The emergent church

Def·i·ni·tion

“The emerging church or emergent church is a diverse movement within Christianity that arose in the late 20th century as a reaction to the influence of modernism in Western Christianity. The movement is usually called a ‘conversation’ by its proponents to emphasize its diffuse nature with contributions from many people and no explicitly defined leadership or direction. While practices and even core doctrine vary, most emergents can be recognized by the following values: missional living, narrative theology, Christ-likeness, and authenticity” (wikipedia.org).

Many emergent churches have returned to ancient practices of the church, rediscovering elements such as liturgical reading and hymn singing.

Communication between emergent churches takes place primarily in the realm of cyberspace. Leaders and members share their diverse opinions through blogs and web pages. Often, these conversations include profound questions and musings.

For example, a recent Leadership Journal article generated pages of online conversation around the issue of homosexuality, with key leaders weighing in with their thoughts. Some view the comments as heresy, while other perceive the freedom to ask questions as a welcome gift.

Common to any new movement is a certain amount of flux, as those within the movement seek to define themselves. (Many will remember the Vineyard in its infancy, or know the historical development of the Mennonite Brethren church.)

The difficulty lies with the emerging church’s innate resistance towards being categorized or labelled, for fear of imposing control over something that should remain organic and fluid. Currently, adherents are beginning to distance themselves from one another, drawing theological lines in the sand and creating two distinct streams in the movement. Debate over what constitutes emergent theology is ongoing; categorization may be only for historians to decide.

Con·ver·sa·tion

Meanwhile, we would be wise to ask questions of the emergent churches among us (as we would of all MB churches and the various movements that influence them).

Sam Dick, MBMSI regional mobilizer for western Canada and member of the planning team for Love Abbotsford, an annual city-wide event where churches show God’s love to their neighbours in practical ways, offers his thoughts on things emergent.

LK: What’s your understanding of the purpose and vision of the emergent movement?

SD: The movement is probably about many things. It is thinking through culture and the role of the church, and desires to be practical. The emergent movement is interested in living a Christian life seven-days-a-week and getting involved in the community.

LK: What are some challenges or weaknesses you see in the movement?

SD: I haven’t had much experience in emergent churches. I believe that, as a movement, it has far more strengths than weaknesses. From what I’ve read (in Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, for example), it stresses the importance of hospitality and friendship. These are excellent things.

However, strengths can often become weaknesses. The emergent movement’s emphasis tends to be on “God, not the church, being the answer.” I wonder if this lets me off the hook when it comes to evangelism.

Our culture affirms relationship, hence the term “friendship evangelism.” Our own little movement called Love Abbotsford attempts to catch people’s attention with gifts of love – no strings attached. But there has to come a time and place I talk about Jesus, what he has done for me, and how I believe he’s the only answer to the world’s purposelessness and emptiness.

It’s much easier to talk about “God” in general terms, and not “Jesus.” The pendulum has swung far from the days of the “Four Spiritual Laws.” Now, we’re so scared of offending people that the gospel is lost sometimes.

I also wonder about commitment. Many folks today ask: what’s the big deal about membership anyway? They can list all the ways they’re involved in service in their communities and feel a strong sense of calling as Christians, but refuse to hang their hats at one church.

LK: Do you see other positive aspects coming out of the emergent movement?

SD: I like the fact that it is reintroducing the arts into church services. This is captivating, since we’re such a visual society! It’s great to move away from services that are entirely text-based.

I also like the emergent movement’s focus on caring for the marginalized in society through acts of mercy and love, and its theology that embraces suffering.

But, I would still challenge people to go the next step when interacting with friends and neighbours, to take risks, to talk to people about Jesus, to offer to pray for them, and to give an opportunity for something supernatural to happen.

Ref·er·ences

• emergentvillage.com
• theooze.com
• resonate.ca
• theresurgence.com
• The emergent church by Dan Kimball
• A new kind of Christian by Brian McLaren
• A primer on postmodernism by Stanley Grenz
• Postmodern youth ministry by Tony Jones
• Becoming conversant with the emerging church by D.A. Carson

Laura Kalmar is editor of the MB Herald.

Sam Dick is MBMSI regional mobilizer for western Canada.