RE:think: What Have I Emerged Into?

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May 12, 2008

What Have I Emerged Into?

There are lots of discussions going on around the blogosphere (see here, here, and here) elsewhere about the "Emerging Church" and how, if it hasn't already, it will soon "jump the shark". Many of these discussions and posts are very helpful. Some are just flat dead on. They have also gotten me thinking about my own journey and how the EC has probably already jumped the shark in my life.

When I jumped into the waters of the EC a few years ago, it rocked my world. The ideas and proposed practices were so new and so fresh to me (to some it was old hat) that I had finally found salvation for the idea of "church". And I still think this to be true. But like any other conversation or movement that has people involved, I started to see cracks in the dam.

Some of these cracks were bad theology or outright heresy. Some were people who talk of the rigidity and close-mindedness of others while being close-minded and rigid themselves. Hypocrisy is one of the things that drove me in the direction of the EC in the first place.

I want to tell you how it is playing out in my own journey. And why I think that what is happening with me could happen to many others and lead to the concept of Emergent and the EC getting left behind. Tim Lahayed if you will. :)

Like many others who have latched on to the books, web sites, and speakers for the EC, I come from a conservative, evangelical background (mostly). And like many others, I did not leave that theology completely behind. What got me going the most about the EC was people talking about actually putting their faith into action! I loved the broader implications of the EC (and still do).

We wouldn't just meet up on Sunday morning anymore. We'd be communal and missional. Meaning we'd actually love our brothers and sisters enough to journey with them and together we'd take our good news from inside the four walls of the church into our communities. And we'd do it in ways that were a little deeper than chick tracts and community festivals that ended with an alter call. We actually try to get to know people and love them before they ever sat in one of our pews.

I am finding that once you start doing that, you want to talk about it less. And the more people figure that out, the more they will do what I have done. They'll take those things back into the realms they've always known and use them to instruct others on putting their faith into practice.

Will I still read the books? Probably. I enjoy them and like the challenges I get from them. Will I still frequent the blogs? Yeah, there is still a lot to learn about what is going on in places other than my hometown. But am I concerned with the label and "conversation" on a level that makes me want to help keep "brand" alive? Nope. And I suspect that there are many out there just like me. Call it whatever you want, I just want to obey Jesus in loving God and loving others. I don't need a brand name to do that.

So what have I emerged into? Well, I'm not sure. I'm still emerging. I hope you are too.

Posted at 03:22 PM in Walking with Jesus | Permalink

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January 2012

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May 12, 2008

What Have I Emerged Into?

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