The Emergent Church Problem?

I received an email from a trusted brother in Christ, criticizing the "Emergent Church Problem". Since his emails were sent in public forum, I've decided to do the same.

Inevitably, we as Christians are going to make mistakes. George Barna's book "Revolution" identifies some issues within Evangelical circles and outlines some trends within American Christianity... they shouldn't be ignored.

Presenting the Gospel in a culturally relevant way has been a challenge and a controversy since Jesus' Ascension. When the culture becomes immodest, do we discard the value of modesty in order to be "relevant"? Do we embrace a "Feminine Deity" to become more inclusive?

While both issues reflect an abandonment of Biblical principals, the second is worth drawing a line in the sand and saying emphatically: "No!" The first issue, however, is more difficult; we can focus all our attention on addressing symptoms rather than root causes. As we draw close to Christ, He continues to peel off layers of imperfection within us, transforming us from "glory to glory". Is there a person without sin who can cast the first stone? Is there any sin in our lives that doesn't cause a ripple effect into the lives of others? Are we emphasizing the sin of others to take our eyes off own imperfections? "Father forgive them, they know not what they do!" was both the cry of Jesus on the cross and Stephen at his stoning. We sin because we buy into a lie. Biblical Christianity challenges us to live in the truth and to question the established answers... we will make mistakes along the way.

And God's grace addresses those mistakes. The Holy Comforter comforts us and gently encourages us as we follow the The Way. Meanwhile, the Accuser of Men accuses us of our imperfections, creating an ever greater cycle of pain that pushes us farther from the Loving Father.. the same Father in heaven Who rejoices in each step we take, overlooking our stumbles and counting us as righteous because of the righteousness of His Son, Who died so that we may live... the Son who lives so that we live in hope and power!

I believe it's unfair to criticize an entire movement because some of it's members' comments. If a brother stumbles in his search for truth, we are to gently bring him back. I serve my God best when I can question theologians without criticizing entire denominations. The "emergent church" describes the iconoclasts of this generation and it is as fragmented as the Calvinists, Moravians and Ana-Baptists of the Reformation. If the Body of Christ is ever to come together, Traditional Christianity and Emergent Christianity need to seek an open dialog. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (Pvb 27:17) We have nothing to fear from people desiring the Truth.

Peace, Blessings and Joy!

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