Just what is the emergent church?

Brian McLaren is part of the emergent church, he denies the substitutionary work of the cross.
Lighthouse Trials speaks alot about the emergent church, just google them & you will find out about them.

The emergent church is an attempt to create a synthesis between evangelical Christianity and post-modern deconstructionism. It appeals to more liberal evangelicals in the US with the critique that conservative culture and politics have distorted historic Christianity in America.

The emergent viewpoint is controversial with conservative Christians not because it critques conservative religous culture, but because of it's central premise that there can be no ultimate understanding of scriptural text, and therefore all theology is essentially contextual theology. For instance, they assert that conservative and fundamentalist Christianty is only a social construct based on european enlightenment thinking, and needs to replaced with a new social construct; a contextual theology that reflects 21st century global culture.

The main unifying belief that all emergent adherents share is a sharp descontructionist critque of so-called western Christianity, and all of it's percieved injustices and biases. Beyond this shared thesis, the different churches within the emergent stream vary widely in organizational form and practice, from ecclesiastical, to mystical, and so defy being easily catalogued by their particular and individual expressions. However, because of their underlying premise that all truth is constructed, and all theology is contextual, these varied and differing expressions tend to be shaped through aesthetic choices based on the shared aspirations of the community.

Mike

Compton wrote:

The emergent church is an attempt to create a synthesis between evangelical Christianity and post-modern deconstructionism. It appeals to more liberal evangelicals in the US with the critique that conservative culture and politics have distorted historic Christianity in America.

The emergent belief viewpoint is controversial with conservative Christians not because of it's critque of conservative religous culture, but because of it's central premise that there can be no ultimate understanding of scriptural text, and therefore all theology is essentially contextual theology. For instance, they assert that conservative and fundamentalist Christianty is only a social construct based on european enlightenment thinking, and needs to replaced with a new social construct; a contextual theology that reflects 21st century global culture.

The main unifying belief that all emergent adherents share is a sharp descontructionist critque of so-called western Christianity, and all of it's percieved injustices and biases. However, churches within the emergent stream vary widely in organizational form and practice, from ecclesiastical, to mystical and so defy being easily defined by their particular and individual expressions. Because of their general position that all truth is constructed, and all theology is contextual, these varied and differing expressions tend to be shaped through aesthetic choices based on the shared aspirations of the community.

Mike

Thank you for the breakdown. Well explained. :-)

The reason why I am interested in this one movement is because David Wilkerson mentions something of this nature in his book "The Vision". He said that the true Church would become invisible, that is to say that it's influence would lesson (for the time being). But then he speaks of this "Super World Church" that, if I may use this phrase, "looks like a lamb but speaks like a dragon". It accepts anyone and everyone; sinner and so called saint. The underground true Church will be composed of all types of denominations (catholic and protestant) all unified under one head Jesus Christ. From time to time this true Church will emerge and radically evangelize, but it will face stiff opposition from this Super World Church, which is probably this Emergent Church.

I am certain that that emergent church will be part of the false church in the end, but I am not sure it is the origin of the false church. I would agree with Wilkerson about the false and true church in the end. God really opened up the first three chapters of 1 Corinthians to me on this issue some time back. There is a false church comprised of all different denominations who have learned to look to man, to follow man's creed, man's doctrines who will ultimately (depending on your eschatology) follow one false man. There is also one true church who, althought they may carry many different names, follow the Lamb. The name tags are, for all practical purpose, meaningless. Their hearts are totally given to their Lord and Master, and they follow Christ wherever He goes. They are the true church, the bride of Christ.

We have a group in our community who I would describe as part of the emergent church movement who are leading people I know astray. There is a definite adversarial attitude toward anything that smacks of organized religion or orthodoxy. They seem very critical of real moves of God, and their doctrine is definitely a product of their culture more than a product of submission to the written Word of God. Their primary focus seems to be a perversion of freedom. Through Christ we are free from the law, and free from sin. They pervert this to a freedom to blend licentiousness with Christianity. There is a self-help and personal empowerment undercurrent that flows throughout this whole "church". Sounds a lot like the definition that our brother stated so well earlier in this thread.

Travis.

This is the garbage that appears when we substitute the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit for a decision.

Salvation has been, is, and always be a mighty miracle of God, through the cross of Jesus Christ.

Come to Jesus, and you will get eternal life, and a cross.

If any man preach a contrary gospel, let him be accursed!