Emergent Church

Thanks Greg!

I'd also like to recommend wholeheartedly John MacArthur's The Truth War which looks at the Emerging Church and Postmodernism.

Here's a link to a lecture by MacArthur at the Masters' Seminary: [url=http://www.gracechurchmedia.org/trans.aspx?AVWXQEMU=m2h&NJWISMYC=S8Lb?&IVSPDIWE=/\\\\&OXAPRWSC=e7\\CN4]%607&ASJFZLSK=YZ/X-_2JB@FJ;,YQ7=IT6Y1]9Q5tL&EKJAKSJD=T6L]The Emerging Church[/url]

I will say that on the positive, postmodernism is something the church really needs to address both in terms of protecting the integrity of the gospel as well as sharing it. With the former, the Emergents have sadly taken the path of conformity rather than confrontation and in doing so being postmodern in of themselves. With the latter, we have to acknowledge that while God hasn't done anything that would lead to people being spiritually hardwired differently, people today just don't think the same way people in the times of Edwards, Wesley, Spurgeon and Moody did, hence there are indeed legitimate issues that do need to be addressed. If we as the church don't learn how to confront this, we'll be done for.

I spoke to one of my pastors about the Emerging Church, and he said that sadly, this is the eventual outcome of the deceptions which the 20th century church couldn't address. We've seen the "wealth, health and prosperity" gospel arise from materialism. The seeker friendly movement out of consumerism. Young people today can't identify with either, and sadly give themselves over to a postmodern "spirituality".

I've also spoken with people from Singapore who said that though people have never heard of the Emerging Church, it's distinguishing features (relativism, postmodern outlook, dialogue and discussion of people's ideas preferred over teaching and impartaion from Scripture) are gradually creeping into the churches there. It's more than just a man-made movement, it's representative of a bigger, common deception.

We live at a period in church history that is characterized by enthusiasm for methods and means that facilitate church growth. Large churches are commonly equated with successful pastors and successful church growth methods. Whatever it takes to reach that objective, is acceptable, we are told. [u]Church growth has become the measuring stick for successful Christianity.[/u]

This is sadly the case. Many high level leaders are rejecting a good old fashioned move of God for functions that would cause many of our Christian ancestors to roll over in their graves.