twenty-three

I’ve been asked to expand on a previous discussion on some of the cultural changes we are seeing in the church as we move into a post-modern era at small group this week. The Emergent Church, the post-modern Christianity ideology, these are things I like to read about, but by no means do I have the authority or knowledge to comment on them with anything but a blurry misconception. So, I figure I should blog out some of my thoughts, to help formulate what I might say as an Unwitting Spokesman. (Please, never ask me to be the spokesman for something, because even if I like it, I’ll probably screw my explanation up.)

A lot of my knowledge of the changes the Church is beginning see and experience comes from two authors: Brian McLaren and Dallas Willard. I wouldn’t count Willard in the Emerging camp, but his ideas seem to set the philosophical groundwork for more popular writers like McLaren to run with. McLaren’s works are more conversational and simplify some of the deeper philosophies and theologies of our time into accessible and understandable statements.

Both authors, and others surrounding this developing theological movement address the inklings of change that rustle in the pews of the Church. Much of the discussion that I’ve read deals with how we, Christians, are at an impass where re-envisioning the way church looks in action, the way we approach God, and the way the cold absolutes of modernity have left us feeling disconnected victims of a Gospel that was less about Spiritual Formation and more about Sin Management (Willard).

Instead of continuing to look at God in the same way,  I seem to see a pattern of review in the works of the postmodern theologians I’ve read. It’s about re-examining our buildings, our worship, our "orthopraxy" (correct practice) and our orthodoxy (right teachings) in light of the failures that the Church in its current disarray have left us with.

One point that is difficult to reconcile in this reawakening is the seeming departure from the absolute truths of God and His nature. In my opinion, I’ve never looked at the analysis and critique as something that questions God’s nature or His truths (salvation, His omnipotence, His creation). I view this discussion as a rethinking of how WE perceive those aspects of God. How the church views Creation, in light of scientific evidence, is incredibly important to reconsider, for example. When we found out the earth wasn’t flat, they argued and burned people, and then finally came to accept this change. Heretics they may have seemed, but these people who claimed it was round actually helped people see God’s Creation from a new perspective and in a new light that allowed God to become bigger in the minds and hearts of His people.

So what do we do with these new ideas, sometimes dangerous ideas that wreck the way we’ve done things for centuries? Beats me. Seriously, I’m not sure that any of the people out there, talking about this new Church, the Emergent Bride, will ever come to an answer in their lifetimes. And that’s really the beauty. I think one of the coolest things about this movement towards rethinking and rediscovering Christianity is the amount of trust its followers have to place in prayer, study, and the Holy Spirit. Because we could just go in circles trying to figure out new answers, or we could just define a new systematic theology that reflects a postmodern worldview, but that would still leave us in the same place as we are with the modern church. It’s not about an answer, a formula. I really believe, at least in what I’ve seen and experienced, it’s about leaving the door open just a little wider for the Holy Spirit to really work in our lives and show us new ways to see God.

Like I said, I hate even trying to answer even one question about what this movement means to me. All I know is that thinking about new ways to experience God and church excite my heart in a way that it has never been. To think there is a community that is OK with not having the answers is really reassuring. So don’t let me be a spokesman for anything, just let me be a sojourner (buzz-word alert) on the path to pursuing God. Let me try to show you what I’ve seen and let’s move together, because I know He’s got tons of good things for us to find ahead.

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