A few days ago, I was asked if I could explain the emerging church movement. Not an easy thing. As a matter of fact, this timely question has forced me to really think through this realm (though I am about a decade late!) In my mind, I have clustered the missional, emerging, post-modern discussion together, as well as melting ”emerging” and “emergent” together. Right or wrong, it seems as though these defining streams are all running to the same river of change.
I believe it is important to sort through simple syntax, definitions, and the jargon. Secondly, it is important to find the leaders arena in this arena with voices I can trust, but also to engage and respond to elements on the edges.
Here are a few resources that are helping me in this quest, and spur to others:
Navigating the Emerging Church Highway
Ed Stetzer’s Perimeters of Light
John MacArthur Interview on his site Grace to You
What resources have you found that have been helpful? What have you experienced in ministry that reflects an impact from this wave?
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Thanks for this post, Ray. Great mixture of resources (such as having MacArthur AND Stetzer). Very good post title, as well. This is truly a timely discussion.
There are several links on the following page that address the movement, its language, and its leaders. Take note of the links at the top that take you to audio resources and some writing from proponents of the movement. Most of the information comes from a Reformed perspective. (
http://www.monergism.com/directory/link_category/Emerging-Church/
Here’s Mark Driscoll’s take on Emergent/emerging: http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/religionsaves/emerging-church (not to be confused with Rob Bell’s Mars Hill)
It’s hard not to also listen to some of the Emergent media/audio/podcasts to get an idea of what is being taught, and accepted as the Gospel, in the movement.