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.

The Great Emergence: What is It? (2)

In my last post I began to describe the nature of the Great Emergence.  It is, according to author Phyllis Tickle, “the gathering center” of Christianity.  Today I conclude this series with some more detailed descriptions of this new Christianity.

The Present Future: Church Growth to Kingdom Growth

Reggie McNeal’s The Present Future offers six new realities that the church must face. Today we move to new reality number two: “the shift from church growth to kingdom growth.” In light of this new reality, the church must move from asking the wrong question to asking the tough question. But first, some background.