The Argument for "Emergent Church Movement"
We have been hearing much about the "Emergent Church Movement" in recent years. There is no doubt that this movement is gaining strength in many Christian denominations. Those who are pushing this have some very specific points they use to convince the unsuspecting of the virtues of their world-view. I would like to examine their main arguments honestly as to what the merits may be, and where deception may also be. We who know the Scripture are well aware of the "wiles of the Devil" and our need to protect ourselves from it with the spiritual weapons given us by God (Eph 6:11). It is always important not to simply react, but rather to consult the Word of God and respond accordingly. Here are the main arguments that the "Emergent Movement" makes;
1 A) We live in a pagan culture and therefore they do not understand Christian speak.
2 B) The culture has no idea what Christian teaching is and so we must not offend them.
C) Doctrine is unimportant. Love and inclusion should be the guide.
D) The main emphasis should be what we do for our community (the poor, the needy).
5 E) Emphasis on Christian teaching is an obstacle to church growth.
We will now look at each point.
1 We live in a pagan culture and therefore they do not understand Christian speak.
This is an excellent argument. I am in agreement that as any missionary knows, it is important to understand the culture you are in and present the gospel to that culture in a way that they can understand. I believe that many older churches have raised their "style of ministry" up to the place of the inspired Word of God. That is an error since much of our "style" has more to do with our American Christian church culture than it has to do with Scripture. On this point I believe the Emergent Movement has some ground. Many older churches fight about things that do not matter. There is energy wasted while people in their communities are on their way to Hell. Many older churches need to understand for example that their monthly church supper is not a sacred ordinance. At times, older churches lose vision of the mission to be a light to the world and get caught up in their club mentality. The church should always be looking for ways to reach the lost and part of that is to understand the culture.
Here is the problem: What does it mean to speak the language of the culture? Let's look at the following Scripture;
1 Corinthians 9:20-24 "And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."
Here the apostle makes an important point about missionary work. The idea is to relate to the people that you are ministering to. An example would be as follows; if I were sharing the gospel with a Muslim at a restaurant. I would not order a pork dinner since that would offend him and cause an immediate reaction against me. I would remove that stumbling block even though it is biblically my right to eat pork. I would give up that right in order to be able to better minister to him. If I were in Africa ministering to a people group that had specific cultural dress, I would wear what they wear if it would help to open their hearts to hear the gospel (as long as it did not violate the principles of the bible). When I minister to people in my town, I use the same principles. The problem with the "Emergent movement" is not that they are interested in the principle that the Apostle speaks of in the above Scripture. The problem is they want to (in some cases) do the sinful things that the culture does and except it. Many for example think it is fine to go drinking with an unbeliever in order to "win" them. I think it is reasonable to say that the Apostle Paul was not advocating committing sin with the Romans or Jews in order to win them. There is no redemption in that. It is absurd to think that a Christian is called to become like the world in actions. Paul did not. He simply made it a point to understand who he was ministering to and to use language and cultural customs to the advantage of spreading the gospel.
2 The culture has no idea what Christian teaching is and so we must not offend them.
It certainly is true that most Americans have become biblically illiterate. Even many in the church have little biblical knowledge. We are also living in a time when people get very offended over small things. The political correctness of our day encourages people to take offense at anything they deem as "judgmental."
Here is the problem;
There is not much difference between modern American culture and the pagan cultures that Paul preached in. In fact it could be argued that some of the cultures that Paul preached in were a whole lot less educated in biblical understanding than modern America is. Take Thessalonica for example. The culture was similar to our modern culture in attitude. How about Rome? A culture filled with paganism and sexual perversion. The idea that Paul was walking around on the proverbial "egg shells" is preposterous. He not only preached the gospel, he also did as Jesus said to do in the following Scripture;
Matthew 28:19-20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
The idea that our culture is pagan and so we must not offend is not in keeping with the facts of the early church missionaries who had to preach truth to cultures that were also biblically illiterate, and in some cases very hostile. Paul would "teach them to observe all things" that Jesus commanded.
We have very clear evidence of the stiff rebukes that the apostles made to pagans. For example, Simon the sorcerer wanted to buy the Holy Spirit. They rebuked him harshly for his ungodly request. The apostles preached very strong words, and in the inspired Word of God there are many rebukes in the epistles.
3 Doctrine is unimportant. Love and inclusion should be the guide.
The idea is that we should not separate over doctrine. The idea is that doctrine creates division between people and that in order to bridge the gaps we must accept others positions on what we used to call absolute in modernity. Now that we are in a post modern world, we must come at things from a post modern perspective.
Here is the problem;
The bible is specific in its teaching about sound doctrine. Let's look at the following Scriptures;
Acts 2:42 "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."
Romans 6:17-18 "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."
Romans 16:17 "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."
Ephesians 4:14 "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;"
And perhaps the following Scripture is one that applies particularly to the "Emergent movement;"
2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;"
As we see from the above passages, the bible is clear about the importance of sound doctrine. We also see from Titus Chapter two that the teaching of the bible concerning gender role is also called sound doctrine. Sound doctrine is for those who know Christ as their Savior, and for the sharing of that faith to a lost and dying world that "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Remember what Jesus said;
Matthew 10:33-39 "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."
The "Emergent movement" would not accept what Jesus said. He would be seen as rather offensive to the politically correct of our day. The post modern movement in the Church now is the idea of being inclusive. Not long ago I was at a minister's conference. The speaker said that when he used to have communion at his church he would explain that it was only for believers. Now he says he invites anyone to partake of communion, believer or not. He explained his reasoning as not wanting to be exclusive. What the "Emergent movement" forgets (or just simply rejects) is that Jesus taught that the Church is exclusive. The church is made up of believers and communion is for believers. He then went on to joke about those who would hold to the position of communion being for believers only. Now it has come to the point that we who hold the Word of God to be the final authority are mocked even at minister's conventions.
4 The main emphasis should be what we do for our community (the poor, the needy).
The emphasis on good works is very noble. I happen to believe that good works are part of the Christian life. The "Emergent movement" is not wrong about doing good works. God clearly wants Christians to help the poor, feed the hungry, and clothe the naked.
Here is the problem;
Although good works is part of the Christian life, doing good works will not save anyone. The gospel must not be seen as anything else than what the bible says it is. Let's look at the following Scripture to gain understanding concerning the gospel, and good works;
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
It is abundantly clear that we are saved by grace and that there is nothing we do can save ourselves. Salvation by grace through faith is the only message of the gospel. Let's go on now the verse ten and see were works come in;
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
After we are saved by grace we understand that we are "created in Christ Jesus unto good works." In other words we are saved by the unmerited favor of God as we receive the free gift of salvation. Once that occurs, we then having been saved by grace are new creations that are saved unto the purpose of living a life that includes good works as a witness of God's grace and changing power. Salvation comes first, and then the empowerment to do good works in Jesus' name comes after. The idea of a "social gospel" is warmed over liberalism. The main line churches turned to the social gospel and did some good work but lost the message of salvation that Jesus taught and therefore their works were as filthy rags. The leftist churches have been walking in self righteousness believing that they were doing God's work. This they did while they deny the only true gospel. Most have become liberal social/political organizations. The "Emergent Movement" is nothing new. The only real difference is that they are infiltrating solid denominations. This will lead to the eventual total repeat of liberal main line church history.
(Note: All bible quotes in bold are my emphasis)
5 Emphasis on Christian teaching is an obstacle to church growth.
"Emergent Movement" teachers do not emphasize Christian teaching because they think that will turn off potential church members. Instead they stick to themes that are pleasing to the ears. No mention of Jesus being the only way or the fact of Hell being reserved for those who reject Christ. The preaching is more like session of a motivational speaker seminar. Familiar are phrases like "You can be what you want to be," and "have your best life now." It is a "what's in it for me" message. Even the prompting to do good works comes from the view of how it makes you feel and infers that works are the answer to bringing peace.
Here is the problem;
The following are some very troubling quotes from prominent "Emergent" leaders;
"My goal is to destroy Christianity as a world religion and be a re-catalyst for the movement of Jesus Christ," McManus, author of a new book called The Barbarian Way, said in a telephone interview. "Some people are upset with me because it sounds like I'm anti-Christian. I think they might be right."-Erwin McManus
"Emergent doesn't have a position on absolute truth, or on anything for that matter. Do you show up at a dinner party with your neighbors and ask, 'What's this dinner party's position on absolute truth?' No, you don't, because it's a non-sense question." -Tony Jones (at the 2005 National Youth Workers Convention.)
"The church has been preoccupied with the question, "What happens to your soul after you die?" As if the reason for Jesus coming can be summed up in, "Jesus is trying to help get more souls into heaven, as opposed to hell, after they die." I just think a fair reading of the Gospels blows that out of the water. I don't think that the entire message and life of Jesus can be boiled down to that bottom line." -Brian McLaren (from the PBS special on the Emerging Church)
It must be said that not everyone who identifies with the "Emergent Movement" is like the above. I think it is clear that many are sincerely motivated at first by their desire to reach the culture. The problem is that once this deception takes root, they begin to get pulled into this world-view. The embracing of eastern mysticism and false religions, will lead to one thing, spiritual death. When preachers are unwilling to preach truth or worse yet, no longer believe it exists, that is devilish. The Church must not see itself as simply a gathering place for social events. It must never see itself as a place of political gain. It is the body of Christ and thus must converge on the mission to expand given by its initiator. The expansion of the kingdom of God is in the form of people coming to the knowledge of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. All believers must see themselves as missionaries to a world filled with hurting people. There simply is no greater need in this world than the need to inculcate the truth of the bible. For as the Savior said; "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and the rest will be added to you". When the Church turns into an organization unto its self, it misses the entire reason that Jesus established it, for it is he who wins souls that is wise. There is no greater mission then snatching the souls of men from the future of Hell's torment.
Let me make myself clear. When I say "Emergent Movement" I am not talking about style of ministry. I am talking about the destruction of the authority of God's word. Those who preach that we should be "seeker sensitive" and "non offensive," do not understand that the power of salvation is in the preaching of the Word of God. If you do not have faith in the power of the Word of God, you do not have faith in the power of God himself. Consider the following;
1 Corinthians 1:23-25 "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
Romans 10:14 "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"
Dr. David M. Berman
Senior Pastor, Author, Convention Speaker
211 Whitcomb Road
P.O. Box 10357
Swanzey, NH. 03446
Phone 603 352 9471
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