Re: Emergent church leading theologian declares: statement of faith would be disastrous
| Posted On: 11/12/06 11:47:05 AM |
Age 40, TX |
I think part of the issue is trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Emergent isn't a "curch" or a denomination, etc. It is more a loose association of believers seeking to reach out to a large portion of our current population.
As such, why does it need to have a statement of faith? I have friends from other denominations and we get together and talk. We might be considered a group. Yet we don't have any kind of published statement of faith. That comes from our denomination or church affiliation.
Our church would be considered emergent. I've never even heard of LeRon Shults. So, how is he a spokesperson for Emergent?
Emergent is a VERY loose title ... similar to Christian that has a WIDE range of people and beliefs in it. The two main things that I see consistently are that we are Christian and that we are seeking to engage our post-modern culture into relationship with God.
Almost all that I've talked to would very much support the Apostles Creed ... if you want a statement of faith ... so we concur with the early church fathers in that nice, concise affirmation.
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Re: Emergent church leading theologian declares: statement of faith would be disastrous
| Posted On: 05/10/06 10:13:09 PM |
Age 56, FL |
I agree in general about the Emerging Church. Still, it is the typical Greek trained mind that wishes to formulate creeds and statements of faith. The first ones came only after the early assemblies were dominated by Gentiles. There were no creeds until the assemblies lost their Hebraic roots. This greek mindset equates evidence of salvation is to an intellectual consent to a proscribed list of beliefs. In ancient Hebrew thinking, salvation was evidenced by the outworking of one's faith. Jas 2:17 is an example. "Even so faith if it has not works is dead, being alone." Then in verse 19 he explains that mere belief in God is not enough because even the demons believe. The church at large today is dominated by the gentile worldview (way of thinking) of a need for creeds. Just one more piece of evidence we have disconnected from our foundations.
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Re: Re: Frustrated
| Posted On: 05/10/06 01:21:29 PM |
Age 39, TX |
No one seems interested in defining the emerging church or emerging movement, whatever you call it, but rather seem to just lump it all under the statements of a few of its supposed leaders. So to make sure we are on the same page let me give you my definition of an emerging church which is any that seeks to engage and even embrace the social context they are in without compromising core biblical principles such as inerrancy, the Trinity, salvation in Christ alone. Because a few leaders say goofy things, is no reason to throw out the movement. Should we throw out Puritanism because Jonathan Edwards owned a slave? Should we throw out frontier evangelism because C.G. Finney was Pelagian and questioned sacrificial atonement? Of course we dont. We can of course look at Mormonism and call it out because all of its leaders and all of its followers are heretical. Do you see the difference?
The best example I can off you is to look at the website for a missions organization called Christian Associates (http://www.christianassociates.org/) and you will see an example of the emergent church movement in action that has an Orthodox faith statement and is glorifying God through planting numerous churches in Europe. I have been to one of these churches in France and seen how you can be emergent and not compromise orthodoxy. That is what the emergent church is, not some isolated statements by a few of its declared leaders. I have seen the fruit of churches in New York and Russia and Ghana and Texas.
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Emerging from . . . ??
| Posted On: 05/10/06 09:59:48 AM |
Age 36, IL |
Great article. In the church we have become too complacent in expecting people to come to Jesus without engaging them in a dialogue of why He is not only the Way and the Life but the Truth as well. By leaving all truth to the result of discussion, whether by intent or tolerant ommission, we stray from the foundations and chase the threads falling from curtains flapping in the windows of orthodoxy.
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Re: Frustrated
| Posted On: 05/10/06 09:54:10 AM |
Age 40, SD |
I do not have any connection with any emergent church members or seen anything that this church has done for God's glory, so I can't judge in that respect, so I was wondering what countless things you have seen the emergent church do for God's glory?
I like to learn about diferent things.
Thank you!
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Frustrated
| Posted On: 05/09/06 10:27:13 AM |
Age 39, TX |
As one of those that see the good things within the emergent church this is the one thing I don't like. I have seen countless situations where "emergent-like" church practices are doing great things for God's glory but when certain folks are afraid to take a position, it might mean they don't have one or they are afraid to reveal something opposed to orthodoxy. We don't have to take a position and every little detail, but to not at least affirm things like biblical inerrancy or Christ's sacrificial atonement, seems weak.
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Re: Emergent church leading theologian declares: statement of faith would be disastrous
| Posted On: 05/06/06 12:56:15 PM |
Age 55, MD |
"What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only (Hallelujah!-emphasis mine), but also of the Gentiles?" Romans 9:22-24. Thank Him that He has graciously kept us from such peradventure. HIServant & Yours, Danny G.
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