There is plenty of hubbub among defenders of the inherited church about the “emerging church” (EC).
There is plenty of hubris among “emerging church” (EC) advocates.
Well, let’s give the benefit of the doubt to all and naïvely assume that followers of Christ on both sides of this ecclesiological issue want to incarnate ekklesia. We want to live out Jesus’ idea of Church — ekklesia that is culturally relevant, Scripturally faithful, and indwelled by the Spirit.
Eddie Gibbs and Ryan Bolger interviewed emerging churches leaders to get at the heart of the emerging church movement. Their book, Emerging churches: creating Christian community in postmodern cultures, presents some helpful road signs for those on the path toward 21st century ekklesia.
So here are some of those road signs in notebook form. For those of the inherited church, this may help you to better understand "emerging church" people. For emerging church people, this is what your fellow travelers are saying...
EC THEOLOGY
“Emerging churches remove modern practices of Christianity, not the faith itself” 29. E.g. one EC leader said, “I needed to trust God more than my theology about God” 34. Though there is much inspiration in pre-modernist Christianity "there are also some things that will not change, the framework of orthodox belief in a saving God, for example” 229. But while the inherited church’s structure is theological in nature, the emerging church’s “structure is missional in nature” 107.
EC EVANGELISM
ECs consider evangelism more like "an open-ended conversation," emphasizing apologetics. They view evangelism as "an embodied way of life as distinct from a result-geared confrontation” 80, their own lives being a demonstration of the gospel because “a servant does not present a product but gives himself or herself” 128. For ECers, being on mission is less, Have I announced the Good News? and more, Have I been Good News? 52. Thus, emerging churches “do not separate the Great Commission (to make disciples of all peoples) from the Great Commandment (to love one's neighbor as oneself)” 149.
EC COMMUNITY
ECs recognize that “Christians need community, especially in a society like [their] own, which is indifferent or possibly hostile to Christianity” 98. One EC leader says therefore, “relationship is our organizing principal” 110.
EC LEADERSHIP
Due to the postmodern “hermeneutic of suspicion toward authority" 209, emerging church leadership is egalitarian, not hierarchic; “leadership is fluid.” Leadership is “flexible so that the right people lead the right things” 198.
“Leaders who follow the kingdom lead not by controlling but by connecting. They bring people together to generate synergy through the combining of visions, gifts, and experiences for the diversifying of the church’s mission and its continuing outreach in society” 215. EC leaders, therefore, persuade and seek consensus 191-3. They are facilitators, advisors, empowerers, envisioners, permission givers, advocates, friends, encouragers, and defenders 212.
EC leaders make it possible to initiate ministries without going through a chain of command. “We welcome the expression of any gift: dance, writing, film, graphics, installations, meditations, etc.,” not just preaching and guitar playing. This is so that all can participate in a community that produces, as opposed to being spiritual consumers 139.
EC PRAXIS
1/ identify with the life of Jesus
2/ transform the secular realm
3/ live highly communal lives
4/ welcome the stranger
5/ serve with generosity
6/ participate as producers
7/ create as created beings
8/ lead as a body
9/ take part in spiritual activities 45
EC ETHOS
Emerging churches have three core principles:
1/ identify with the life of Jesus.
2/ seek to transform secular society around them.
3/ live as community.
Emerging churches are “pro-testify,” “pro-community,” “pro-ownership” (priesthood of believers), “pro-relationships,” “pro-kingdom”. They emphasize holistic spirituality, servanthood, inclusiveness, forgiveness, hospitality, relationships, justice and transformation. The emerging church “is a servant and a sign of the coming kingdom” 90.
Sounds like many ECers might be tempted to adopt the sermon on the mount as their by-laws. In sum, “emerging churches are communities that practice the way of Jesus within postmodern cultures” 44.
I loved the book and can’t wait for the movie, or better yet, EC "live" !
