You Might Not Be Emergent If…

Today I spent a couple hours on the beach at Lake Michigan swimming, playing with my kids, and thinking about the Emerging Church Movement (ECM).  I thank Andrew for introducing me to Maranatha Bible & Missionary Conference, but blame him for making me think about ECM today!  His link to You Might Be Emergent If… kept many thoughts running through my head…

You Might Be Emergent If . . .

This definition is from Tim Challies.  It might help you get a handle on the Emergent Church movement.  Maybe we should have an Emergent litmus test.

Are Evangelicals Broadening the Path to Salvation?

One of the major points in the debate between some in the Emerging Church Movement (Wittmer’s “Postmodern Innovators”) and conservative evangelicals regards salvation: is it necessary to believe in Jesus Christ to be saved?  While this debate has not been resolved, I’ve been surprised to see some conservative evangelicals potentially broadening the path…

Don’t Stop Believing: A Third Way

A lot of people today are frustrated with the current state of Christianity.  They are tired of division and intramural theological debates.  Therefore, a lot of people are seeking a “third way” between conservative and liberal Christianity.  I believe that Michael Wittmer’s Don’t Stop Believing: Why Living Like Jesus is Not Enough provides just that…

The Parable of the Sower: A Postmodern Parable?

The Parable of the Sower may be Jesus’ most popular parable.  The images are clear and the message is powerful.  However, I wonder if the Parable of the Sower helps us with something else: the discussion over the church in the postmodern era.

Jude on Postmodern Innovators

Last week I spent some time studying Jude for a student lesson.  It struck me that Jude has a lot to say to today’s postmodern innovators (Mike Wittmer’s term for the the liberal wing of the emerging church movement, but not the emerging movement as a whole).  Take a look:

The End of Evangelicalism?

Michael Spencer (iMonk) predicts a “major collapse of evangelical Christianity” within the next 10 years.  I’ve copied his entire article to this post, but I’m curious: is Spencer correct?  Do you agree with his assumptions about evangelicals, culture, and the future?

The Very First Emergent Guy

I was doing some reading for a sermon and I ran across this creed from the Age of Reason by Thomas Paine (1737-1809).  Read it and see if you think he was the first emergent dude.

An Evening with Brian McLaren

Last night Jeff V. and I went to Spring Arbor to hear a lecture by Brian McLaren.  He was his normal self: funny, engaging, provocative, and challenging.  I was with him on almost everything he said.  The only thing that bothered me was something he didn’t say.

The Emerging Church and Self-Esteem

Scot McKnight’s Jesus Creed blog has a great series going on a book titled Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled — And More Miserable Than Ever.  This seems to be a book that all parents must read.  But today I’m wondering if there is a connection between this book and the Emerging Church Movement.