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My dear friend Eric is originally from Puerto Rico, though he has lived in the US most of his life. Given our common interest in hermeneutics, we have talked at length about postcolonial interpretations of texts, marginilization and semiotics. As a New Testament Scholar, Eric occupies two-worlds simultaneously. On one level, he is able to discuss the intricacies of the Synoptic Problem with redaction and text-criticism scholars. On another, Eric is able to give voice to the socio-linguistic aspects germane to a critique of the Euro/Andro-centric hegemony of biblical interpretation. Living 'in the margins,' as Eric confesses he does, he is able to bring a valuable criticism to his academic disciple. Moreover, his Latino heritage often brings an added perspective to the table of discourse. Eric has mastered bilinguality. He doesn't only know the words needed to construct sentences in English/Spanish or "classic" New Testament criticism/marginality criticism. Rather, he understands the nuances and philosophies that undergird both cultural worlds. Postevangelicals could learn a lot from Eric.

I just finished reading something interesting in Gibbs and Bolger's book, Emerging Churches: Creating Community in Postmodern Cultures. They write:

From a postmodern perspective, the ultimate question is, Why is it important to label oneself as evangelical? Aren't labels simply artificial divisions that make us feel safe or help us exert control? Why not mine the riches of many traditions? What is obvious is that the ecclesiastical or theological label one decides to wear is of far less concern to emerging churches than how one relates to the gospel and culture. (39)

I agree with the spirit of this statement, but I think the basic assumption is flawed. The reality of my own ecclesial existence, and this holds true for many of my peers, is that I cannot resign myself exclusively to a "postmodern perspective." We are in a paradigm shift, to use Kuhn's term. To pretend that we have arrived, that we can now operate from an a priori postmodern position, ignores the cultural reality we find ourselves in. Take me for example. In one part of my life I work for a large, institutional CBF church trying to empower them to live missionally in a super-affluent neighborhood in Atlanta. In another, I am an emerging church planter in an area of the city that is largely antagonistic towards Christianity. One community is still inured in a modern worldview. Another has adopted postmodernity, carte blance. It is imperative that I speak both languages fluently.

Again, quoting Kester Brewin and Paul Roberts respectively, Gibbs and Bolger contend:

Emerging church leaders believe that to define oneself against something is not helpful either. "When people describe themselves as post-X, they are defining themselves as (in mathematical notation) everything that X isn't." Paul Roberts also has reservations about the designation postevangelical. He declares, "I've always been a bit skeptical of the usefulness of Dave's [Tomlinson] postevangelical concept, as it tends, despite his protestations, to fall into the trap of defining yourself against something, which is an old game and seldom a fruitful one." (37)

I disagree with this assertion. First, I think that Brewin's notion of "post" is flawed. The way I understand "post" means "beyond." For Brewin's notion to be accurate, he should use "anti" rather than "post." In other words, "postmodern" does not mean "against modernity" it means "beyond the foundationalism, assumptions, and programatization germane to modernity." Postmoderns have emerged beyond the scope of modernity. We have lived it and found it wanting; hence the title, postmodern. I.e., a postgraduate degree is not against an undergraduate degree. It presupposes baccalaureate work, and moves beyond it.

In my ecclesiastical, 'marginalized' context, postevangelical is extremely helpful. It helps me to acknowledge my roots, my heritage (alla evangelical). However, I have moved beyond my evangelical background. I have found it insufficient to address my existential, postmodern situation. I am not married to Tomlinson's vocabulary, but I do find it helpful. Thought? Peace.

Bilinguality

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