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Author
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Topic: Revival or Return To Darkness?
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Miguel
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Member # 47
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Extra Information..
The Message Bible>?
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Romans 9:11-24
Our Eschatology may vary even our Ecclesiology may be disputed among us but our Soteriology most assume a singularity and exclusivity which in biblical term is known as Quote; "The Narrow Way" and Quote!
Posts: 2792 | From: Stockton,Ca | Registered: Jun 2002
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SoftTouch
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This Emergent Church Junk is Very Dangerous! I found this article posted on RaptureNews.com
http://www.apprising.org/archives/2006/02/allee_allee_in.html
"ALL-EE, ALL-EE IN FREE" THE UNIVERSAL APPEAL OF JESUS“
then know this, you and all the people…It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4: 10 & 12)
A Brighter Light
On Slice Of Laodicea Ingrid Schlueter posted that it is true “Rick Warren believes that there is salvation today for those who have never heard of Jesus.” And Warren is not alone in this apostasy either as you will come to see. Ingrid is also quite correct when she further says: “This is the underlying belief of interspiritualists like Dave Fleming who has taken Warren's beliefs a step farther and stated that all world religions are essentially the same, worshipping the same God, beneath the superficial differences. That, friends, is where Rick Warren is taking the church.” Lighthouse Trails Research has already told us about Brian McLaren, another emerging new evangelical leader, who actually endorses Fleming’s book The Seeker’s Way here.
This is also what I have been talking about in my recent work on the neo-pagan cult of the Emergent Church. The interested reader is referred as well to a host of sister ministries who have also dealt with this subject in the “General Apologetics” link on the Front Page here at AM. As I’ve previously pointed out in Part Four of my series The Transformation Of The Emergent Church, in his book Running Against The Wind former New Ager Brian Flynn makes this salient point about Emergent Evangelical Prophet Tony Campolo while he shares a bit from Campolo’s book Speaking My Mind. But as Flynn does so he is also indicating the direction that we are undoubtedly heading now with the transformation of the Evangelical church itself.
You will be coming to see that there is an idea becoming more and more prevalent within the Evangelical community where “interfaith/interspiritual” dialogues will allegedly help us to promote the idea of some New Age global peace plan. However this all really runs much deeper than that as Flynn writes:
It is with great sadness and dismay I tell you now that this New Age mindset has spilled over and is now invading Christendom. Evangelical author and speaker Tony Campolo, in his book Speaking My Mind, affirms this union:
Mysticism provides some hope for common ground between Christianity and Islam. Both religions have within their histories examples of ecstatic union with God, which seem at odds with their own spiritual traditions but have much in common with each other.
Can you begin to see the language of this new theological agenda? Mysticism (transcendental meditation) and the “ecstatic union” with God is the “common ground” in all these “spiritual traditions” that provide the “light” for those who don’t happen to hear the Gospel. In fact Schlueter points out a rather interesting statement from Warren himself in her article as he says, “Someone who has begun to walk in the light is always able to recognize a brighter light.” I’ll touch on this further in a moment, but Flynn goes on to tells us that Campolo asks an interesting question which begins to make things even clearer about where all this is leading these fools who follow Warren, McLaren and this emerging new evangelicalism:
“Could they [Islamic Sufis] have encountered the same God we do in our Christian mysticism?” With various examples, Campolo paints a picture of interspirituality through mysticism. Referring to Muslim and Christian mystics, he even tells us that the Christian mystics, such as St. John of the Cross, were enriched by the teachings of Sufi philosophers. In comparing St. Francis of Assisi with the founder of the Sufi movement, Campolo says:
Both men sensed presence in everything and claimed to have experienced a mystical union with God.
The obvious implication of Campolo’s statement is that God can be reached through mystical experiences, regardless of one’s religion and beliefs. This is common thinking among contemplatives who often state that contemplative prayer does indeed provide a bridge to Divinity. (185,186, Embraced By The Light)
You need to understand that the Emerging Church is the Trojan Horse used by the Devil to bring in the spiritual mysticism necessary to accomplish the further inward transformation (aka “enlightenment”) of man so that eventually he may become deceived into thinking that each religion contains vestiges of truth left from our original knowledge about the Sacred (Mysteries of God). This will tell you why the whole Church Growth Movement which birthed both the Purpose Driven Church and its ugly step-sister the Emerging Church has been deemphasizing the Cross–if they even preach it at all. And all of this is really Satan’s most subtle twist on his initial lie to Eve – “you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5).
Those of us who have been covering this for the Church are doing our best to alert you that the one area of agreement that all of these interspiritual groups have is the spiritual practice/discipline of transcendental meditation. That’s why Mike Oppenheimer’s new series A GREAT Compromise on the acceptance of Yoga within the Christian Church is a must read. Rick Warren himself encourages meditation, and making a right judgment through statements such as the following, he is most likely a practictioner of meditation himself. And a very common expression among those who have reached this enlightenment/transformation (satori in Zen) is what we showed you earlier from Warren who says, “Someone who has begun to walk in the light is always able to recognize a brighter light.”
First of all, the above statement by Warren is heresy because this Christian leader assumes someone is already walking in the light prior to regeneration. Not only that, but the universal testimony from those who have reached this inner transformation speaks of being bathed in Light and Love, and then comes the deep realization that all mankind itself shares a divine nature and is truly one in God (the Light). The seeker senstive Purpose Driven Church and the spiritual seeker sensitive Emerging Church both encourage the practice of what is known as contemplative spirituality (read: transcendental meditation). Now director of the Christian outreach One Truth Ministries, Brian Flynn is spiritually dead right when he warns where all of this is headed. He says that it “is imperative” for the Church “to see the connections between contemplative prayer and this explanation of world peace by New Age leaders” (190).
Flynn then states the most serious fact that:
It is equally important to understand that a growing movement among evangelical leaders is heading in the same direction. I find it extraordinary that those Christian leaders who are involved in this global peace process are also advocates of contemplative prayer. Below is just a sampling of quotations to show those connections:
Rick Warren
Meditation: Many Christians use “Breath Prayers” throughout their day. You choose a brief sentence, or a simple phrase that can be repreated to Jesus in one breath.
Global Peace: My hope is for a new reformation in the Church and a new spiritual awakening throughout the world. ––Rick Warren in reference to his global P.E.A.C.E. Plan.
Ken Blanchard
Meditation: Buddha points to the path and invites us to begin our journey to enlightenment. I…invite you to begin your journey to enlightened work.
Global Peace: Ken [Blanchard] has signed on to help with the P.E.A.C.E. Plan. And he’s going to be helping train us. ––Rick Warren
Tony Campolo
Meditation: Beyond these models of reconciliation, a theology of mysticism provides some hope for common ground between Christianity and Islam.
Global Peace: [W]e are to work with Christ to…bring about global peace (190,191).
Rooted In Gnosticism
It’s not like this mystical spirituality hasn’t been lurking in the Evangelical community for years. In his book Deceived On Purpose (DOP) Warren Smith clearly denliniates the influence that Robert Schuller has had on Rick Warren. There isn’t any question that “Christian” minister Norman Vincent Peale in turn had an enormous effect on Schuller, who pieced together his own unique brand of “positive,” and very liberal Christianity from Peale’s earlier Gnostic metaphysical teachings. In DOP Smith tells us about something Schuller wrote that “reminded me of Bernie Siegel’s encounter with his spirit guide George.” Then Smith, a former believer in New Age theology himself, says that while practicing transcendental meditation:
Schuller claimed to have an encounter with “Jesus.” Schuller wrote: “I went into a time of relaxation, meditation, and two-way prayer. In a matter of seconds I can get myself into a state of relaxation where I am not conscious of my body weight, but sense that I am floating suspended in space. And this is when I go into two-way prayer.” Schuller goes on to further describe an encounter with “Jesus” and an accompanying vision (56).
The danger signs should now be quite plain before you because these are not names of obscure cultists in the dimlit room of some back alley fortune teller. The men you have been reading about in this piece who are practicing this kind of neo-pagan mystic spiritualism are some of the leaders within the Evangelical community. No longer relegated to the outskirts of Christian spirituality, this interspiritualism is now taking center stage in the Body of Christ and coming to a church near you. Consider this from an ad in the current edition of Christianity Today.
Spiritual FORMATION...the most pressing need in the body of Christ today!
Join in the 2006 Spiritual Formation Forum with leading thinkers developing ideas for building Spiritual Formation in your Community.
The 2006 Spiritual Formation Forum features “meaningful interaction in discussion groups,” with “uniquely designed workshops to discover next steps” and “built in opportunities for guided-retreat, silence and solitude.” Among the featured speakers will be Dallas Willard, “Professor in the School of Philosophy at the University of Southern California. Lectures and publishes on spirituality” and Richard Foster, “the founder of RENOVARÉ and author of six books including Celebration of Discipline…Richard travels throughout the world, speaking and teaching on the spiritual life.” Foster’s workshop “will consider the theological necessity and Pauline ideal of community as the 'Body of Christ' and a few models for living life together and nurturing Christian spiritual formation.”
God In All, All In God
You will notice that this idea of spiritual formation has to do with silence and solitude, which are aspects of this mystic spiritualism I have been telling you about. Anyone with eyes to see should find all of this to be very alarming when compared to what Jesus actually says in the Bible, and with what the Word of God tells us about how it will truly be before the Antichrist appears. And not only that, but through all of this neo-pagan mystic spirituality the Evangelical church is rapidly heading to a fullblown doctrine of panentheism which would make a One World Global Family entirely conceivable. Once you understand this teaching that God, though separate from the creation (transcendant) “breathed in” and created the universe “inside” Himself (immanent), you will begin to be able to see why Christian missions of evangelism have now become unnecessary for those caught up in the deceptive spirituality of the new evangelicalism.
Space allows just a couple of quick examples, but you may take the time to research the topic further in numerous articles I have written here. In The Church In Emerging Culture Frederica Mathewes-Green, Emergent author and commentator, is asked how can one know Christ? In her meandering answer she negates the inherent sin nature of mankind calling it simply “a sick person who wants to get well.” However, the Bible tells us there is none who seek God, but aside from that Mathewes-Green then says:
What [Christ] offers us is not merely legal aquittal. It is alarmingly more intimate than that. He offers himself, his very life, he in us and we in him. He is already here, filling all things, overflowing all creation with his breathed-in presence (172, emphasis added).
You must also keep in mind here that this Emergent author has made no mention of this being for the person born again by placing faith in Christ. This is consistent with Brian McLaren and in this new mystic spirituality even espoused by Rick Warren himself, the Cross is just not important. Also, in a moment you will see that the “breathed-in” language Mathewes-Green uses, God creating the universe inside Himself, is identical to that used by the “living spiritual teacher” Alan Jones in his sermon Who Is God? This by the way, is the same Jones who authored the book Reimagining Christianity where this Guru called the vicarious penal substitutionary atonement of Christ Jesus on the Cross a “vile doctrine” (168). And yet according to Emergent Church spiritual director Brian McLaren, Alan Jones is “reimagining a Christian faith that emerges from authentic spirituality. His work stimulates and encourages me deeply” (back cover, emphasis added).
In the beginning, before there were any beginnings and endings, there was no place that was not already God! And we call this unimaginable openness, "Ain Soph" – Being – without end. Then came the urge to give life to our world and to us. But there was no place that was not already God. So "Ain Soph" breathed in to make room,… (http://www.30goodminutes.org/csec/sermon/jones_3710.htm, emphasis added)
Let’s stop right here for a moment. “In the beginning”; very Biblical, this will remind us of berepooph in the Hebrew, en arche in the Septuagint (LXX) of Genesis 1:1 and used also in John 1:1 – “Before anything ever was.” So we’re off to a good start, but uh-oh; now we see “‘Ain Soph’ (from the Jewish mysticism of the Kabbalah) breathed in to make,” i.e. to create. This is the emerging panentheism we are now alerted to look for; the creation is already in God, where in historic orthodox theology the creation comes from God. And if man, who is a part of this creation is already in God, then he is also divine, and thus all men are God, as such there would be no need to be regenerated by God the Holy Spirit. No way around this blasphemous, let alone heretical, view concerning the nature of God.
This next part of Jones’ sermon is also very illuminating, so to speak, but also quite disturbing when we read:
Into the emptiness "Ain Soph" set vessels and began to fill them with divine light, as a mother places bowls in which to pour her delicious soup. As the light poured forth, a perfect world was being created! Think of it! A world without greed and cruelty and violence! But then, something happened. The bowls shattered. No one knows why. Perhaps the bowls were too frail? Perhaps the light too intense? Perhaps "Ain Soph" was learning. After all, no one makes perfect the first time. And with the shattering of the bowls, divine sparks flew everywhere! Some rushing back to "Ain Soph," some falling, falling, trapped in the broken shards to become our world, and us.
Notice that Guru Jones mentions here how “Ain Soph” (God) fills these “vessels” (mankind) with “divine light” (deity). Oh, and here’s a bit more “enlightenment” by Alan Jones from his “deeply stimulating and encouraging” book Reimagining Christianity:
The mystical traditions all agree that in our helplessness we come closer to the real well of life deep within us…[r]enewal and transformation could begin by our waiting for our own secret to reveal itself in the pregnant silence–in the silence of the Virgin concerning the secret of God…in the silence we, too, by the grace of the Spirit give birth to ourselves–to the true self that is both secret and known, the self-in-God. Loved and in communion with all things, the soul is born in and out of the secret silence of God, This silence at the heart of mysticism is not only the meeting point of the great traditions but it is also where all hearts might meet (172,174, emphasis added)
Could all of this be any clearer from Jones? The mystic traditions all agree that deep within us is the true divine self in God which we find in the silence of meditation as we are all really one Global Family in God. And now Ray Yungen gives us a further look at where men like Rick Warren, the Pied Piper of the Purpose Driven Church, and Brian McLaren, Spiritual Director of the Emergent Church, are now taking the Evangelical church. In his book A Time For Departing, which I highly recommend, Yungen is specifically speaking about Richard Foster and his use of the teachings of “Christian” mystics. This would be the same Richard Foster, whom Brian McLaren calls (along with Dallas Willard) a key “mentor” in the Emerging Church movement, and who just happens to be the leading teacher of contemplative prayer. By the way Rick Warren recommends the work of Foster to your pastors at his website pastors.com.
As we close this work, what Ray Yungen is about to tell us about the aforementioned Richard Foster and these so-called Christian mystics is now also becoming true for those growing sections of the Church who, as we have just shown above, are now dabbling themselves in this “the silence,” which is simply another way of referring to the neo-pagan practice of transcendental meditation. Yungen gives us the benefit of his thorough research:
The point is this: their silence and Foster’s silence are identical, as he makes clear. By using them as models, Foster tells us to follow them because they have experienced deep union with God–and if you also want this, you must go into their silence.
But if this is the case, then Foster’s use of these mystics brings up a difficult problem for him. Panentheism was the fruit of their mysticism. This mysticism led them to believe as they did, and Foster cannot distance himself from that fact. Consequently, to promote them as champions of contemplative prayer, he is also, wittingly or not, endorsing their panentheism. What he endorses is a package. You can accept both or reject both, but you cannot have one without the other (72).
And all of this mystic spirituality in new evangelicalism with its base in universalism has now brought us full-circle to The Falling Away Of The Evangelical Church…
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Psalm 119:104Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 105Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
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helpforhomeschoolers
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That would be great. That is actually what I long for.
Posts: 4684 | From: Southern Black Hills of South Dakota | Registered: Jun 2002
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wparr
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Home Churches, or Home Fellowships or NT Churches, or what ever you want to call them are the next reformation going on, just like the Book of Acts, and China (along with other percicuted countries)
I'll post some links Linda that people can use to search for HCs in their area, they also supply material and support to start one.
Posts: 1203 | From: Eagle Nest, NM | Registered: Jan 2003
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helpforhomeschoolers
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Praise God! Walt, I just read an article about the gathering of the tares from the wheat and in this article the author was speaking about how this time is like that. There are few that are willing to stand and be wheat right now, and the tares are flocking together in droves. May God Bless this pastor for his faithfulness. I am in personal contact right now with several people who are unable to find a church in their local that is not going the way of cain with this garbage. Praise God for the good news that some are still standing strong!!!
Posts: 4684 | From: Southern Black Hills of South Dakota | Registered: Jun 2002
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wparr
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During Calvary Chapel's Pastor's conference Chuck Smith stood up and publicly DENOUNCED The Purpose Driven books (creating quite a stir) and that Calvary Chapel would NOT facilitate the sale or use of any of the purpose driven material.
Not a popular thing to do today.
Posts: 1203 | From: Eagle Nest, NM | Registered: Jan 2003
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helpforhomeschoolers
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THE EMERGING CHURCH
Revival or Return To Darkness?
By Roger Oakland
www.understandthetimes.org
History reveals that Christian fads and trends come and go. It seems that it is common for many pastors and church leaders to constantly look for some new methodology, “new wave” or “new thing” God is doing, “right now.”
We live at a period in church history that is characterized by enthusiasm for methods and means that facilitate church growth. Large churches are commonly equated with successful pastors and successful church growth methods. Whatever it takes to reach that objective, is acceptable, we are told. Church growth has become the measuring stick for successful Christianity.
Purpose-Driven Christianity
It is true that some of the largest and fastest growing churches and church movements in the world today promote a concept called “purpose-driven.” No matter where you go these days anywhere around the world, purpose-driven is being proclaimed as the latest church growth method.
But stop for a moment and think. What is it that defines success from a biblical perspective? While we are accustomed to accepting numbers or quantity as the yardstick for measuring success, when it comes to Christianity, quantity without quality can be misleading.
According to the Bible, Christian faith must be directly related to God’s Word. Faith comes by hearing what God has said and then acting accordingly. With regard to church growth, if the growth is the product of some technique authored by some man, and this technique is not based on God’s Word, the results may actually be deceptive.
With this in mind, we will consider this current common trend known as the “purpose-driven” church growth movement. Before we do, let’s review the biblical premise that we are to test the teachings of men as the Bereans did (Acts chapter 17) and search the Scriptures diligently.
The Purpose of Purpose-Driven
One of the major goals of the purpose-driven church growth movement is church growth. This growth is dependent on adding numbers based on human methods and techniques. While promoters say these human methods are found in the Bible, there are reasons to question this claim.
It would appear that many of the purpose-driven techniques are oriented towards what’s in it for me, rather than what I can do for you. Successful purpose-driven church leaders find out what appeals to seekers who might come to their church and then provide the service or the environment that meets their approval. Thus purpose-driven churches can become market-oriented for the “seeker-friendly” without being so biblical that “seekers” would be offended.
Most Christians would agree that to be faithful to Jesus and His Word, healthy church growth should be based on the teaching of God’s Word. However, a market-driven church based on man-made methods designed to increase numbers may produce converts who are biblically illiterate.
Man’s word or God’s Word
The Scriptures have been carefully translated from Hebrew and Greek so the Word of God can be understood in the languages of our day. Some say we need to make the Bible more understandable by taking the Word of God and changing it to the words of men. But is this idea biblical?
Remember that the Bible has been given to us by God. As Paul stated in his letter to Timothy:
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. [1]
While the Bible has been written by human hands, the words were inspired by God. Not only are the words inspired, but the Bible states humans are prohibited from altering the Scriptures by adding to or taking away from what God has said. Notice what we read in the Book of Revelation:
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. [2]
Therefore according to Scripture, humans tread on dangerous ground when we take the liberty of adding to or deleting from what God has said. However, it is a fact that many seeker-friendly churches try to make the scriptures more “seeker-friendly”, by altering the actual inspired Word of God and reinterpret it into the ideas or views of man.
Whose Message?
Whose Message?
For example, consider a new version of the Bible authored by Eugene Peterson known as “The Message.” Described as a “contemporary rendering of the Bible from the original languages, crafted to present its tone, rhythm, events, and ideas in everyday language,” this “paraphrased” version of the Bible, in reality, is nothing more than Eugene Peterson’s thoughts and views. Peterson has taken the carefully translated words of the Bible and put them into his own words and chosen idioms. [3]
For example, consider the following portion of Scripture taken from John 3:17 - "that the world through him might be saved.” Peterson’s rendering reads: "He came to help, to put the world right again." It does not take a biblical scholar to understand that "saved" means that we can be redeemed from the judgment we deserve for our sins so that we can go to heaven. It should be obvious that using "help" instead of “saved” completely distorts the meaning of what Jesus said. And "to put the world right again" has nothing to do with the salvation of souls. In fact this sounds like the social gospel to reform the world through political action.
Rick Warren, the author of The Purpose Driven Church, is a strong supporter of Eugene Peterson’s message. While Warren claims he quotes the Bible when he quotes The Message he is not quoting the Bible. He is quoting the thoughts of some man who thinks he is stating what the Bible states.
You may ask, so what is wrong with this? Isn’t it better for a seeker to be reading some version of the Bible, rather than not reading the Bible at all? Many Christians, although they have been believers for years, claim they still have difficulty in understanding the Bible that has been translated word by word from the original text. If someone can come up with a way to make the Bible more understandable, wouldn’t this be a great tool for planting seeds for the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Such a line of reasoning may sound acceptable. However we also know that what seems right to man, may be wrong from God’s perspective. Further when we rely upon man’s thoughts rather than God’s thoughts it’s almost certain that we will be deceived. With regard to Eugene Peterson’s The Message, there is one message that should be clear. If you want the truth and all the truth, read the Bible - not some man’s conjecture about what he thinks God has said. Otherwise you have the potential of committing spiritual suicide.
Relevancy without Compromise
While it is true, Christianity must be relevant in order to be effective, how far can we stray from biblical standards and still be sound Christian witnesses of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Perhaps you have not heard about another new trend sweeping the Christian church. Many are saying a great change lies ahead. The seeker-friendly era is over. Now we are headed into another new period of church history. It’s called “the emerging church.” If you have not heard of this, try doing a search on the Internet by tying “emerging church” into a search engine. I guarantee you will be amazed at what you find.
Rick Warren is very supportive of “the emerging church.” This is what he wrote in a foreword for Dan Kimball’s book, The Emerging Church: Vintage Christianity for New Generations --
This book is a wonderful, detailed example of what a purpose-driven church can look like in a postmodern world. My friend Dan Kimball writes passionately, with a deep desire to reach the emerging generation and culture. While my book The Purpose-Driven Church explained what the church is called to do, Dan’s book explains how to do it with the cultural creatives who think and feel in postmodern terms. You need to pay attention to him because times are changing.[4]
It is true over the past decades many trends have come and gone. As Warren stated in the foreword of Kimball’s book:
As a pastor, I’ve watched churches adopt many contemporary styles in worship, programming, architecture, music, and other elements. That’s okay as long as the biblical message is unchanged. But whatever is in style now will inevitably be out of style soon, and the cycles of change are getting shorter and shorter, aided by technology and the media. New styles, like fashions, are always emerging. [5]
Not all these trends have been based on sound biblical doctrine. In fact the reason many of these trends occurred was because Christians were vulnerable to “winds of doctrine” that had no biblical basis.
According to the Bible, in last days these winds of doctrine will be “doctrines of demons” that will influence Christians to fall away from the truth and accept ideas that “tickle their ears.” [6]
Rick Warren is not only supportive of the “emerging church,” he believes that it is exactly what is required at this time. He believes this is what “the purpose-driven” church that he founded will become in the “postmodern world.” He notes:
In the past twenty years, spiritual seekers have changed a lot. In the first place, there are a whole lot more of them. There are seekers everywhere. I’ve never seen more people so hungry to discover and develop the spiritual dimension of their lives. That is why there is such a big interest in Eastern thought, New Age practices, mysticism and the transcendent. [7]
Further, he explains what the “emerging church” must do in order to emerge:
Today seekers are hungry for symbols and metaphors and experiences and stories that reveal the greatness of God. Because seekers are constantly changing, we must be sensitive to them like Jesus was; we must be willing to meet them on their own turf and speak to them in ways they understand. [8]
Now, let’s follow Rick Warren’s line of reasoning through to its logical conclusion based on the idea the world is hungry for an Eastern worldview, the New Age, mysticism and spiritual enlightenment. If it is necessary to meet these “spiritual seekers” on their turf, wouldn’t that require Christianity to become more New Age and mystical?
Emerging into What?
Rick Warren and others say we need to pay attention to the emerging church. Things are changing, they say and the “emerging church” has the answers for our generation. But what will the emerging church emerge into? Could it be a form of Christianity that embraces experience rather than God’s Word?
Dan Kimball is the author of The Emerging Church: Vintage Christianity for New Generations. He is also launching a church called Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, California. Kimball makes the following statement in the introduction of his book:
I believe with all my heart that this discussion about the fast-changing culture and the emerging church must take place. While many of us have been preparing sermons and keeping busy with the internal affairs of our churches, something alarming has been happening on the outside. What once was a Christian nation with a Judeo-Christian worldview is quickly becoming a post Christian, unchurched, unreached nation. New generations are arising all around us without any Christian influence. So we must rethink virtually everything we are doing in our ministries. [9]
Certainly the spiritual climate in North America has changed radically over the past number of years just as Dan Kimball has stated. Many, including Rick Warren and Dan Kimball use the term “post-Christian era” to describe the days in which we are living. They say, while the seeker-friendly era was successful in bringing a generation of “baby-boomers” to Jesus, that time is past. Now we need to find new innovative methods that will reach this new generation for Jesus.
Kimball’s book, The Emerging Church: Vintage Christianity for New Generations, is written for this purpose. He not only identifies the problems he believes the church is now facing, he provides the answers and the solutions. The church for the future, he believes, must be more sensual and experienced-based. He calls this church “Vintage Christianity”.
Perhaps the term “Vintage Christianity” is new to you. While it is not my intention to describe all that it means in this commentary, a few chapter titles from Kimball’s book under a heading called “Reconstructing Vintage Christianity in the Emerging Church” will be helpful for us to understand where the emerging church is headed. These are: “Overcoming the Fear of Mulitsensory Worship and Teaching”, [10] “Creating a Sacred Space for Vintage Worship”, [11] “Expecting the Spiritual”, [12] “Creating Experiential Multisensory Worship Gatherings”, [13] “Becoming Story Tellers Again” [14] and “Preaching Without Words”. [15]
Now, I ask you, this question. What does the Bible say about Vintage Christianity and the so-called emerging church? Is the goal of Christianity experience-based or Bible-based? Jesus said: “If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” [16] Further He stated: “Why do ye not understand My speech? because ye cannot hear My word.” [17]
Less Word, More Worship
It should be apparent by now that the emerging church is more experience-based than Bible-based. Further, in the emerging church the Word of God takes a secondary position to the worship of God.
While Dan Kimball and other promoters of the emerging church may be sincere in their efforts to evangelize the postmodern generation and believe they are genuinely representing the scriptures, there are some real concerns that need to be addressed. Deviating from the Word of God for extrabiblical experience can open the door to deception. While worshipping God is a very important part of the Christian faith there are problems that can occur if worship supersedes the word.
However, Dan Kimball sees a new worship generation in the making based on experience that is essential to the emerging church. In a section of his book subtitled "Truly worshipping in a worship gathering,” he writes:
We should be returning to a no-holds-barred approach to worship and teaching so that when we gather, there is no doubt we are in the presence of God. I believe that both believers and unbelievers in our emerging culture are hungry for this. It isn’t about clever apologetics or careful exegetical and expository preaching or great worship bands. … Emerging generations are hungry to experience God in worship. [18]
Obviously, in order for this to happen, changes would have to be incorporated. Kimball has thought this through and offers a number of suggestions which he lists in a chart [19] that shows how the “modern church” must adjust and move towards a “no-holds-barred approach” to worship. Some of these are:
Services designed to be user-friendly and contemporary must change to services that are designed to be experiential and spiritual-mystical.
Stained-glass that was taken out of churches and replaced with video screens should now be brought back into the church on video screens.
Lit up and cheery sanctuaries need to be darkened because darkness is valued and displays a sense of spirituality.
The focal point of the service that was the sermon must be changed so that the focal point of the service is a holistic experience.
Use of modern technology that was used to communicate with a contemporary flare must change so that church attendees can experience the ancient and mystical (and use technology to do so).
While I realize we are living at a period of time where technology is the key to entertainment and visual stimulation is a necessary tool required for capturing the attention of this generation, I ask you to consider what the Bible teaches. What about less Word and more experience? Could someone quote the chapter and verse to justify that? What about the idea that visual stimulation is the formula for inducing a spiritual atmosphere that will draw seekers to Jesus? Where is that found in the Bible?
I don’t know about you, but my when I hear about the emerging-church-methodology to forsake “apologetics” and “careful exegetical and expository preaching” for the sake of a generation that is “hungry to experience God”, I have some concerns. Could this be another avenue to “dumb-down” Christianity so that we no longer know what God has said? How effective can experiential Christianity be when it comes to knowing who we are, where we are in time, and where we are headed?
Jesus said He is coming again? How many professing Christians will be ready when He returns?
Ancient-Future Faith
Dr. Robert “Bob” Webber is recognized by pastors, denominational leaders, scholars and lay people as one of the foremost authorities on worship renewal. He regularly conducts workshops for almost every major denomination in North America through the Institute of Worship Studies which he founded in 1995.
Prior to his appointment to his present position at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Webber taught at Wheaton College for 32 years as Professor of Theology. He has authored over 40 books and is also a regular contributor to numerous magazines and newspapers. [20] He is on the editorial board of Chuck Fromm’s “Worship Leader” magazine.
I was first introduced to Dr. Webber and his views when I read an article that he had written in the May/June issue of “Worship Leader” tiled Wanted: Ancient Future Talent. Under a subheading labeled “The Call for Ancient-Future Worship Talent” Webber wrote:
I am personally most gratified to see the shift toward a recovery of the ancient. While many good choruses have been produced over the past forty years, the rejection of the sources of hymnody and worship by the contemporary church has resulted in a faith that is an inch deep. [21]
In this article, Dr. Webber stated that “the Spirit is working a new thing in the church” and an “ancient-future worship is being born.” He listed a number of things that he believes are necessary for “talented workers” to discover if they are going to be a successful part of this new movement. Some of these are:
Rediscover how God acts through the sacred signs of water, bread and wine, oil and laying on of hands.
Rediscover the central nature of the table of the Lord in the Lord’s Supper, breaking of bread, communion and Eucharist.
Rediscover how congregational spirituality is formed through the Christian celebration of time in Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter and Pentecost.
While I agree with Dr. Webber it would be beneficial to reintroduce the great hymns written in the past by anointed men and women of God that expound sound biblical doctrine, it appears that is not what he means by returning to “the ancient.” In fact his list of things to do in his call for “ancient-future worship talent” mentions a number of terms and ideas that cannot be found in the Bible.
For example, when I hear the expression “sacred signs of bread and wine” or the mention of “Lent” as a means of “rediscovering congregational spirituality” - while these ideas may be ancient, I wonder where the ideas originate. Further, when I hear about “rediscovering the central nature of the table of the Lord in the Lord’s supper, breaking of bread, communion and Eucharist” I am reminded about the “new evangelization” program that is presently underway. Did you know Pope John Paul II has called for a “missionary vision” centered on “a rekindling of amazement focused on the Eucharist” to bring the world to the Eucharistic Jesus?
Could the Merging Church be Reemerging?
Dr. Webber is one of the chief promoters of the emerging church. He has written a number of books on the topic including Ancient-Future Evangelism: Making Your Church a Faith-Forming Community and Ancient-Future Faith: Rethinking Evangelicalism for a Postmodern World.
n order to clarify Dr. Webber’s views, I did some further research. I found an interview Dr. Webber had done posted on a web site called TheOoze.com. Responding to the question: “What do you think the North American evangelical church is going to look like 25 years from now?” Dr Webber responded:
Christianity will be less national, less culturally formed. It will be smaller pockets of communities in neighborhoods. The church will focus on people, not buildings, on community, not programs, on scripture study, not showy worship. [22]
Certainly this view of the future sounds reasonable and acceptable from a biblical perspective. In fact, I could say a hearty “Amen” to what Dr. Webber said. But the next statement adds a whole different dimension to the direction he believes Christianity is emerging towards. He stated:
Biblical symbols such as baptismal identity and Eucharistic thanksgiving will take on new meaning. The church will be less concerned about having eschatology and more committed to being an eschatological community. [23]
Over the past several years, I have observed that Dr. Webber’s prediction regarding the future of the church seems to be accurate. Many who were once anticipating the soon and imminent return of Jesus are now asleep. Some are saying it appears “the Lord has delayed His coming.” Others are saying “we have been misled by pastors and teachers who have taught us that the second coming is a literal return of Jesus to set up His Kingdom.” These same people are claiming the “Kingdom of God” will be established here on earth through Christians during the Eucharistic Reign of Jesus.”
After reading Dr. Webber’s prediction that “Biblical symbols such as baptismal identity and Eucharistic thanksgiving will take on new meaning,” I ordered his book “Ancient-Future Evangelism.” This is what I read on page 114:
A brief glance at the teaching of the Eucharist from the pre-Nicene period provides insight into the early church’s understanding. The Fathers taught that continual spiritual nourishment was provided to believers at this great feast. First it is clear from the writings of Justin Martyr in the middle of the second century that this is no empty symbol. Christ is really present in the bread and wine. He feeds us in the remembrance of His salvation. He feeds us through His presence which is accomplished through prayer. [24]
The idea that Jesus is present in the Eucharist is a Roman Catholic teaching. It is based on transubstantiation. Transubstantiation is required to manifest the Eucharistic Jesus. The Eucharistic Jesus is not the Jesus of the Bible. The Eucharistic Jesus is “another Jesus”.
Is the “Emerging Church” emerging or remerging?
Who Is Evangelizing Who?
Supporters of the “Emerging-Church” write and speak passionately about evangelism. They are committed to reaching the Postmodern generation. They say that their goal is to communicate the truths of Christianity in a way that can be understood by this generation. They are willing to adapt or change whatever needs to be changed in order to be relevant evangelists.
While purpose-driven evangelists removed crosses and other Christian symbols from church services to be seeker-friendly, the Postmodern generation, also called the Gen Xers, apparently are attracted to crosses, candles, stained-glass, liturgy, and sacraments. According to Julie Sevig, in an article called “Ancient New” that she wrote for The Lutheran:
Postmoderns prefer to encounter Christ by using all their senses. That's part of the appeal of classical liturgical or contemplative worship: the incense and candles, making the sign of the cross, the taste and smell of the bread and wine, touching icons and being anointed with oil. In Soul Tsunami: Sink or Swim in New Millennium Culture (Zondervan, 1999), Leonard Sweet says: "Postmoderns want a God they can feel, taste, touch, hear and smell--a full sensory immersion in the divine." [25]
Sevig interviewed Karen Ward, an associate director for worship for an “Emerging Church.” Sevig wrote:
This return to the traditional--the sacred--crosses denominational lines, Ward says. In fact, an interesting marriage is occurring between evangelicals and the liturgy. "Evangelicals are using traditions from all liturgical churches from Orthodox to Lutheran to Catholic," she says. "Though they have limited experience using their new-found symbols, rituals and traditions, they're infusing them with vitality and spirit and life, which is reaching people." [26]
It can be documented that Dr. Robert Webber’s books are winning converts. But who is being converted and what are they being converted to? The answer to this question can be found at a Roman Catholic web site called “Ancient and Future Christian Reading List.” Several of Dr. Webber’s books are listed there such as Ancient-Future Faith: Rethinking Evangelicalism. Under the books heading, there is the following description:
Webber writes about how many Christians today, especially younger ones, are seeking a faith connected to the ancient Church. Thus, postmodern Christians are seeking an ancient and future faith, one that embraces the past for the future, rather than ignoring the past completely. Also, thanks to the reality of relativity (how's that for an oxymoron!), gone are rational apologetics, and coming back are embodied apologetics (i.e. defending the faith by living as Jesus did). Creeds and Councils are in, as is mysticism and community. Editor David Bennett admits that Webber's writings helped lead him to the Catholic Church, although much of what Webber says is far too "cafeteria" in approach. Also, Church Tradition is treated more as an evangelical trend as opposed to what it is: the Truth. Nonetheless, Webber is a good transitional author. [27]
The Ancient and the Mystical
It seems that the “Emerging Church” is reemerging. However, rather than going back to the inspired Word of God found in the Old and New Testaments, the goal is to reintroduce an “Ancient-Future” faith based on the ideas, dogmas, traditions and views of the Roman Catholic Church Fathers.
Over the past number of years I have had the opportunity to travel the world speaking in various countries visiting many old churches that are dark and mystical. These churches were founded by the Roman Catholic or Orthodox Church many centuries ago.
In these churches I have observed, icons, statues of Mary holding baby Jesus, Jesus hanging on the cross, candles, incense, relics, and statues of the “saints.” While there is a lot of emphasis on the visual sensual and mystical, there is very little evidence that the Bible was ever taught to the people. If it had, there would not be an emphasis on extrabiblical paraphernalia, extra-sensory images, sounds and smells.
It appears to me the “Emerging Church” of the present era and the church that emerged after the New Testament was written are one and the same. Remember the words of Paul as recorded in the book of Acts:
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. [28]
While Rick Warren, Dan Kimball and Dr. Robert Webber and others may be excited about the “Emerging Church” and the direction it is presently headed, I am concerned the “Emerging Church” may actually be a re-emergence of what has already occurred in church history. If the pattern continues expect to see evangelical Protestants become more and more Roman Catholic.
Will the Emerging Church Lead the Church to the Roman Catholic Church?
It is important to keep scripture in mind when we are looking for a method or a means to promote church growth. A Christianity that is not based on the Scriptures is a false Christianity. It may be ecumenical and it may be successful in attracting numbers, but it is not biblical. It could even lead people to believe they believe, but instead they follow false teachers and false doctrine and are deceived.
You know where they could spend eternity, separated from God!
[1] 2 Timothy 3: 16
[2] Revelation 22: 18-19
[3] Warren Smith, "Deceived on Purpose: The New Age Implications of the Purpose-Driven Church," Mountain Stream Press, Magalia, CA, p. 23, 24.
[4] Dan Kimball, The Emerging Church: Vintage Christianity for the New Generation, Zondervan, 2003, page 7.
[5] Ibid.
[6] 1 Timothy 4: 1 and 2 Timothy 4:3
[7] Dan Kimball, page 6.
[8] Ibid., pages 7-8.
[9] Ibid., pages 13-14.
[10] Ibid., page 127.
[11] Ibid., page 133.
[12] Ibid., page 143.
[13] Ibid., page 155.
[14] Ibid., page 171.
[15] Ibid., page 185.
[16] John 8: 31-32
[17] John 8: 43
[18] Dan Kimball, p. 185
[19] Ibid. p. 185
[20] www.seminary.edu/aboutnorthern/index.html
[21] Robert Webber, “Wanted Ancient-Future Talent,” Worship Leader, May/June 2005, p. 10
[22] Jordon Cooper interview with Dr. Webber, http://www.theooze.com/articles/article.cfm?id=385, posted December 11, 2003
[23] Ibid.
[24] Robert Webber, "Ancient-Future Evangelism: Making Your Church a Faith-Forming Community," Baker Books, page 114
[25] Julie B. Sevig, The Lutheran, “Ancient New, September 2001, http://www.thelutheran.org/0109/page36.html
[26] Ibid.
[27] http://www.ancient-future.net/apcbooks.html
[28] Acts 20: 29-30
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