier for the religious to track with our ideas.

    (i think that emerging theology is already “compelling” and “sound” to average, everday westerners. They don't want the theology they've seen on the news (if any at all), and the Emergent church offers that)

  • wildernessinthevoice

    Is it possible to formulate one single Emergent Theology? I thought one of the most attractive things of the emerging voice was one of diversity.
    If it is possible to balance the eclectic nature and paradigms of the emerging church then cool. The next question comes up. For the benefit of whom?

    Why get bogged down in meaningless words when there more active pursuits to be involved with…?

  • wildernessinthevoice

    Is it possible to formulate one single Emergent Theology? I thought one of the most attractive things of the emerging voice was one of diversity.
    If it is possible to balance the eclectic nature and paradigms of the emerging church then cool. The next question comes up. For the benefit of whom?

    Why get bogged down in meaningless words when there more active pursuits to be involved with…?

  • Joe

    My guess is that most would still find something to criticize.

  • Joe

    My guess is that most would still find something to criticize.

  • http://blog.revmike.us/ Rev. Mike

    Honest, gut reaction? My own initial identification with the emerging church was that they seemed to be like me, i.e., an evangelical who, having stepped outside the bubble and gone to a mainline seminary, found that having discovered a different world from mine, I could no longer go back to that previous world. What I've heard since then seems to me to be indistinguishable from what I learned in that mainline seminary 20 years ago, so I'm sorry to say that I don't really think the emergents have anything to say theologically that hasn't been said already. They seem to me to be evangelicals finally giving themselves permission to consider what mainliners and liberals have been saying for 75 to 100 years.

  • http://blog.revmike.us/ Rev. Mike

    Honest, gut reaction? My own initial identification with the emerging church was that they seemed to be like me, i.e., an evangelical who, having stepped outside the bubble and gone to a mainline seminary, found that having discovered a different world from mine, I could no longer go back to that previous world. What I've heard since then seems to me to be indistinguishable from what I learned in that mainline seminary 20 years ago, so I'm sorry to say that I don't really think the emergents have anything to say theologically that hasn't been said already. They seem to me to be evangelicals finally giving themselves permission to consider what mainliners and liberals have been saying for 75 to 100 years.

  • http://www.bensternke.com/ Ben Sternke

    Wouldn't matter. Most are more interested in bickering than exploring theology (gut opinion).

  • http://www.bensternke.com/ Ben Sternke

    Wouldn't matter. Most are more interested in bickering than exploring theology (gut opinion).

  • fredshope

    Due to the variety of voices in the conversation, I would think any theology would have to be pretty broad. That alone would cause some of the critics to say, “See, I told you those emergents don't believe in anything.”

    There are some folks who will never be satisfied.

  • fredshope

    Due to the variety of voices in the conversation, I would think any theology would have to be pretty broad. That alone would cause some of the critics to say, “See, I told you those emergents don't believe in anything.”

    There are some folks who will never be satisfied.

  • http://www.parablesofaprodigalworld.com Raffi Shahinian

    I recall we were going back and forth on this one about a year ago. Here was my take then.

    It's still my take.

    Grace and Peace,
    Raffi

  • http://www.parablesofaprodigalworld.com Raffi Shahinian

    I recall we were going back and forth on this one about a year ago. Here was my take then.

    It's still my take.

    Grace and Peace,
    Raffi

  • http://armyofpriests.com/ Adam

    I thought the whole point of being emergent was that there wasn't one single theology.

  • http://armyofpriests.com/ Adam

    I thought the whole point of being emergent was that there wasn't one single theology.

  • http://www.postost.net/ Andrew

    I doubt that most of the current crowd of critics would understand that 'compelling and sound presentation' of an emerging theology. Gut reaction. But I also don't think you've made that 'IF' big enough.

  • http://www.postost.net/ Andrew

    I doubt that most of the current crowd of critics would understand that 'compelling and sound presentation' of an emerging theology. Gut reaction. But I also don't think you've made that 'IF' big enough.

  • http://jonathanbrink.com Jonathan Brink

    Andrew, I agree that I didn't make it big enough. I was speaking to a specific audience with the question.

  • http://jonathanbrink.com Jonathan Brink

    Andrew, I agree that I didn't make it big enough. I was speaking to a specific audience with the question.

  • Wayne

    I’m more interested in how the poor and lost would respond IF a compelling and sound presentation of an emergent theology were made. What’s the point of a bunch of smart people arguing about what scripture says can’t be contained? I am very interested in what’s emerging, but if it has no useful application, other than winning an argument, if it has no love…

  • Ethos Project

    History tells us that God always “brings alive” what many have missed in the recent past. When something is emerging, its not necessarily new, but rather re-emerging as a focus. As “Emerging Theology” is formed, it should be communicated based on the need for people to have clarity of what is happening across the world in churches, communities, and families. Tim http://www.EthosMinistries.com

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