"Emerging Church"

[tamborine lady]

Does anyone have any ideas about the "Emerging Church"? We have one in our town, and I need some idea of who they are and what they believe. Can you help?

 

[SpiritualMadMan]

Try This:

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

Looks like Charismania gone wild...

It is possible for an Emergent Church to be part of "The River" grouping...

And, you should watch out for connections to a church in Redding which came out of the fiasco in Toronto...

One of the most revealing things I have done in researching churches that have caught my eye is to research their web sites to see who they are affiliated with and who they are quoting.

Then follow up on that information with more web searches.

Sometimes, though, you only get to know a church by visiting...

We visited one church and were really excited about it until they pulled a "Fire Tunnel" on us... We never went back...

Hey, I'm Pentecostal... But, I ain't crazy!

 

[billwald]

Well, you conservatives claim that small businesses generate the mose new jobs. Here is your evidence. <G> A "pastor" who starts a new church is generating a job for himself. Not like the good old days when Paul made tents for a living and gave away the good news.

 

[tamborine lady]

Thanks Madman. I really do appreciate you insight. I am non denominational, but this bunch seems really off the wall.

So what is a "fire tunnel"? I don't think I have heard of that before.

 

[SpiritualMadMan]

Well, basically they line up in two runs and run you through between the rows while laying hands on you and praying, maybe prophesying...

I did a web search on it and the language of the proponents left a lot to be desired...

 

[glfredrick]

Most "emerging" churches are not that radical. They are mainly a very post-modern expression of church, where the leaders have in some senses walked away from othodox Christian practice to "rediscover" a new wave of the Holy Spirit. They are tired of the rules and silliness that dictates practice in many a church, and are looking for an authentic community and expression of faith. However, with this new look, they have also set aside some tenets of faith that set them apart from mainstream belief, which is indeed problematic.

They're not all that new, BTW. Been around since the 90s.

 

[Grace&Truth]

This Website is very informative:
http://www.congdonministries.org/CMI/Home.html http://www.congdonministries.org/CMI/Home_files/Emergent_Art_Pt-1.htm

 

[glfredrick]

This Website is very informative:
http://www.congdonministries.org/CMI/Home.html http://www.congdonministries.org/CMI/Home_files/Emergent_Art_Pt-1.htm

Neither Willow Creek (Hybels) nor Saddleback Community Church (Warrens) are in any sense "emerging" church.

The writer has an axe to grind with those two expressions of church, it would seem.

Some of the material in the article did describe the emerging church, but not much. The author seems to be anchored solidly in fundamentalist thinking.

 

[annsni]

Honestly, I'd not go by labels but the actual church. Are they staying solid to the Word? Do they not only preach the good touchy-feely stuff but do they preach on sin and repentance as well? Do they spend time teaching doctrine to their church as well as having a soup kitchen and crisis pregnancy center?

I've found the emergent/emerging church labels have been SO misused and misunderstood that I don't listen to them anymore. I need to look at the church itself to see if it's orthodox or straying off the path.

To the OP, how do you know that the church in your town is an "Emerging Church"? Is that in the name or self-label of the church?

 

[SpiritualMadMan]

I have a pastor friend who has what could be called an emerging church.

They are very good people. Pretty solid theologically.

But, like Don Quioxte he keeps attacking the Windmills of Form...

My response after yesterdays service was, The form is not at fault, it's what we pour into the form that matters...

And, in any building program there must be forms and scaffolding during construction... You simply can't build much of a building without a form of some kind.

The downside is that we are building Spiritual Buildings which will not be complete until we cross Jordon.

So you might as well get used to "Forms" and select thet best one for the building materials (people) God has given you.

Remember you can't bend Glass to your whim.

 

[preachinjesus]

FTR, not all emerging churches are created the same. There is, in fact, a rather significant difference between an Emergent Church and an emerging church.

Most of the more innovative leaders who are starting churches now are dropping the emerging thing (since it only appealed to disenfranchised Christians...who got involved and then stopped attending) and are moving towards missional churches.

I'd encourage you to find out more about the church itself and not be too concerned with the label. I have several friends who are working in emerging church situations and are truly passionate about connecting people with Jesus and growing them through studying the Bible. There is certainly more to this church than just labeling it one thing or another.

 

[tamborine lady]

Well, you conservatives claim that small businesses generate the mose new jobs. Here is your evidence. <G> A "pastor" who starts a new church is generating a job for himself. Not like the good old days when Paul made tents for a living and gave away the good news.

Just so you know Bill, there are many preachers out there, Baptist and otherwise that do NOT get a salary, but preach the Gospel week after week anyway.
:1_grouphug:

 

[tamborine lady]

These people that I speak of just kind of go with the flow so to speak. Not much preacing, not much word, lots of prophecy, lots of dreams etc. Just seems like a loose bunch that just do what makes them feel good.

Also, before church yesterday morning. we found out there is still another church opening soon in our community. This pastor I'm told has the gift of "laughter". He lays hands on people and they begin to laugh!

Will the nuts never stop coming to our town? Where in the bible does it say anything about the gift of laughter? Never mind, I can answer that question. No where!!

 

[annsni]

OK - So it sounds like a "not good" church from what you're explaining.

As for the second church, I've heard of that "holy laughter" stuff. I don't know - I don't see in Scripture where any of the Godhead laughed so why is it a gift??

 

[SpiritualMadMan]

These people that I speak of just kind of go with the flow so to speak. Not much preacing, not much word, lots of prophecy, lots of dreams etc. Just seems like a loose bunch that just do what makes them feel good.

Also, before church yesterday morning. we found out there is still another church opening soon in our community. This pastor I'm told has the gift of "laughter". He lays hands on people and they begin to laugh!

Will the nuts never stop coming to our town? Where in the bible does it say anything about the gift of laughter? Never mind, I can answer that question. No where!!

I did a quick e-sword search on laughter and was surprised that laughter is held in a bad light at about 10 to 1!...

A "Gift of Laughter"????

No that is that listed as a ministry gift or a Charisma...

I have been in a few services where laughter broke out, though.

This was always spontaneous and passed fairly quickly.

Though one or two would be rather giddy as if drunk for a while.

Even though they weren't drunk on earthly spirits...

But, to build a ministry based on "Laughter"????

Only Art Linkletter could do that! :d

Gonna be pretty hard to deliver a teaching while laughing!

 

[Salty]

Several years ago, Phil Donahue did a show on Holy Laughter - I have it on Viedo tape - some where.....

 

[Grace&Truth]

Neither Willow Creek (Hybels) nor Saddleback Community Church (Warrens) are in any sense "emerging" church.

The writer has an axe to grind with those two expressions of church, it would seem.

Some of the material in the article did describe the emerging church, but not much. The author seems to be anchored solidly in fundamentalist thinking.

Yes this is from a fundamentalist....so what is the problem with that? I was trying to help someone who asked a question. It was not asked that it not come from a fundalmentalist point of view. It was not my intent to offend anyone, but it is right on target and very well researched (from a fundamentalists Biblical point of veiw).

 

[glfredrick]

Yes this is from a fundamentalist....so what is the problem with that? I was trying to help someone who asked a question. It was not asked that it not come from a fundalmentalist point of view. It was not my intent to offend anyone, but it is right on target and very well researched (from a fundamentalists Biblical point of veiw).

Actually, my point is sound. Fundamentalists have had Willow Creek and Saddleback in their sights for decades. Just check virtually any of their church web sites. Any time they wish to pin something they don't like on someone they drag out Rick Warren or Bill Hybels (or James Dobson, etc.).

Neither of those two churches have a single thing to do with the Emergent church movement.

 

[Anastasia]

Wow, I heard that a church I used to attend, Mosaic, was similar or affiliated in some way, but it was nothing like the craziness that this movement seems to be affiliated with. (I would actually recommend Mosaic to some people.) And I never heard of laughter except at a Vinyard church up in Canada.

 

[BobRyan]

Most "emerging" churches are not that radical. They are mainly a very post-modern expression of church, where the leaders have in some senses walked away from othodox Christian practice to "rediscover" a new wave of the Holy Spirit. .

I get the sense that they are pretty much clueless when it comes to the Bible. They seem to prefer Joel Olsteen style messages that never speak about the foundational Bible doctrines.

in Christ,

Bob