Pensees: Emerging

Emerging

It has been my privilege to be providentially placed in conversation with sincere, young men who are embracing the values and doctrine, but more specifically the mood, of the emerging church. Over the past several years I have had enough interaction to lead me to the persuasion that the best way to approach the matter is by a frontal assault. Brian McLaren et. al. represent a post-modern form of liberalism that is very similar to the attack on orthodox Christianity in the early 1900’s.

Pastors in the early 1900’s labored to keep their people informed. In fact, the monumental collection of articles entitled “The Fundamentals” was financed by two laymen and distributed widely among the laity. The average person in the pew was conversant with the theological battles of the day. Sadly, today’s congregations are very uninformed, do not know individuals by name, and yet are regular subscribers to CBD where the emerging mood is emerging. It is even sadder that beginning next year Baker Publishing will be starting to produce a line of books (to the tune of 4 to 7 books annually) in cooperation with Emergent Village. This is a flagrant deviation from orthodox Christianity. We should object.

Anyhow, my humble effort begins by preaching on the subject in my own church, employing their favorite terms, and answering to the best of my ability in biblical terms.

If you don’t know much about the emerging church, but are concerned about its influence, you may want to listen to this message.

PAUL, ON BEING MISSIONAL The text is the Epistle to Titus.

There is also my powerpoint notes to download as well if you are interested.

The Outline

Proposition: To be truly missional we must be counter-cultural. The counter-cultural church that is committed to sound doctrine that accords with godliness is the church that has truly embraced the missio dei.

I. The Crisis of Culture

A. The Analysis of Culture - We should not hesitate to use all the resources available to understand our mission field, our culture.

B. The Assessment of Culture -

1. They are always liars. They live as if they have no accountability.

2. They are evil beasts. They live as if they have no eternality.

3. They are lazy gluttons. They live as if they have no responsibility.

C. The “apostles” of the Culture - Unlike Paul who is a slave of God with a heavenly message, these men are the product of their culture.

1. They are insubordinate

2. They are empty talkers

3. They are deceivers

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excursus

2 Timothy 4:3-4

1. The subtraction of doctrine - “they will not endure sound doctrine”

2. The sensationalization of ministry - “wanting to have their ears tickled”

3. The standard for their teaching - “their desires”

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II. The Church in Culture

A. The Classification of the People teaches us that every responsible adult is part of the mission

B. The Commission is to adorn the message of the Gospel of God by godly living and good works. It magnifies God’s amazing grace!

III. The Contest with Culture

A. The Application of ourselves to the Will of God

B. The Affirmation of Works

C. The Appointment of Workers

1. These men had to be counter-cultural

2. These men had to be committed to truth

3. These men had to be confrontational

D. The Appropriation of Words