I have been intrigued to say the least about this whole idea of a “post” modern church.  I will try to chronicle my mental adventure as it has been carried out thus far:

 

“Dude, B, you gotta read this, it is crazy!” that was my introduction to Brian McLaren (Goodness, does the current church just love this guy!) and the idea that the church is or could be growing from its current state. 

 

“Yeah, sure dude, I will get right on it.”  And that was my response to my friend, Brett, who had told me about it.  I had the book, and it sat on my shelf in my closet for about 2 months until I was so bored one day I said fine, I will read it.  I picked it up and began to reading the book as I promised… …hey I never told him when I would read it, just that I would.  Eventually I just couldn’t take it any more, I was tired of it blowing my brain away and deep down I almost had the retching type feeling.  As if I was going totally against what I had been raised to believe, if not practice, my entire life.  (I feel now that I am allowed to say that phrase since I am a couple months shy of being half a century old). 

 

Brett: “Dude, have you read it yet? You got to finish it!”

Brandon “I started it, but I had to put it down, I mean I am SoOOO busy with this school (I got off every day, or most days at around two in the afternoon for about two months.  I will as soon as I get out of this school.” 

Brett: “you will love it man, I think it might be what you have been searching for.”

Brandon: “yeah sounds great….” Here I began to trail off and try to distract him from the fact that it had been about 4 months since I had received the book. 

 

Finally I had run out of material to read so I broke down and really started reading the book.  I was thrilled, appalled and intrigued by the ideas that the book presented me.  Here were some of the more pressing thoughts:

 

1. Okay, I get that we are in a post modern time frame in our world.  But if God is unchanging, how can anything he is affiliated with change? 
2. I have been struggling with how the current church is running much to the point where I have refused to even attend any more. (outside of when my mother begs me to)
3. The idea that God’s word is more of a “family” story, rather then factual data is a little risky. 

 

There were some great emails between my friend and me, but I have been unable to get his permission to post bits and pieces and therefore will leave them out.  Needless to say (I hate this phrase because I will eventually say what is not needed to be said) it left me with plenty of things to think about and debate internally and with discuss with others. 

 

I eventually let this go and decided I needed a break from this, so here I sit trying to find some books to read for the trip I have just taken to Florida for work I might add, and I see A New Kind of Christian (ANKoC) yet again.  I decide to take another crack at it, and while I was at it I figured I would Google the topic and see what I can find.  Here are just a few of the words associated with the “Emergent Church” from all corners of the globe:

 

1.      Careless

2.      compromising

3.      reductionists

4.      unbiblical

5.      (my personal favorite) Alley to the Al Qaeda (clearly whoever wrote this article had not met them,  Not so much Alleys)

6.      Ambiguous

7.      Relativists

 

And the list goes on.  Most of these are coming from “Scholars” and southern Baptist preachers (no shock there).  And then they wonder why so many people are growing weary of the same hell fire and brimstone speech.  I mean, come on, “The boy who cried wolf” any one? 

 

When I read this book again, here are some of my new thoughts (it is amazing what you see when you are not shocked):

 

1.      Modern Christianity pre-supposes that God is in control, like a machinist is in control of the devise he is using.  Where pulleys and buttons make every movement possible.  But is it not possible that God’s control could mean something entirely different?

2.      Modern missionaries have usually spoken out against cultures mixing their way of life into a “Christian” life.  Native Americans were told there dances to the Great Spirit (a form of worship they enjoyed) were not suitable. 

3.      In the Modern church the bible is the foundation to everything!  Should not Christ be that foundation?  Not a book that has been translated more times then your cars odometer has changed!

 

Well, that is where I am at currently, I plan on continuing my thoughts on this Emergent church!  I will let you know if and when I stumble on something!