I’ve been holding off on really delving into this for awhile now.  I think part of it is that there are churches who claim to be “Emerging Churches” who really are nothing more than a community of believers who are trying to utilize new ways of teaching and reaching people with the Good News of Jesus Christ while there are others who prefer a faith that bends to the whims of our age.  While one is acting in the spirit, the other is acting on the notion that truth is relative and that the truth of yesterday is not the same truth for today.  How can both be part of the same movement?  How can both claim the same label and destination and have completely different viewpoints?

I submit that there is one truth, external & objective in nature. God is and contains all truth.  It is in our interpretation of truth that we vary, our very interpretation of God is at stake.  Now there are a lot of people who would agree with that statement on it’s own, but I am going to throw a wrench in the works now.  God defines Himself, we do not define Him.  Fortunately, He has given His Word to not just define Himself for us like some kind of cosmic dictionary, but to know Him as God, Creator, Savior, Judge, Provider, Father, Teacher and dare I say it… friend.

Now, if I were to look at the very term emergent according to the common characteristics set forth by Jeffrey Goldstein, there are several things to look for:

“The common characteristics are:

1. radical novelty (features not previously observed in systems);
2. coherence or correlation (meaning integrated wholes that maintain themselves over some period of time);
3. A global or macro “level” (i.e. there is some property of “wholeness”);
4. it is the product of a dynamical process (it evolves); and
5. it is “ostensive” (it can be perceived).

   source: Wikipedia

Radical Novelty in the Church.

If you were to ask Moses how one could have their sins forgiven, he would have told you to sacrifice a lamb.  We know that Jesus became that sacrificial lamb of God and died on the cross for all to believe and be forgiven.  If we are to even look at the book of Revelation about what God will do, there are things there that He has never done before that He will do in that time.  Although the idea that God changes is false.  He is who He is in all times and places, He remains.  The Church can only see a facet of God for each generation.  Some assume that the God of yesterday has somehow changed and have thrown out traditions that could be valuable teaching for the next generation, instead choosing to rediscover God in a new way.   This is lunacy from any angle you can look at it.  I am not a big fan of tradition only for tradition’s sake.  If it is actually used to teach Biblical Truth, then it is worthwhile.  I will submit that some traditions should even be reclaimed for the sake of sound teaching.

Are we Whole yet?

The second through the fourth characteristics by Jeffrey Goldstein suggest that there is a “building up” or idea of sustained growth that takes place where refinement can take place.  Unfortunately, many in the supposed “emergent” movement have went the other way, throwing down the idea that Jesus is the only way to Heaven (John 14:6), that proclaiming that the Gospel is truth, that it is the good news, and is inspired of God, and though created by fallible men, remains the infallible Word of God.

Interfaith dialog usually revolves around the idea that both groups must compromise and give sanction to ideas that are not completely held by either group so as to find a “common ground”.  Rather than hold to the faith we know is true, we concede that there may be another truth that we don’t know and begin to seek it too.  A little poison can go a long way.

This is not a product of a dynamical process.  This is instead the ripping up of a foundation of truth that the Church is built upon.  While it is perceived, it is perceived the most after the fact when faith has become a practice rather than a guiding light for life.

There is another facet of this though.  Some Christians do not embrace new truths as much as they perceive and utilize new ways of spreading the age old truth of the Gospel.  These are the real emergents.  They will not compromise because they can say:

But I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto him against that day.

We must therefore distinguish those who claim emergence.  Are they emerging from or are they emerging with the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  That there is one way to Heaven and that only through the saving blood of Christ sacrificed on the cross on behalf of all who would believe on Him and be saved.

Perception

Here is where the perception must happen.  If we are the salt of the earth, are we remaining salty?  If we are the light, are we playing with the lives of those lost in the ocean by not being clear about where we stand?  A fictional story comes to mind that illustrates this between a American Navel Carrier and Canadians:

Americans: “Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.”

Canadians: “Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.”

Americans: “This is the captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.”

Canadians: “No, I say again, you divert YOUR course.”

Americans: “THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP
IN THE UNITED STATES’ ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH. THAT’S ONE-FIVE DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP.”

Canadians: “This is a lighthouse. Your call.”

Conclusion

No label will make a church or a person to be “emergent”.  By defining yourself as an emerging church or person, more than likely the potential natural growth is stunted by some conclusion about where we should be in relation to where we currently are.  If God is God, then you are where you are for a purpose.  A much better plan is to focus on knowing God more and letting Him reveal Himself to you.

The greatest gift we can give to the world is our own intimacy with God.  Let’s let Him be our defining element.  Let’s let the creator define us for once instead of trying to make Him in our image.

William Lehman

My passions in life are my family, my relationship with God, creativity and expressionism. My belief is that all true creativity comes from the Creator first and foremost.