What is the Emerging Church Movement? (1)

“A many-sided debate about the relations of Christianity and civilization is being carried on in our time.” These words, penned by H. Richard Niebuhr in 1951 resonate loudly in the first decade of the 21st century. Today a many-sided debate about the relation between Christianity and the emerging postmodern culture is being carried on. On one side of the debate are those who believe that “postmodernity” is a myth and the church should not overreact (see Crouch and Horton in The Church in Emerging Culture). On the other side of the debate are those who believe that postmodernity represents such a rapid and significant change in our culture that a radical response is required to save the church from virtual extinction (see the many books of Leonard Sweet). Perhaps the most popular and influential voices in the debate comes from the Emerging Church Movement.

But what is the Emerging Church Movement (ECM) and what is its proposed response to the postmodern turn? Over the next several posts I’m going to outline my understanding of ECM and, specifically, the ecclesiology of ECM. I pray that you will enjoy the discussion and join in to challenge my thoughts, praises and critiques.

Battling Unbelief: Shame

“Though shame has been fashionable as a prevalent diagnosis for emotional dysfunction, its roots are deep in the human condition, and the pain it can bring is real. If we are to live the kind of free and radically loving and holy lives Christ calls us to, we must understand the place of shame and how to fight against its crippling effects” (57). So writes John Piper in his excellent book, Battling Unbelief. So what is shame and how do we fight it?