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Roberta_ -> Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/18/2008 1:09:48 PM)

Emerging/Emergent Church Movement

Any thoughts on this?



greenT -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/18/2008 2:10:44 PM)

There aren't words to describe how enthusiastic I am about the Emergent church. I think that its fantastic.



AboundinginHisGrace -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/18/2008 3:08:52 PM)

It is scary. I don't agree with it. It sounds really good at first, but to make the gospel more appealing to the world is not what God intended on. And to say there are no absolutes is absurd. Also the bible is truth and it is not just whatever you feel it should be. Those are all things the emergent church represent. The Gospel is not appealing to the flesh. The emergent church tries to make Church more worldly which i don't agree with. The bible tells us the world will hate us. We have be really careful with this movement, if you look at it just skimming, it sounds good (thats why its scary) but the more you look into it the more you realize it is not of God. The only reason I know much about it, is because we had person with authority in our church who was teaching emergent church doctrine. Once the word got out that he was, he was asked to step down and leave the church. This movement is destroying a lot of churches. Anything that was started in the 20th century and motivated by humanism is a big red flag in my book.



Roberta_ -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/18/2008 7:01:28 PM)

Thanks. There are two churches in our area that I have looked into joining, but I found out they are both part of this movement. I'm not sure how I feel about it.



Roberta_ -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 11:31:04 AM)

Anyone else have any thoughts?



PureLight -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 1:22:04 PM)

To me, it sounds like they aren't under any authority, which is worrisome. Who is to keep them accountable in any thing?



Roberta_ -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 1:24:09 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: PureLight

To me, it sounds like they aren't under any authority, which is worrisome. Who is to keep them accountable in any thing?


When I was in Indiana, I attended a church that wasn't ECM and they also weren't under any authority. Everyone held everyone else accountable.



Focusing -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 2:04:49 PM)

Well, my initial thought was "this sounds like the megachurch" ... then I read your link, and sure enough.

I think they serve a good purpose. They bring people into the faith, introduce them to Jesus in a positive light. Many people (myself included) were raised in a very strict religious environment, where God was portrayed as mean and overbearing and you can never, ever, no matter what you did or didn't do, ever please Him, and the end result emotionally was "why bother trying - just enjoy yourself and have fun" (again, this was my experience, and I saw many of my peers experience it as well).

I experienced many different so-called religions, looked into even more than just the ones I attended services at, and ended up in a megachurch. Rick Warren's to be precise. It brought me full circle, and I am now saved and have a wonderful relationship with God.

My experience with megachurches is that it's the milk ... and people who really do *get* God and desire a deeper relationship with Him will move along into other churches where they are fed more substantially.

I think it's important for us to realize that God is serious, and that we are to follow Him, but we also need to realize that He loves us. He desires us to enjoy the beauty in the world that He has given us to enjoy. Life is not all about being serious and mundane and full of scripted prayer. The megachurch showed me this, and I will always be thankful.

If you are looking into joining one of these megachurches, just know that they don't tend to dig deeply into the Word. The messages are kept fairly light. However, the fellowship and the worhsip music are great ... and if you are getting your meat elsewhere, the enjoyment you receive from attending these weekly fellowships could be the right thing for you.



Roberta_ -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 2:17:32 PM)

Hi Focusing! Actually, the two that I'm looking at are not at all megachurches.

One of them is Awakenings Christian Church (the site is currently down, has been since I moved here).

The other is Chestnut Ave Community Church.

Both churches together probably only have about 100 members.



Focusing -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 2:37:18 PM)

Hmm ... I am wondering if they are considering joining in order to up their attendance? I do think they can be good churches to bring unbelievers in, help them see that God wants us to succeed - which is not an impossible feat - and that He is on our side.

I would check them out. If nothing else, you can probably get hooked up with some good fellowshipping. [:)]



Roberta_ -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 2:42:11 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Focusing

Hmm ... I am wondering if they are considering joining in order to up their attendance?


They both are already a part of the ECM.

quote:

I would check them out. If nothing else, you can probably get hooked up with some good fellowshipping. [:)]


I have been attending Awakenings for a few months now. I'm not overly crazy about the fact that they barely knew me and asked me if I would consider taking over the kids church. I said no and they seemed to understand.

I've been to Chestnut twice now. I'm not sure how I feel about the fact that the pastor is a woman.



AboundinginHisGrace -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 2:56:48 PM)

Is it not scary to you that they say there no absolute truths? That Christ isn't the only way, as long as they say they are Christian you are to never question it..... God is love and merciful beyond our minds can comprehend, but he is also just and GOD, I AM THAT I AM. He will unleash judgement whether you want to believe it or not. To make the gospel more appealing to the world (not offensive) is not what the Gospel is about. The world hated Jesus and he said the world will hate us as well. So if our church is appealing to most of the world then somthing isnt right. It is God who convicts, not how well we can make it sound to someone. I can talk/scare/persuade, but its not up to me. Its me allowing Christ to work through me. Not me to decide how good/worldly i can make it sound so they will accept Christ.



Bobby -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 3:01:43 PM)

I have grown increasingly concerned about this issue in the past 18 months and spoke out at a business meeting, only to be rebuffed by the pastor.

Now we're seeing the fruits of this disaster come to fruition and few people are speaking out under threats.

One of those ideals came to bite me yesterday at church; the pastor refused to preach, and instead, we were treated to a "dance" concert by the teen dancers with no scripture reading, no doctrine, and no theology, it was outright wrong and inappropriate for church.

This has irked me to the point a few of us have put the church on notice that leadership must change or there will be consequences. Sadly the leadership think it's ok to change the church to the Emergent model, and they do not hear warnings about it.



Roberta_ -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 3:02:41 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: AboundinginHisGrace

Is it not scary to you that they say there no absolute truths? That Christ isn't the only way, as long as they say they are Christian you are to never question it.....


Neither of these churches have ever said that. Is that really one of the beliefs of the ECM?

quote:

God is love and merciful beyond our minds can comprehend, but he is also just and GOD, I AM THAT I AM. He will unleash judgement whether you want to believe it or not. To make the gospel more appealing to the world (not offensive) is not what the Gospel is about. The world hated Jesus and he said the world will hate us as well. So if our church is appealing to most of the world then somthing isnt right. It is God who convicts, not how well we can make it sound to someone. I can talk/scare/persuade, but its not up to me. Its me allowing Christ to work through me. Not me to decide how good/worldly i can make it sound so they will accept Christ.


Now, Awakenings does try to present Jesus as a friend and a Saviour, but their preaching sorely lacks anything to do with repentance.



Roberta_ -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 3:05:01 PM)

Hi Bobby,

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bobby

I have grown increasingly concerned about this issue in the past 18 months and spoke out at a business meeting, only to be rebuffed by the pastor.

Now we're seeing the fruits of this disaster come to fruition and few people are speaking out under threats.

One of those ideals came to bite me yesterday at church; the pastor refused to preach, and instead, we were treated to a "dance" concert by the teen dancers with no scripture reading, no doctrine, and no theology, it was outright wrong and inappropriate for church.

This has irked me to the point a few of us have put the church on notice that leadership must change or there will be consequences. Sadly the leadership think it's ok to change the church to the Emergent model, and they do not hear warnings about it.


Wow! That does not sound like a church service at all. I would Spiritually starve!



Focusing -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 3:11:37 PM)

My personal experience with the megachurch was that they preached the Truth (the ones I have attended) ... they did not preach that there were many paths or that there were no absolute truths.

I stand, and will continue to do so, that these churches bring many into the family of God. There is no perfect outreach, and there is no perfect church. But even if many people attend simply because "it's the latest thing to do" ... it end result is that it brings many people (and on a large scale - LOL) into a relationship with Christ. It is up to us individually whether we open the door to our hearts and accept Him.

I have attended a church that, almost on a weekly basis, put down the megachurches. It was a huge turn off. I don't think that's appropriate.

Think about it this way ... when Jesus preached to the multitude on the hillside, how many knew Him prior to that? How many were baptized as a result? Granted, I am not saying that the preachers of megachurches are Jesus ... just making a comparison that many come to learn about something they have heard about, desiring to know more. And the more that are reached, the more the possibility of bringing others into the family of Christ.

Then I think about the smaller, more conservative churches ... such as the one I recently left ... that teach that there is only one way, and it is our way (their particular physical church building or their particular denomination), and everyone else is in error and wrong and you can't possibly learn the Truth. It was akin to "if you don't attend this church or this denomination, you will go to h*ll". And I just don't believe it.

There are many churches one can attend and still be in a wonderful, honest, truthful, close relationship with our Lord, and where they preach the Truth straight out of the Bible.



AboundinginHisGrace -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 3:20:17 PM)

emergent and megachurches are two diff things. Also I agree with you. There is only one way to eternal life and that Faith in Jesus Christ, not being part of a certain church or church doctrine.



Roberta_ -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 3:23:20 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Focusing
Then I think about the smaller, more conservative churches ... such as the one I recently left ... that teach that there is only one way, and it is our way (their particular physical church building or their particular denomination), and everyone else is in error and wrong and you can't possibly learn the Truth. It was akin to "if you don't attend this church or this denomination, you will go to h*ll". And I just don't believe it.


That's a scary teaching too.

quote:

There are many churches one can attend and still be in a wonderful, honest, truthful, close relationship with our Lord, and where they preach the Truth straight out of the Bible.


Yes, but they can be hard to find.



earthless -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 3:41:01 PM)

Great questions - but just an FYI that this topic has been more than hashed and rehashed on these boards. You may find THIS THREAD to be of interest.

God bless.



Kat_D -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 3:41:38 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: AboundinginHisGrace

emergent and megachurches are two diff things

Yes, some mega churches do teach according to the Bible.

Roberta, if you go HERE and go to my post #2 in the thread, I link to another thread regarding the Emergent Church and a link that does a good job in exposing them for what they are. Between the 3, you should be able to make an informed decision.

My 2 cents: Patoooey! [:'(]



Focusing -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 3:42:54 PM)

quote:

emergent and megachurches are two diff things


Just approaching it from this angle, as quoted in the link in the OP ...

“Emergents” seem to share one common trait: disillusionment with the organized, institutional church as it has existed through the 20th century (whether fundamentalist, liberal, megachurch, or tall-steeple liturgical).

... and because megachurches seems to get a bad rap, which I (obviously) disagree with.


ETA: it does depend upon the individual church



Roberta_ -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 3:43:17 PM)

Thanks earthless. I wonder how come I never saw that thread?



crankius -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 3:43:38 PM)

I have found that the Emergent Church is a very large spectrum, from fairly theologically sound with new practices, to very theologically unsound with new practices.

My first main concern is that many in the Emergent Church camp view scripture as a more open text, equal to tradition, reason, and experience. Therefore, they tend to rely more on tradition, reason, and experience, than churches who hold to a sola scriptura view.

My other main concern is with how they treat the central gospel message. Some emergents seem to have an element of shame associated with the gospel message and feel the need to pretty Christ up into an attractive pleasing package so that the world will be more accepting. This is contrary to how scripture describes the presentation of the gospel of Christ. Christ is to be presented unadulterated as He is in the Word--and those who have ears to hear will hear, and those who are blind will reject. Our job is to spread the seed of the Word of God and let God give the growth where He will.


As has already been touched on a bit in the thread, it is important that we have a correct balance between grace and truth. The Emergent Church in many ways is reactionary to graceless theology--but in the process many seem all too willing to abandon truth.

(...and yikes, there have been many threads on the Emergent church, and the all have a tendancy to get long, complicated, and unpleasant. [8D])



bigboytenor -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 5:11:39 PM)

A major issue I have had is with the ECM is the whole Jesus and Friend and Savior thing. Yes, He is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother. However, if He's not Lord of your life, then you're not saved. Period. No discussion.

Romans 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with the heart you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth you confess and are saved.

You're not confessing sin, you're confessing Jesus as Lord. I haven't seen much talk of this in the ECM.



deliveredarling -> RE: Emerging/Emergent Church Movement. (5/19/2008 5:29:23 PM)

I'm just curious to know if they are the ones teaching the mushy, gushy love stuff? Denying the Trinity by only pulling out someaspects of Jesus while denying the Almightiness of the Father. We see this belief system here on the forums a lot, especially in the doctrine folders.
Just a suggestion: If it is this type of belief, run from it, don't play with it at all.



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