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WARNING - Dangers of the Emergent Church movement!
Is the gospel of the emergent church biblical? Is it different to the gospel that Paul preached in Galatians 1v8-9 warning others not to preach another one? What are some of the key figures in the emergent Church teaching about the fundamentals?
How should we define the emergent church?
According to Wikipedia...
The emerging church (also known as the emerging church or the emergent church movement) is a Christian movement of the late 20th and early 21st century whose participants seek to engage postmodern people, especially the unchurched and post-churched.
Dr. R. Todd Mangum, Associate Professor of Theology and Dean of Faculty at Biblical Seminary, describes it this way:
"Emergent" is a loosely knit group of people in conversation about and trying experiments in forwarding the ministry of Jesus in new and different ways, as the people of God in a post-Christian context. From there, wide diversity abounds. "Emergents" seem to share one common trait: disillusionment with the organized, institutional church as it has existed through the 20th century (whether fundamentalist, liberal, megachurch, or tall-steeple liturgical). Its strengths: creative, energetic, youthful, authentic, highly relational. Its weaknesses: somewhat cynical, disorganized, sometimes reckless (even in the theological ideas willing to be entertained), immature[1]
Proponents of this movement call it a "conversation" to emphasize its developing and decentralized nature as well as its emphasis on interfaith dialogue rather than verbal evangelism. The participants in this movement prefer narrative presentations drawn from the biblical narratives over propositional exposition.
Let's now look at two major leaders linked with the emergent church movement Robert Schuller and Brian McLaren and see what their views are on some of the fundamentals.
Robert Schuller
Robert Schuller is a highly influential televangelist and pastor known throughout the world through his weekly ‘hour of power' television service. In 1955 Schuller rented the Orange Drive in Theatre now known as the ‘Crystal Cathedral' and it is considered by many as the first seeker sensitive church in the world. Rather than concentrating on condemning people for their sins Schuller prefers to focus on uplifting theology and positive thinking.
Firstly for the record, here is Schuller's definition of sin. "What do I mean by sin? Answer: Any human condition or act that robs God of glory by stripping one of his children of their right to divine dignity." "I could offer another complementing answer, ‘Sin is that deep lack of trust that separates me from God and leaves me with a sense of shame and unworthiness." (4) Amazingly it is apparent that Schuller is unashamedly preaching another gospel and he adds yet another insight from his self esteem message. ‘Sin is any act or thought that robs myself or another human being of his or her self esteem.' (5) Is this anything like what John wrote about what sin actually is in his first epistle? ‘Whoever commits sin commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.' (1 John 3v4) and ‘All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.' (1 John 5v7)
Contrary to what Paul taught in Galatians 1 verse 8-9 and John 3v5-7 Schuller extends his good news heresy further as he attempts to explain the new birth! "To be born again means that we must be changed from a negative to a positive self -image from inferiority to self esteem, from fear to love, from doubt to trust." (Schuller, Self Esteem, p68). (6) This is not even close to how Jesus answered Nicodemus question concerning what it actually means to be born again! "Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again.' (John 3v5-7)
Is it not noticeable how many times the over emphasis on self esteem crops up in Schuller's wayward thinking? Jesus never taught the glorious self esteem message, in fact He had strong words about denying self instead of feeding a positive self -image! ‘Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let Him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me."
What about Brian McLaren?
Brian Mclaren is a prominent controversial voice in the emerging church movement and is the founding pastor of Cedar Ridge Community Church in Spencerville, Maryland. McLaren lectures on postmodernism, Biblical studies, evangelism, apologetics, leadership, global mission, church growth, church planting, art and music, pastoral survival and burnout, interreligous dialogue, ecology and social justice.
Mclaren is likely to transform people's views about the way the church should function but it is unlikely that these insights will be Biblically based! What would McLaren have us believe about substitutionary atonement? ‘Substitutionary atonement McLaren states, "...just sounds like one more injustice in the cosmic equation. It sounds like divine child abuse," (The story we find ourselves in, p102, quoted in Carson, p.166)' (23)
Are there any other revelations on Mclaren's agenda that he would like to introduce to us? Absolutely! ‘Brian McLaren wants us to learn about "meditative practises, about which Zen Buddhism has said much. To talk about different things is not to contradict one another; it is, rather, to have much to offer." (24) Is it really acceptable for born again believers to have dialogue with Buddhists and their practises, extract the meat from the bones and see what it has to offer? What does Scripture say? ‘Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.' (Prov 30v5-6)
JESUS WARNED ABOUT WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING... (MATTHEW 7:15)
PAUL WARNED TIMOTHY TO TAKE HEED OF HIMSELF AND TO THE DOCTRINE.. (1 TIM 4:16)
PAUL WROTE TO THE PHILIPPIANS TO STAND FAST IN ONE SPIRIT STRIVING TOGETHER FOR THE FAITH OF THE GOSPEL... (PHIL 1:27)
PETER WARNED ABOUT FALSE PROPHETS /FALSE TEACHERS AMONG THE PEOPLE... (2 PET 2:1-3)
JUDE EXHORTED THE BELIEVERS TO CONTEND EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE FOR ALL DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS... (JUDE 1:3)
Amen!
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