Bob's Blog

I continue to get good questions about Emergent and Emerging Churches. Some of the questions that people ask have to do with the definition of the two terms (are they the same, different, or both?). There are questions about the theology or doctrine of Emergent. Most of the questions I get center around the Church, especially focusing on whether this movement is of God.

I believe that it's good for us to do our homework and to investigate any subject or topic that peeks our interest. We should be critical with all subjects that have to do with our faith (Critical meaning that we should do the hard work of investigating the facts). Here are some books that should be of help as you look more into the subject of Emergent and those emerging churches, who are a part of the postmodern generation.

• A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren. No one can really grasp the Emergent flow without McLaren and to understand McLaren is to read this book. He is considered the Elder Statesman of the Continuing Conversation of Emergent (if you like what he says), or the Founder of a new Heretical Movement that is leading millions of young people astray. (for those who disagree with him). Either way, this is a good place to begin (his latest book, "Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope" is in stores).
• The Emerging Church and They Like Jesus But Not the Church both by Dan Kimball. These books cover Dan Kimball's church in California and give you a great picture of what emerging churches look like. His thoughts and observations of how a young generation outside the Church perceives us is both challenging and convicting.
• Emerging Churches by Eddie Gibbs and Ryan Bolger. I debated on this one but I kept it in because it gives an overview of Emergent leaders and their viewpoints. It's a good book for further resource on the subject.
• An Emergent Theology for Emerging Churches by Ray Anderson. A very significant work because it's the first book specifically written to answer the question, "What is the theology of Emergent?" Eddie Gibbs and Ray Anderson are both professors at Fuller School of Theology.
• Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church by D. A. Carson. The first to reasonably critique the Emergent Movement. A must read to understand what the questions are concerning the Church and the future.
• Truth and the New Kind of Christian by R. Scott Smith. It is my favorite book on the subject of Emergent. It is clear, well thought through, and kind in dealing with a highly volatile subject.

Everyday I'm usually emailing someone around the country talking about the Church. There are times that the discussion gets so good that the questions need more space to answer than an email can provide, and we decide to talk on the phone. I have even traveled to meet them and spend time picking their brains on certain church related issues.

Mike Jentes is one of those people that you have to spend more time with rather than merely communicating with through an email. Mike has a love for the local church and for young people. He oversees a church in Columbus, Ohio known as The Quest. It's a church mostly of younger people, committed to reaching the surrounding urban area of Columbus. I asked Mike what he thought were the essentials for a church led mostly by twenty-somethings. Here's what he shared.

• Social Action - Mike stated that Millennials desire to move their faith into the market places, to the hopeless and the needy. That's why The Quest planted itself in urban Columbus, to love and live as Christ.
• Highly Relational - The Quest is a gathering of multiple small house groups around the city of Columbus. Mike notes that this generation desires small group connections. Being small is ok with them and so is multi-ethnic.
• Passionate About the Bible - They want the Scriptures to be brought into their everyday life. A key for this generation is revisiting discipleship and answering the question,"What does it mean to walk like Jesus?"

These young people want a church that is on mission and that connects in a dynamic group, even within a fellowship of churches or a denomination. In talking with Mike, I came away thinkng about two key questions. First, what are churches doing in reaching and keeping this postmodern generation? Second, how does a church (or a Fellowship) give voice to a younger generation? Culturally, the landscape is changing in our country, and that is true within our churches. I believe how we answer these questions and others like these will determine the look of the Church for future generations.

I picked up Gordon MacDonald's book, Who Stole My Church? It's a good read, one of the first books I've read about the hurrdles that churches are experiencing as they transition from one generation to another. The book is written from the perspective of a fictional Builder/Boomer pastor trying to help his older congrgation to adjust to those who are younger in their church, and the new changes that come with them. What I like about the book is how MacDonald brings the reader into the narrative of the discussion. He draws you into the issues that many churches are struggling with across our country, without hammering you over the head as if you were in a debate.

I'm glad MacDonald wrote the book, because I think it's time for churches to address the concerns and struggles that are driving a wedge between generations in our congregations. Make no mistake about it, there are major differences between the Builder/Boomer generation (late forties and older) and those in their twenties and thirties (Gen X/Millennials). I tend to put the differences in three categories:

• First, Gen X and their younger siblings, Millennials, have grown up in a post-modern world. They have a different worldview than those of their parents and grandparents generation.
• Second, Gen X/Millennials are living in a post-Christian age. For their generation, the church is no longer seen as viable or relevant for them.
• Third, this younger generation is a part of the digital explosion. We are just beginning to see the impact culturally of the internet and digital technology on them in shaping who they will be.

If you have a little time this week, go to your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy of McDonald's book. I'm taking it to a retreat next week in hopes of stimulating some good discussions. Look to see if what you read is a mirror of your church, and if so, maybe you can be the igniter of discussion about how your church will transition from one generation to the next.