<Theofragen>

My buddy Mark just posted some thoughts on the latest Southern Baptist response to the Emergent Church. The article is indicative of many similar cases in which charges are brought against Emergent that are so broad-brush that they are easibly negligible. For instance, the article reads: "Carson asserts that some Emerging Church leaders are "painfully reductionistic about modernism and the confessional Christianity that forged its way through the modernist period" and that they "give the impression of dismissing" Christianity." My questions are many: which Emerging Church leaders are reductionistic? how are they being reductionistic? how do these Emerging leaders dismiss Christianity? what is so important about the modernist period? etc.

This article is a clear example of modern, evangelical fear that the Emerging Church is going to deconstruct their capitalist market share on the Christian economy. To those espousing such fear, I say "Don't worry, Emergent is not for you anyway!" Many people in the Emergent conversation are trying to rethink Church in our postmodern world and this conversation is going to take place with our without the endorsement of evangelical leaders. If they think that by bashing Emergent they are going to build up their own churches, then by all means, have at it.

Similarly, the article recounts sound bites from our good friend Al Mohler who, in my opinion, nearly always serves as the poster-boy for 'adventures in missing the point'. He writes,

Homosexuality either will or will not be embraced as normative. The church either will or will not accept a radical revisioning of the missionary task. We will either see those who have not come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as persons to whom we should extend a clear gospel message and a call for decision, or we will simply come alongside them to tell our story as they tell their own.

Emergent will continue to deconstruct such propositionally bifurcated claims but this should not be cause for alarm. Many evangelicals have adopted a retreatist mentality to culture anyway so they can just keep doing what they are doing. As the vitriolic rhetoric of evangelicals like Carson and Mohler continues to rise in pitch, many non-Christians, seekers, and Emergers will just continue to turn down the volume.

BTW: If you are an evangelical Christian reading this blog and you agree with what Carson and Mohler are saying, that is okay. Emergent is not a threat to you. Let me be clear: if you are happy with your propositionally defended faith, with the style of worship at your church, with your authoritarian pastor, with your "Willow-back" mega-church, or with your Christ-against-culture m.o. or any other facet of evangelical Christianity in America, then blessings on you. If you are not, please try reading information for yourself rather than gleaning soundbites from the likes of Carson and Mohler. Peace!

That's Okay...Emergent is not for you anyway;)

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