EMERGING VS. EMERGENT CHURCHES: CLEARING UP THE CONFUSION

Emerging vs. Emergent Churches: Clearing up the Confusion

By Jason Carlson

What is the difference between the "emerging" church and the "emergent" church?  In recent years these two terms, often used interchangeably, have raised much confusion, consternation, and debate within the Christian community.  Are these terms synonymous?  Should we differentiate them?  And should the movements they represent concern us?

To answer these questions I would like to briefly describe some of the key differences, as I see them, between these two terms- "emerging" and "emergent".  I will propose that distinctions can and should be made between these two terms and I will attempt to make these clear in this article.  I will also share with you some of my personal thoughts in regards to the positives and negatives of both of these terms and the movements that they describe. 

And just a brief disclaimer at the outset… The descriptions I will give below are meant to provide a broad and general overview of these two movements.  These descriptions are based solely upon my personal interaction and experience with a number of emerging and emergent churches.  I am fully aware that exceptions to these portrayals do exist.

What is the emerging church?

The "emerging" church movement is basically a generic term.  It typically refers to any church or organization that sees as its primary mission reaching today's postmodern culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  There are thousands of these emerging churches in our country today and they span a multitude of denominations. 

Churches and organizations that would describe themselves as part of the emerging church generally have evangelical tendencies.  They tend to hold to and defend theological positions that have been widely accepted and embraced by the wider evangelical community.  Emerging churches generally recognize the reality of absolute truth, many have a high regard for the authority of Scripture, and most will unashamedly proclaim the gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone.

Socially and politically, people who attend these emerging churches will come from a diversity of backgrounds.  Culturally, however, it is no stretch to say that the majority of emerging churches would tend to be predominantly white and suburban.  At the same time though, many of these emerging churches place a high value on social activism and concern for the urban poor.

Where these emerging churches most differ from their more traditional, evangelical counterparts is typically in their methodology.  They generally are more cutting-edge in their use of music, media, and other art forms as tools for communicating the message of the gospel.  They may meet in traditional church sanctuaries, but often times you will find them in settings that are better suited for a multi-sensory worship experience, settings such as coffee houses or night clubs.   

What is the emergent church?

The "emergent" church movement, on the other hand, is a much more specific term.  It refers to those churches and organizations that align themselves, whether formally or informally, with the vision and philosophy of an organization officially named Emergent.  The Emergent organization can be found online at www.emergentvillage.com.  Emergent identifies itself as, "a growing, generative friendship among missional Christians seeking to love our world in the Spirit of Jesus Christ".  This organization was founded and is led by prominent spokesmen like Brian McLaren, Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt and others. 

Churches and organizations that would fall under the emergent label come from a diversity of Christian traditions.  Many of these churches have evangelical roots, but you will also find Catholic, Orthodox and Mainline protestant denominations allied with the Emergent group.  Accordingly, the theologies found within the emergent church are as diverse as the traditions that make it up.  This theological diversity is widely celebrated within the movement and is the primary reason behind the emergent church's disinterest in producing statements of faith, which are viewed as constricting and limiting to ongoing dialogue and theological imagination. 

Socially and politically, the emergent church is also a diverse group.  However, most commentators point out a greater propensity towards liberal interests and causes.  Emergent churches also tend to be predominantly white.  At the same time, while not necessarily a rule, emergent churches are often found in urban settings.  Emergent churches also place a high value on social activism and concern for the urban poor.

As for the style and methodology of the emergent churches, you will find a tremendous amount of diversity here.  Again, reflecting the diversity of traditions that make up Emergent's "generative friendship".  Some of these emergent churches will resemble settings like coffee houses or nightclubs, settings geared towards a multi-sensory worship experience.  But others will take the opposite approach, favoring a more contemplative or liturgical feel in their worship gatherings.  And some will blend both. 

Reflections on the emerging and emergent church

While I would never offer a blanket endorsement of all things "emerging", the evangelically inclined emerging church movement can generally be viewed as a positive force within the church.  Wherever we find emerging churches remaining faithful to the authority and truths of Scripture, the wider evangelical community should embrace and support them as co-laborers for the Kingdom.  The goal of spreading the gospel to the entire world, including the postmodern world, is a clear biblical mandate and the emerging church movement is helping to carryout this task.

The church must recognize that throughout history the tactics we've used in communicating the gospel message have regularly changed.  The medium for delivering the message, as long as it does not clearly violate biblical norms, should not be our primary concern.  Rather, the advancement of the message of the gospel should be paramount.  When sharing this goal, the emerging church movement can be viewed as an ally of traditional evangelicalism.

The emergent church movement, on the other hand, has given traditional evangelicals more cause for concern.  As I have observed the evolution of the emergent church over the past few years, I have noticed an increasing trend towards theological revisionism, theological liberalism, and an open embrace of postmodern philosophy.

The emergent church has moved beyond the practice of simply adapting the methods we use in order to reach the postmodern world for Jesus Christ.  By and large the emergent church has adopted an uncritical embrace of the postmodern worldview.  And postmodernism is a worldview that in many regards is antithetical to biblical Christianity.  Prominent leaders within the emergent church are on record denying objective truth, promoting relativism, and questioning a number of the core doctrines of biblical Christianity.  All of these facts greatly disturb me and should concern all discerning believers.

One last thought regarding the more evangelically inclined emerging church.  I would encourage any evangelical church or organizations currently identifying with the label of "emerging church" to strongly consider dropping the use of this term.  As I stated above, having a ministry focused towards reaching the postmodern world for Jesus Christ is an awesome goal.  However, why not simply focus on being the church?  Why "emerging"?

Why would evangelically inclined churches or organizations want to associate themselves with a term that is so easily confused today with a movement (Emergent) that is causing so much concern within evangelical circles?  Are the confusions, false labeling, and attacks associated with calling yourself an emerging church worth it? 

For example, it's like when you're throwing a party… you don't send out invitations that say, "Come to my gay party".  You might be throwing the happiest, most joyous party in the history of the world, but in today's culture you just don't use certain terms because of their baggage. 

Not only is the use of the term "emerging" confusing and for many people loaded with negative connotations, it's also just plain cheesy.  When are we evangelicals going to get over our penchant for jumping on the bandwagon of the latest fad movement to come along?  We've got seeker-sensitive churches, purpose-driven churches and now Emergent comes along and suddenly everybody wants to be an emerging church.  It's getting ridiculous. 

Again, if you want to focus on ministering to postmoderns that's great, do it.  But just be the church to them.  We've got enough labels to explain to non-believers already, we don't need to add another one into the mix. 

In conclusion, I trust that the descriptions and distinctions offered in this article have proven helpful in terms of understanding the "emerging" and "emergent" churches.  At the same time, if you would like to explore these matters further, let me encourage you to visit our ministry's website and check out our video and audio resources for more information on postmodernity and the emergent church (www.jude3.com). 

By Jason Carlson Email: jason@christianministriesintl.org Click here for bio and archived articles

Re: Re: Re: Emerging vs. Emergent Churches: Clearing up the Confusion Posted On: 05/01/08 12:47:01 AM Age 54, FL Nice try, but you're only fooling yourself. You sure you want to continue to do that? Emergent Posted On: 03/20/08 12:35:01 AM Age 47, CA Ryan. Do not confuse Mars Hill Mi Rob Bell (Emergent) with Mars Hill Wa Mark Driscoll(Emerging). These two churches are totally opposite in their doctrine! X-LDS Posted On: 03/20/08 12:28:22 AM Age 47, CA Thanks for giving clarity to the confusion! Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle Wash would be considered "Emerging". Cutting edge church yet they stay True to biblical doctrine! In fact , He has a great sermon about the "Emergents" llike Rob Bell and Mcleran. Bottom line. The Church must preach the Law to the proud, Grace to the humble. The Cross of Christ is foolishness ( doesn't make sense), to those who are perishing! The Emergent movment and their "social justice gospel" will make a better world for humanity, while a lost and dying world are going to Hell!!!!! Re: Re: Re: Emerging vs. Emergent Churches: Clearing up the Confusion Posted On: 03/15/07 04:26:36 PM Age 25, MN Why do you think that I hate the Evangelical church? Re: Re: Re: Emerging vs. Emergent Churches: Clearing up the Confusion Posted On: 03/13/07 07:36:15 PM Age 28, TX You think that, if only we attend an Emergent church, we'll suddenly stop noticing the vain philosophies and rank heresies of the movement's leadership? What, are they handing out little pills? Seriously, neighbor, I speak for myself in this, but I've read enough of the learned foolishness of McLaren, Campolo, and others (and dissected it publicly, and made it obvious that they have no clue what they're talking about) to know that I want no fellowship with them. It's hard to be impressed with someone's flashy vocabulary when you know better than they do what the words actually mean. Re: Re: Emerging vs. Emergent Churches: Clearing up the Confusion Posted On: 03/13/07 07:28:49 PM Age 28, TX Did you also want to add that you think we're a bunch of stuffed-shirt boogerheads while you're at it? Talk about adding nothing to the discussion... This is why I don't believe that the Emergent "conversation" deserves its self-bestowed title. Re: Emerging vs. Emergent Churches: Clearing up the Confusion Posted On: 03/13/07 06:47:37 PM Age 73, TN Until the tower of babble there was one culture, one language, one people, one economic system, one predominant opinion, and as one they started to bark up the wrong tree. God decided diversity is the best pursuit. Competition of interpretation is good, and the pursuit of truth is healthy. I believe God wants us to learn how to think not what to think. How to think always gravitates toward truth, and the truth will make you free. More power to diversity, what God has rendered asunder let no man reunite!!! Re: Re: Emerging vs. Emergent Churches: Clearing up the Confusion Posted On: 03/13/07 04:06:07 PM Age 21, MN I so agree!!! -- Also, I think it's very important to look into "Emergent Churches" on a church-by-church basis. I've attended quite a few churches (Mars Hill, MI; Mars Hill, WA (via podcast); Woodland Hills, MN) people label as emergent, but have a very conservative theological foundation. They believe in the absolute authority of scripture, they just question fundamental views that don't have conspicuous scriptural backing. It's like Luther, liberally reforming against the conservative Catholic biblical understandings. Luther shed off traditional teachings, but still based everything on scripture... likewise, a lot of "emerging" AND "emergent" churches are doing the same thing. Now, I'm not supporting every Church, because some of them are compromising clear biblical teaching to try to conform to culture. --- Ryan Re: Re: Emerging vs. Emergent Churches: Clearing up the Confusion Posted On: 03/13/07 03:55:11 PM Age 21, MN to all those who demonize the emergent Church, I challenge you to attend one for a few weeks. If someone is going to make proclamations like "how to we snuff it out?" then I hope they've experienced in enough first-hand to know what exactly it is their against. Re: Re: Emerging vs. Emergent Churches: Clearing up the Confusion Posted On: 03/13/07 03:51:47 PM Age 21, MN very good point! I agree like 99% (and I can't even remember what the 1% was about)