The Emergent Church

There has been a considerable amount written concerning the relatively new movement known as the “Emergent Church.” As anyone who reads the articles on this website knows, they are short and hardly get into what could be called ‘deep theological debates.’ They’re not intended to. Further, there is a lot of good information that discus the dangers of this latest move away from solid Biblical teaching. So, what I am doing is an introduction for an article I read from the now late Dr. Jerry Falwell. I was not a student of Dr. Falwel’s nor have I followed his ministry closely. But my heart goes out to the people of Thomas Road Baptist Church and the people of Lynchburg who have lost a great leader. His article on the Emergent Church seemed to summarize many of the problems in this movement. [Far from all of them.] So, I sought and was granted permission to use the article. Just before we begin with the article, may I say that I was a bit shocked to hear on a very popular Christian radio station here in Chicago an individual speaking of the use of foul language in a play at the church. I’m quite sure he was not representing any view of the radio station but strictly his own. He said that when they first started using this language several people were insulted and got up and left. However, those who stayed through the entire program found themselves absolutely blessed. His argument, as you might guess, was that the end justifies the means. That argument does not hold up in Scripture. Further, Colossians 3:8 would tell us, “now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these:…..and filthy language from your lips.” Instead, the basic thinking seems to be, ‘we can all sit around, have a beer, use a few choice words to let those around us feel comfortable, and then we’ll break into praise songs to honor the Lord.’ I don’t think so.

Now for the article by Dr. Falwell.

The late economist Peter Drucker said a few years ago: “Every few hundred years in Western history there occurs a sharp transformation…Fifty years later, there is a new world. And the people born then cannot even imagine the world in which their grandparents lived.”

I believe we are witnessing a modern effort to transform the church into an institution that experiences broad cultural acceptance. The effect, known as the Emerging Church, is a much-talked about movement that has brought new challenges into the Church of Jesus Christ.

The so-called Emerging Church movement was formed out of frustration with dead and irrelevant evangelicalism. The problem is that it has decided to modernize and re-create the church so as not to offend sinners. This renders virtually meaningless the life-changing message of the Gospel.

John 8:32 tells us: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” This is not truth that can be modified to fit cultural whims; it is as relevant today as it was when John was inspired by God to write those words around AD 70.

However, the website of The Leadership Network, the headquarters of the Emerging (or sometimes Emergent) Church movement, states that their outlook on “truth” offers a “flexible approach to theology whereby individual differences in belief and morality are accepted within reason.”

The site further states that members wish to “reanalyze the Bible against the context into which it was written.”

This is very dangerous territory.

Such a view opens perilous avenues that enable suggestions that Jesus is not the Christ, that the Bible is not inspired by God Himself and that there are ways to heaven other than through Jesus. Such notions counter the very fabric of the Gospel.

In this era of diversity and political correctness, we can ill afford to weaken the very foundations of the Gospel.

But the Emerging Church has determined that core doctrine and theology are sometimes roadblocks to converting the lost.

This is the epitome of contradiction.

Further, Emerging Church groups have decided that profanity and vulgar talk from the pulpit and elsewhere is acceptable because it is relevant to the culture. Such teachings counter the biblical teachings that Christians are “new creatures in Christ.”

Another problem of the Emerging Church is that its leaders, who no doubt started out with good intentions, have very little theological training. Their emphasis has been on appearances. Many of its leaders have been to “conferences” that tell them how to do things, but they don’t know why they are doing them. Thus, they have a little bit of knowledge, but no wisdom.

Dr. James McDonald spoke my feelings when he said, “I resonate deeply with much of the criticism flowing from the Emerging Church against current Western Christianity, but I an deeply grieved to see the emergent remedies accepted so uncritically by those who feel gratified by the accuracy of their critiques.”

While I have no problem with the church adapting to the culture, we must ensure that we remain painstakingly true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that we remain obedient servants to His truths.

As Jesus stated: “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me…” John 14:21.

Such were the words of Dr. Falwell. I would add one closing thought. If there is an Emerging, or Emergent, Church in your area – don’t get involved, even if they talk about how fundamental they may be. They have associations with those who are not. Why risk what may be coming?