Comments on: Obituary: The Emerging Church (1994-2009) http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/05/obituary-the-emerging-church-1994-2009/ Making Theology Accessible Sun, 21 Mar 2010 20:29:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Another Gospel Indeed « Then Face to Face http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/05/obituary-the-emerging-church-1994-2009/comment-page-2/#comment-28447 Another Gospel Indeed « Then Face to Face Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:38:42 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=2282#comment-28447 [...] Kind of Christianity. Brian is one of the leading voices in the emergent movement (a movement that many say is now defunct), which is simply a postmodern reclothing of theological liberalism. I’ve [...] [...] Kind of Christianity. Brian is one of the leading voices in the emergent movement (a movement that many say is now defunct), which is simply a postmodern reclothing of theological liberalism. I’ve [...]

]]> By: scott b http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/05/obituary-the-emerging-church-1994-2009/comment-page-2/#comment-13123 scott b Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:17:11 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=2282#comment-13123 Um, I observe several of the largest Emerging churches in the area and around the country in very good shape. They may be in the process of renaming themselves, but for the most part many of them are doing very well including one of the most liberal Emerging churches in the country. Now maybe start ups are not happening anymore and that is the real good thing...no more off-spring and eventually the ones in existance will die out. May take decades, but they will eventually die out. Anyway, it will be a good thing if the Emerging church movement is dead, but I think it is still at a crawl as a movement, but those still alive are pumped and running full bore. Um, I observe several of the largest Emerging churches in the area and around the country in very good shape. They may be in the process of renaming themselves, but for the most part many of them are doing very well including one of the most liberal Emerging churches in the country.
Now maybe start ups are not happening anymore and that is the real good thing…no more off-spring and eventually the ones in existance will die out. May take decades, but they will eventually die out.
Anyway, it will be a good thing if the Emerging church movement is dead, but I think it is still at a crawl as a movement, but those still alive are pumped and running full bore.

]]> By: RCGWho http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/05/obituary-the-emerging-church-1994-2009/comment-page-2/#comment-13122 RCGWho Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:32:17 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=2282#comment-13122 Unfortunately, the whole movement has gone viral. It's on the campuses and campus ministries, in the churches right down to folks like Jack Hayford you thought would never fall for the stuff. It's infected everything. Now you can be a Stuff White People Like christian who sits around arguing with an imported beer in one hand and a cigar in the other and feel godly cuz you talk sex trafficking. Ugh. Now I have to send my kids to college and help them navigate around the full on secular Marxists and their "support group"--the pseudo secular christian Marxists. Fun. Unfortunately, the whole movement has gone viral. It’s on the campuses and campus ministries, in the churches right down to folks like Jack Hayford you thought would never fall for the stuff. It’s infected everything. Now you can be a Stuff White People Like christian who sits around arguing with an imported beer in one hand and a cigar in the other and feel godly cuz you talk sex trafficking. Ugh. Now I have to send my kids to college and help them navigate around the full on secular Marxists and their “support group”–the pseudo secular christian Marxists. Fun.

]]> By: The Fading Fashion Trend in Liberalism « Then Face to Face http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/05/obituary-the-emerging-church-1994-2009/comment-page-2/#comment-13121 The Fading Fashion Trend in Liberalism « Then Face to Face Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:36:18 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=2282#comment-13121 [...] Patton declared the death of the movement earlier this year. It’s already passing in many ways out of the public eye; it’s dubious that Rob Bell [...] [...] Patton declared the death of the movement earlier this year. It’s already passing in many ways out of the public eye; it’s dubious that Rob Bell [...]

]]> By: Joe White http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/05/obituary-the-emerging-church-1994-2009/comment-page-2/#comment-13120 Joe White Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:43:16 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=2282#comment-13120 It seems to me that the EC positions can usually be summed up: 'We care more about missions than you do.' 'We care more about the poor than you do.' 'We care more about peace than you do.' 'We care more about the environment than you do.' 'We care more about justice than you do.' and so forth It is a smug, holier-than-thou approach that gets pretty old, pretty quick. They are great at critiquing others, not so great at receiving correction themselves. While ECers claim to 'walk humbly' and 'honor the church in all it's forms', I've seen little of it unfortunately. It's disappointing to see people with so much energy and passion for God using that passion so destructively and divisively. It seems to me that the EC positions can usually be summed up:

‘We care more about missions than you do.’

‘We care more about the poor than you do.’

‘We care more about peace than you do.’

‘We care more about the environment than you do.’

‘We care more about justice than you do.’

and so forth

It is a smug, holier-than-thou approach that gets pretty old, pretty quick.

They are great at critiquing others, not so great at receiving correction themselves.

While ECers claim to ‘walk humbly’ and ‘honor the church in all it’s forms’, I’ve seen little of it unfortunately.

It’s disappointing to see people with so much energy and passion for God using that passion so destructively and divisively.

]]> By: Death of the Emerging Church? « Alétheia http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/05/obituary-the-emerging-church-1994-2009/comment-page-2/#comment-13119 Death of the Emerging Church? « Alétheia Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:14:17 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=2282#comment-13119 [...] been sympathetic to the Emerging Church conversation, has written an excellent blog post entitled “Obituary: The Emerging Church (1994-2009)”. In it he says there are four main reasons for the death of the Emergin Church: 1. Lack of Tact [...] [...] been sympathetic to the Emerging Church conversation, has written an excellent blog post entitled “Obituary: The Emerging Church (1994-2009)”. In it he says there are four main reasons for the death of the Emergin Church: 1. Lack of Tact [...]

]]> By: MikeK http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/05/obituary-the-emerging-church-1994-2009/comment-page-2/#comment-13118 MikeK Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:07:00 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=2282#comment-13118 Wow, you guys still talking about this? I thot EC was pronounced dead LAST year! No wait, or was that two years ago... Move along folks, nothing to see here... Wow, you guys still talking about this? I thot EC was pronounced dead LAST year! No wait, or was that two years ago…

Move along folks, nothing to see here…

]]> By: Nicholas http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/05/obituary-the-emerging-church-1994-2009/comment-page-2/#comment-13117 Nicholas Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:24:09 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=2282#comment-13117 I should state, I have no idea why I am writing on a blog that has readers who believe in a Young Earth. What is the point. Obviously I am out of my element, and I am not dealing with people that would be interested in facts and figures (if the pole is any indication). However, I will note that I am disappointed in emergent, as someone who had been part of the conversation I express my disappointment here http://thehopefulskeptic.com/blog/?p=54 That being said, I am disappointed with Christians that refuse to accept science or inform themselves. . so whatever. I should state, I have no idea why I am writing on a blog that has readers who believe in a Young Earth. What is the point. Obviously I am out of my element, and I am not dealing with people that would be interested in facts and figures (if the pole is any indication).

However, I will note that I am disappointed in emergent, as someone who had been part of the conversation I express my disappointment here

http://thehopefulskeptic.com/blog/?p=54

That being said, I am disappointed with Christians that refuse to accept science or inform themselves. . so whatever.

]]> By: The Emerging Church Has Died…. « lukefourteenthirtythree http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/05/obituary-the-emerging-church-1994-2009/comment-page-2/#comment-13116 The Emerging Church Has Died…. « lukefourteenthirtythree Sun, 24 May 2009 14:39:12 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=2282#comment-13116 [...] is a good (fun?) article which has some intense truth in it. Read it all HERE Comments [...] [...] is a good (fun?) article which has some intense truth in it. Read it all HERE Comments [...]

]]> By: minnow http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2009/05/obituary-the-emerging-church-1994-2009/comment-page-2/#comment-13115 minnow Mon, 11 May 2009 01:22:50 +0000 http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/?p=2282#comment-13115 Lisa--Sadly preaching and practice do not always line up. The fellowship my family has been a part of since moving here calls themselves evangelical, missional, spirit led, Bible preaching, and several other interesting adjectives. They house a foodbank and 10-20 volunteers (out of a 300 plus congregations which is not to say all the volunteers attend the fellowship) serve aproximately 50-100 families each Saturday morning. At one time the director was given a small stipen and a portion of the "mission's budget" went to the food bank. However, hard economic times have cause those items to be cut from the budget. Several individuals in the fellowship are involved with various lay ministries around town including: Youth for Christ, Firstway Pregnancy Center (an abortion alternative ministry), and Teen Challenge. While the pastor enjoys pointing to these "outreaches" the fellowship neither organizes groups to serve in them nor funds them as a fellowship. I am NOT lumping all Churches or even all evangelical fellowships in the same pile. I am only making my comments based on my personal experience and statistical research. I do not know how visible your fellowship makes its budget but if it owns (or is in process of owning) its building and has more then one pastor on staff I would be surprised to find out that more than 10% of its budget goes out the door. If it numbers over 100 in the congregation I would be surprised to find more than 20% serving within the congregation let alone out in the comunity in some kind of organized fashion. If either of these things is true it is indeed a unique fellowship, at least to my personal experience. Finally, there is a huge difference between making disciples and making converts. The former requires relationship while the latter only needs a charismatic sales pitch. Lisa–Sadly preaching and practice do not always line up. The fellowship my family has been a part of since moving here calls themselves evangelical, missional, spirit led, Bible preaching, and several other interesting adjectives. They house a foodbank and 10-20 volunteers (out of a 300 plus congregations which is not to say all the volunteers attend the fellowship) serve aproximately 50-100 families each Saturday morning. At one time the director was given a small stipen and a portion of the “mission’s budget” went to the food bank. However, hard economic times have cause those items to be cut from the budget. Several individuals in the fellowship are involved with various lay ministries around town including: Youth for Christ, Firstway Pregnancy Center (an abortion alternative ministry), and Teen Challenge. While the pastor enjoys pointing to these “outreaches” the fellowship neither organizes groups to serve in them nor funds them as a fellowship. I am NOT lumping all Churches or even all evangelical fellowships in the same pile. I am only making my comments based on my personal experience and statistical research. I do not know how visible your fellowship makes its budget but if it owns (or is in process of owning) its building and has more then one pastor on staff I would be surprised to find out that more than 10% of its budget goes out the door. If it numbers over 100 in the congregation I would be surprised to find more than 20% serving within the congregation let alone out in the comunity in some kind of organized fashion. If either of these things is true it is indeed a unique fellowship, at least to my personal experience.
Finally, there is a huge difference between making disciples and making converts. The former requires relationship while the latter only needs a charismatic sales pitch.

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