Thoughts On "The Emerging Church"

Glenn on Fellowship

I recently noticed an article posted on one of the Ev. Covenant (JPUSA's parent denomination) websites, a link to an article from the Seattle Times on the Emerging Church. It showcased a number of such local churches in that area of the country, discussed some of their features and was in my view, a good read.

The concept of churches that look less and less like "traditional" or even "contemporary" isn't in itself, new. From the earliest days of believers coming together for fellowship immediately following Jesus' resurrection He gave charges to His followers (Acts 1.2), He ascended to the right hand of the Father, sent the promised Holy Spirit and the church was truly formed on earth. Before too long His followers began to be called "Christians"(Acts 11.26).

It wasn't too long after that when the very things one of the Lord's key leaders (Paul) warned other leaders about began to happen, namely, selfishness, "hostile take-overs" and "splits" as we'd refer to it in modern terminology.(Acts 20.17-35)

There are many reasons- good and bad- for people doing "church" differently. I can define my own main concerns very simply: the actual leading of the Spirit and not simply human desire for position, worship of the "new" OR the "old" ways of doing things- must be central to the movement(s) or they are structural and "feelgood" change only.

What the Lord does through us will produce "gold, silver and precious stones" in His sight. What we do, even "in His name", yet not truly called by Him or motivated by His Spirit will only create "wood, hay and stubble".(see 1Cor. 3.9-4.5) When our motives are pure and His leading is what prompts change, we are on solid ground.

Therefore I'm grateful and thankful for new and pioneering moves in re-defining "church structure and style" as long as the core of what I've just said above is sound, the Bible is THE "rule for faith, doctrine and practice" and both leaders and congregants alike learn to respect the true work of the Spirit in other manifestations of "church" unlike those of the new breed.

In early Jesus Movement ministries, house-based communities and "para-church" outreaches sprang up everywhere, literally hundreds if not thousands of them in the U.S. and Canada alone. More surfaced around the world. Very few of them are left.

Perhaps some of the emerging church groups (some of which we'll explore here) won't last past five years and perhaps that's as the Lord intends it- I don't think there is automatic shame in a short-lived local church or mission... and in fact think that too many fellowships lack the life and move of the Holy Spirit in terms of real fruitfulness. Some stay together out of convenience rather that maturing agape love and with a clear sense of mission to others. Yet there is something to be said for foundations being truly built in relation to Jesus Christ, His clear biblical teachings, respect and response to the Book of Acts and all else Paul and the other New Testament writers had to say as the basis for what is being called the "emerging church" just as for any other "kind" of church family.

The article I mentioned above listed a number of points that I have seen elsewhere and agree are all key elements of emerging churches. I believe they are worth considering whether or not you plan on starting one, joining one or risking application of some or most of them to a traditional or contemporary church where you are now:

"EMERGING CHURCH" CONCEPTS

Primarily "young" (as teens, twenty and early thirties aged) people

"Unusual" meeting places (pizza parlors, warehouses, people's homes, etc.), i.e., not "normal" church buildings with steeples, etc..

Sometimes founded by or an extension of "mainline" or denominational churches but often non-denominational or independent gatherings

Some emerging churches began with a basic, shared vision of a number of Christians, often with informal Bible Studies, concerts or coffeehouse ministries that blossomed into greater commitment and mission springing from those attending regularly

"Alternative" Christians experimenting with and/or naturally producing fresh, alternative methods of serving God and others

Many such churches are fairly small in number, keying on relationship and community, desiring to experience God and sharing an equal respect for pastor and non-"leadership" alike

Some alternative fellowships are very involved with social justice issues, i.e., caring for the poor, taking stands on political issues that affect the poor and marginalized

Some of these groups seek to better experience and model Book of Acts (earliest) Christianity as opposed to typical Western Christian church traditions and methods

Typical alternative church concepts include highly valuing the arts and enjoying creative artistic expressions of the gospel of Christ and in worship

Futurist Tom Sine says that those involved in alternative churches are "reinventing and bringing renewal to the church"

There are those who find such churches more comfortable with regard to atmosphere, dress and other traditional "culture codes" that have more to do with other older American cultural styles than morality or actual intimacy with God and spiritual intimacy with the people attending

The U.S. Center for World Mission estimates some 5,000 churches focusing on alternative, postmodern worship have been planted in the U.S..

About the mid-to-late 1990s many of these new paradigms of "doing church" began to emerge, doing things similarly but often quite differently than even contemporary "mega-churches" such as Willow Creek, differently than Calvary Chapel or Vineyard would do

In some cases, Gregorian chant and other very old, historic rituals and rites are brought into the meetings while at other times- or even simultaneously- internet and/or multimedia imagery and music might be used. Ancient AND modern rites are often on display.

Humor is often used in telling Gospel stories, personal anecdotes are cited for people to hear how such truths interact in everyday situations. A rather casual "dressed-down" style is often used in preaching and teaching

The point is communication in the "native language", only in this case the "natives" are often non-churched postmodern urban or suburban

People are seeking authenticity and life rather than cold structures and institutions. Most leadership in emerging churches are deeply involved in sharing a personal, relational Jesus and His ways with those who gather

COMMENTS

Overall, what I've seen and experienced with groups that might be considered part of the "emerging church" is good. As in any movement- and I indeed think it has become large enough to be considered a movement- when the Holy Spirit spawns it and is moving... it's a good thing with great potential!

I came to personal faith and surrender to Jesus just two weeks before my seventeenth birthday. Just as the Jesus Movement because national and international news, I found myself following Him and looking for other Christians to link with. I knew intuitively that I needed, but I also wanted fellowship with people who loved Him and were walking with Him.

In my own case, I linked with born-again Catholics almost daily, attended Baptist Bible Study and Sunday night independent pentecostal church for more teaching and worship. I sometimes fellowshipped with a house group of charismatics that offered very good and sometimes odd teaching... but were warm, friendly and truly loved God. I also began attending a brand-new Jesus People coffeehouse which offered Bible Studies, water baptism services and great (though pretty mild at first) Christian rock music and powerful preaching on the weekends. I linked with them all!

I eventually moved into the Jesus People community (originally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) and became part of Jesus People U.S.A., due to a very clear, intense sense of God calling me to do so.

All this to say that I relate favorably to most all I hear and know of the emerging church movement. At the same time, many of us learned what I believe were excellent lessons about what to do and what not to do from our experiences in the Jesus Movement.

When focus is on Father, Son and Spirit, when the Bible alone is given ultimate place and authority as the Word of God, when leadership respects other leadership, when a plurality of leadership, openness, confession of sin and healthy, good links to others outside of one's own group or wider movement is sought after and maintained, wisdom, balance and sound teaching can be both established and cultivated. Without these- and even with them- bad choices, selfish motives, petty arguments, splits and a lot of bad things can and will happen regardless of the type or style of church.

As I complied from study and experience, the above elements of what seems common to the emerging church it seems pretty clear that the fellowship I'm involved on the pastoral team with has been doing many of the same things for nearly 30 years, with a few of them perhaps being added in the past decade or so. We try to be consistent but at the same time, flexible. This can be seen as a great blessing or a real curse to some in the fellowship, depending on a number of variables with regard to their own personal sense of comfort and mission. I expect the same will prove true in each emerging church group.

And He said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old".(Mt. 13.52)

As always, only time will tell what sort of eternal fruit emerging churches produce(d), but for now, it looks like God is moving via what some are calling "the emerging church", and as usual, expanding His kingdom with fresh forms for eternal Truth.

Posted 01/20/03