Ladies and Gentlemen,
It's time to take another look at the emerging/emergent church. I had a good friend this week ask me about the ECM, wanting to know more info, so I told him what I know and also told him that I'd find some good articles and blogs that have, at least pretty solid people, giving their take on the ECM.
My personal opinion of the ECM is rather low. The ECM is exactly that, a movement. Its a bunch of people people moving in a direction, unfortunately they aren't unfied in that direction. Which is one of the ironys of the ECM. They claim to preach the gospel, but they embrace relativism over truth. They run to eccumenicalism over biblical doctrine. The ECM is typified by post-modernism and a lack luster search for truth. They are a dangerous bunch that is re-introducing mysticism to thousands of unsuspecting "believers."
So folks, feast your internet browsers on my linkage!!!
First, a Wikipedia entry on the emerging church. Useful stuff.
Emergent No a fairly popular blog that is run by some people that care about the truth of God's word. Most notably on their site is posted a transcript of Phil Johnson teaching at the Shepards Conference this past year. The links on their site are also very helpful in gathering info.
Here's a website with lots of cool links. Some interesting articles from Lighthouse Trails. They are dedicated to combating contemplative prayer and mysticism within the church.
Oh boy does heresy love company, our "friends" at Planet Preterist have jumped in bed with the ECM. That's encouraging. For those of you that don't know, hyper-preterism or pantelism is a damnable, heretical view of eschatology or "the end times". I do not recommend that you read anything of this site other than this article, and read this article with caution. I, in no way endosre anything they have posted or believe. I only posted this link to demonstrate how willing ECM leaders are to extend the olive branch to even the oldest and most obvious heretics. If you want to know more about the heresy of hyper-preterism, please study it with your pastor, elders, or other SOLID, BIBLE BELIEVING, REPUTABLE Christian teachers.
And finally, Mars Hill Seattle. Home of the infamous Mark Driscoll. The Officially, Unofficial "Leader" of the ECM. Mark and his church are surely the most conservative of the ECM. I have heard rather recently that Mark has denounced the movement officially, but I don't have it in writing, so consider it "from the grapevine." I'm not a "baby with the bathwater" person, but I would personally tread through Driscoll's stuff lightly. Check out The Acts 29 Network for a list of ECM churches that identify with the ECM through Mark Driscoll.
As always, consult your local Bible for a heavy dose of Truth. In a world of shifting sands and "new" heresies popping up everyday, the word of God stands strong.
"A timeless God does not produce dated material" - Tom Shrader
That's my quote for the ECM. If God is timeless, then why does the church need to be "hip?"
Everything in this blog is not meant to offend or be offensive. I wanted to post some info that I gathered while looking for some more details for a friend. I don't claim to know the personal beliefs of anyone in the ECM, Mark Driscoll, included. I only know what they wrote, and here are some links to that.
Do your own research, make your own decision based on the scriptures. Be like the Bereans mentioned in Acts 17:10-11.
10The brothers[a] immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Always check the scriptures to see if what people are telling you is true. This applies to the ECM and myself. Just because I said it, doesn't make it true. Ironic eh?
lol
10 comments:
JJ - I'm pretty sure Mark Driscoll formally separated from the ECM a couple of years ago and it is now lead by some major whack jobs. From Mark's recent sermon vodcasts, I feel that he wants to label what Mars Hill is part of as a movement, but it already has a title, Biblical Christianity. So he continues to try and define their church as "Emerging" instead of "Emergent". I'm just not too sure, but from what I have read and heard from Driscoll it seems as though he separated from the ECM and strives to be a missional church that teaches sound doctrine. Not trying to defend him, but just letting you know what I've heard.
and yes; always, always, always search scripture to see if what someone is teaching is truth!
amen brotha!
brian - actually, Driscoll hasn't officially or unofficially left the ECM. He has offered some criticisms, but that's about it. Driscoll is about as Emergent as they come. True though, he is the most conservative of his kind. Guess we should be thankful for that. But still ... Emergent. Yuck
btw, "Emerging" and "Emergent" are interchangable by most Emergent Churchers, including Driscoll in at least two of his books.
Some Emergents would have us believe that there are some monumental differences between the two, as though they are now two distinct movements. The problem with this view is that the ECM as a whole is so scattered and leaderless, except some basic tendencies, that all fractures from this movement stem from the same principles. This is why I have no problem calling "Emerging" and "Emergent" as part of the same movement ... because they are =)
I just went to a conference in Minnesota with John Piper, Tim Keller, D.A. Carson, David Wells, Voddie Baucham, and Mark Driscoll and I got to here first hand from him that he pretty much broke off from ECM and he was actually speaking against it. He said that it is NOT nice to compromise on truth and have people encouraged now and kindle for eternity. It was a great conference. I am in the middle of writing a post on it so feel free to check it out once I post it!
JJ - Thanks for the info. The family I'm living with is wondering about this movement, and I wanted to feed them something "straight from the horse's mouth".
Just to be clear ... Mark Driscoll's criticisms of the ECM (which are over a year old now) do not change his own views so as to exclude him from the movement. Driscoll still has an Emergent/Emerging view of the church and of evangelism ... the defining marks of the ECM.
For more on Driscoll's Emerging Church views, please reference his own books on the subject. Radical Reformission is his most popular work.
Case
For those interested - the best resource that Jayj listed was that of Phil Johnson (see link in the entry). Phil Johnson is the President of Grace to You - John MacArthur's radio ministry. He is also an elder at John MacArthur's church, and a renowned publisher.
But more than all this, Phil's personal study of the ECM is incredible. He has read more material by Emergents than anyone I've ever met. His fairly lengthy article on the subject certainly is fair and balanced - as anyone who has read it will tell you. It is more than informative, and you will have a much better understanding of the movement itself after finishing it.
w00t, and gl
Case
Hmmm...looks like I hit a hot button on the Mark Driscoll issue. lol.
Thanks for all the thoughts everyone. I will check out that message when I get a chance, sounds interesting.
And, you are welcome Mr. Jon.
JJ- Way to spark a conversation! Next post, the What would the ECM response be? HAHAHA. I guess I need to look at all sides before I come back and post again.
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