emergent church

[leesiebella]

In light of all of the conversation (see Jesus Who? thread)....

sounds to me like the emergent church may be a good place for some of us....

wondering if anyone has tryed this kind of community???

Here is a link to an emergent church in Santa Cruz, CA. This puts their mission/beliefs in understandable language....

http://vintagechurch.org/about.php


I would really like to know everyone's thoughts about the emerging church... and do you think it may be a place where we can find healing, coming out of the abusive evangelical church setting? (not that all are abusive, but for those of us who have had this experience)

Thoughts?

leesiebella

[Willow]

I'd give it a try if there was one in my location.

[Willow]

I think I found one... what do you think of this church?
http://www.antiochumc.net/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=40

The only thing that bothers me is the mission wording involved with the church. I don't share the desire to evangelize anymore.

[Carmen]

Hi leesiebella,

I saw the vocabulary used in the description of the website - "core leaders" and a few other words seem to aim to a purpose-driven church. If you go be wary. They admit to starting their church at Santa Cruz because there are not many churches there, they intend to draw the unchurched, a specific group of those as well, talk of phenomenal growth - much like R. Warren.

I only heard the term recently. Someone I know in another forum goes to a church that has deconstructed completely, they have no building and meet in pubs. They include non-Christians in worship and communion. That version is a bit radical for me, just doesn't seem scriptural at all, but the person I know is quite satisfied with it that way. Just found about some of the origin of the emerging church at Wikipedia (they are good for a beginning):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerging_Church

"One definition of the Emerging Church is that it is the collective term for the individuals who are emerging from this process of deconstruction and reconstruction of Christianity, or those who have joined groups being led by such individuals.

In an alternative perspective, the Emerging Church may be seen as both a reaction to, and a continuation of the Saddleback/Willow Creek movement which achieved such great success in the 1990s using a "seeker-friendly" approach. The "seeker-friendly" approach practiced a ‘come-to-church’ evangelism while the emergent church thesis is ‘come-to-Jesus.’ Every follower a missionary for Christ."

Ah ha. I was not off the mark. The church you listed leesiebella is one of the Saddleback kind. The movement itself may not be all bad, I would just avoid the purpose-driven type churches. Thanks for the tip. It may be worth looking into, I intended to earlier but forgot.

Willow, as far as missioning goes, that kind of church can sometimes do it aggressively. I don't approve of that either. A distinction should be made between evangelism and evangelisation, the Saddleback type practices the latter. Just telling people the gospel with no ulterior motives and no strings attached is the former, the one the apostles did in my opinion.

Carmen

[Willow]

Great feedback Carmen.
For me... I'd love to meet in a pub with non-threatening style religious conversations where all perspectives are considered and heard.

[Katie]

Having read lots of emergent church articles, I would say that you can't generalize what an emerging church looks like because they are specific to the group that is meeting. There is not a "franchised" or denominational consistency among those that identify themselves as emerging.

An emerging church in one city may be radically different from an emerging church in another city. The common element being their desire to be a different expression of church than what they have experienced. The "safety" of any particular group would depend on the love, grace, and maturity of those involved.

Quite often the term "mission" used in emerging churches refers to acknowledging that how we live our life every day is our service to Christ rather than attending church meetings. It's not so much about evangelism as it is about living as a follower of Christ in all that we do.

I don't attend an emerging church because as far as I know there's nothing like that around here. However, I identify with some (definitely not all) of those who call themselves emergent.

One of the reasons I identify is because they are willing to look at our church structures and say that maybe there is a better way to do church than to exalt one guy as the "expert" Christian and line the rest of us in the pews weekly to blindly follow that guy.

[Carmen]

An emerging church in one city may be radically different from an emerging church in another city. The common element being their desire to be a different expression of church than what they have experienced. The "safety" of any particular group would depend on the love, grace, and maturity of those involved.

One of the reasons I identify is because they are willing to look at our church structures and say that maybe there is a better way to do church than to exalt one guy as the "expert" Christian and line the rest of us in the pews weekly to blindly follow that guy.

I agree, it depends on how the people are that are in the group. The way that they question established structures and traditions is intriguing to me too.

Willow, I forgot to mention, my virtual acquaintance told me that his church does not have leadership either, they are all for the idea of each Christian being a priest of sorts, so that no leadership is needed at all. I favor the more mature leading the less mature, but that is not really leadership, it is more like an older sibling teaching a younger one. Time will tell if it works.

[Jerry]

I think you must employ "Disearnment" probably more so now than any other time in history.My opinion here,,,,:D I think we could be in the last or next to last Generation. Concrete reasons ?????,,,,,,,,,not really,just a hunch ;) .But Isreal is surronded by Enemys ,,,,Knowledge certinly is increasing,are you kidding ????? Think about it .All of us are sitting in front of our computers with the sum total of Human Knowledge accessable by punching a few buttons :eek: We will learn more in the next 5 years than the whole of mankind learned since Christ !!!! We all know there is a "Falling away" that Paul mentioned,although the reasons remain obscure ;) Certinly "as in the days of Noah,,,the world is filled with violance".My guess is that the Moon has turned to blood,,,ie; Possiabley a "Metaphore" for man reaching the moon as the biblical name Adam means to show blood in the face :eek: So guys,,,,,,,,,,,we must be watchful,,,,,and take care of each other,,,and be ready for whenever the "Desolater" arrives ;) Remember he will be an "Angel of Light"
Love Jerry

[Carmen]

I agree with you Jerry, especially about the watchful part and caring for each other. I think that a remnant of sorts is forming outside of many churches. But watch it, I have seen house church literature aimed at that remnant, even using the word remnant, in an attempt to fool us with just another version of the same false doctrine offered in some churches. Warren has discovered the small group appeal too, and has worked up a program to start them. The 40 days book initiates the study and the groups then formed often remain, and use more literature designed for that concept. You have to use discernment even when approaching the smaller groups too.

[Willow]

Yeh... i think i better just stick with my biker buddies :p

[Willow]

So Jerry... if there is a great deception, and the doctrine of the church has been messed up since it's combination with the pagan theologies of Rome since about the 3rd century... what are we being deceived from? It's all very confusing to me. Seems like the deception occurred a long long time ago already.

[Jerry]

Remember Willow,,,God is Eternal so take care not to compress His agenda." To God ,,,a day is as 1000 years and 1000 years is as a day."To quote Peter,,,,,, In other words, time as we experience it is irrellivant.It's the order of events that is significant,not the span of time.Time only exists to God as an abstraction ;)
Love Jerry

[Willow]

This is true... but to us down here it gets confusing.

[Hope 98]

,,,and be ready for whenever the "Desolater" arrives ;) Remember he will be an "Angel of Light"
Love Jerry

Jerry! It's YOU???!!!!

[Jerry]

Jerry! It's YOU???!!!!
No Hope,,,,I very much doubt that the Desolator will appear as an old fat guy sitting in front of a computer LOL :D
Love Jerry

[jkriordan]

Hello,

I see this thread in pretty old. I just ran across this forum on a websearch on 'emergent church'. I've been researching the emergent church conversation for several weeks now. I haven't visited a group yet, but there's hundreds of blogs involved in the conversation. I think it's one of the most hopeful developments in the church in a while.

Many active in the emergent church are people who have been burned in charismatic churches/megachurchs. The movement attracts intelligent, creative, sensitive people. I think victims of spiritual abuse will find it a healing environment.

'Emergent' and 'emerging' church are becoming labels that a lot of people are claiming. The place to go to understand the orientation of this movement is http://www.emergentvillage.com . That's McClaren, Tony Jones and others.

I had some problems with the charismatic movement. But that was years ago. I don't feel that I need this forum now. I'll stick around to see what I might have to offer others.

[Willow]

thanks JK. I joined the "conversation" for awhile online. I found a group of bikers to be a better church for me a the moment. Former leader of TN teen challenge is a biker now. He and his wife are still quite active in missions and teen challenge. I am lucky to have found them and my current biker family.

[newlife]

Hello,

I see this thread in pretty old. I just ran across this forum on a websearch on 'emergent church'. I've been researching the emergent church conversation for several weeks now. I haven't visited a group yet, but there's hundreds of blogs involved in the conversation. I think it's one of the most hopeful developments in the church in a while.

Many active in the emergent church are people who have been burned in charismatic churches/megachurchs. The movement attracts intelligent, creative, sensitive people. I think victims of spiritual abuse will find it a healing environment.

'Emergent' and 'emerging' church are becoming labels that a lot of people are claiming. The place to go to understand the orientation of this movement is http://www.emergentvillage.com . That's McClaren, Tony Jones and others.

I had some problems with the charismatic movement. But that was years ago. I don't feel that I need this forum now. I'll stick around to see what I might have to offer others.


Have you seen Rob McAlpine's work about "Post Charismatic"? It might be something that you'd be interested in if you haven't. You can check it out at http://www.robbymac.org/charismatic/. It's excellent!

[Carmen]

I still urge great caution when approaching emergent groups, and am no fan of what I think is behind McLaren's teaching - just my opinion.

[Patty]

I went to the website listed in the first post: http://vintagechurch.org/about.php
and scrolled down and immediately clicked out of the site when I read the words "a shepherd will care for you." Must be a bad trigger, huh? Made me shudder.

[Carmen]

I looked too, the words core, impact, challenged, vision, ignition classes and shepherd did set off the alarm bells. :eek: It sounds more like a company than a church. It sounds like one HAS to be involved in some sort of ministry. Though there are many to choose from, it shouldn't be required. Sounds too much like PDC to me. I'm already running in the other direction...

[Doug64]

I think Jerry hit the nail on the head....be wary/discerning.

Every church we have visited since leaving our former group, has had some positive aspects to it. Granted, we visit one about once a year.

It appears to be a case of finding something that messes well with where you are now in the spiritual journey, your needs from that realm, and what you feel comfortable with.

I told my wife once that we will probably never find a group that fits perfectly.
But at this point, we are not actively looking.

Doug

[Anna Marta]

I agree there is a church of a new kind emerging and that no one seems to be sure what it will look like.

As I read the scriptures it dawns on me that the early church fathers and apostles had more than a fair share of problems and arguments. I notice that they brought things into the light and did not hide their disagreements. Paul took Peter on publically. This battle for the purity of the Body of Christ will probably never end until Jesus comes again.

Those of us who are seeking healing can be a blessing to the church because our antennae are more attuned than the average person's. I am so sure God has a purpose for our suffering and wounds that will strengthen His Body.