Are we an Emergent Church?
I got another email today from an anonymous party (they always are) accusing me of watering down the gospel and being in this only for the big paycheck. Most of these "well intentioned" but misguided individuals also throw us in with a movement called the Emergent Church. It's a common question and a common mistake to categorize all progressive churches as Emergent.
If your definition of emerging is for a new church to "emerge" out of a traditional church, then we are. If your definition is that we are "emerging" into a faith community ready to share the gospel in a changing culture using the same methods that Paul did...
17If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. 18What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News. 19Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. 22When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.
...If that is what "emerging" is then we are. (By the way, you will likely never see this passage in many of the websites that attack us...it just shoots too many holes in their theology)
However, when we talk about being an Emergent Church or not, the question has to become "Do we agree with the teaching of the most visible Emergent leaders?" The answer is no. Emergence began a movement and that movement has continued. We share commonalities like loving people, engaging culture, and being a church that is relevant in today's world. We have common ground in caring for the creation and paying attention to issues that are hurting people around the world. We are united in our work to repair broken and rejected people from traditional church mindsets and bringing the gospel back into the places that the church has abandoned.
But...we also part company at a very specific point. The Emergent movement has begun teaching a theology and a gospel that everyone, despite your faith, belief, or trust in a Savior is forgiven and heaven bound. In older circles it is called universalism and it is not consistent with what the Bible teaches. The Bible says that God loves us all and that His desire is for all to have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. But it is also emphatic that this relationship can only come when we recognize our need for a Savior, that we ask to be forgiven for our disobedience to His ways (that's sin for the fundamentalists reading today), that we believe that Jesus was God's son, He did walk this Earth, He was crucified and killed so we could be forgiven, and He did rise from the dead 3 days after his burial from the crucifixion. He is our hero and our savior.
We are surrounded in our city by modern day pharisees that know enough about the Bible and religion to be dangerous. Their goal is to insult, judge, and hurt others while elevating themselves to a position of purity and authority. They use the Bible out of context and devoid of any period cultural analysis to understand what is meant and not simply what is said. Many at Journey have been hurt by them or are giving the church one more chance to see if we are any different or if we are giving hope for hurting people.
Well, that's enough for now. We will continue to work unashamed and un-detoured from our mission to lead others to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ by Loving God, Loving People...Period.
