Why Al Qaeda Supports the Emergent Church
OK, so from my readings about the emergent church and direct writings of emergent pastors, I think this article is a little (read: a whole heck of a lot) wrong on the goals and beliefs. Bad conclusions.
But, I have noticed that many (most?) emergents are definitely not conservative (whether or not they call themselves anything at all) politically. Is this a fair observation? If so, is it hard-wired into the mind-set of emergent-type-thinking or just a coincidence?
As someone who is in seminary and learning about church history, thinking about the type of pastor I want to be, and where the universal church (and UM church) is heading in the future, these things have been on my mind lately...
your thoughts?
9 comments:
dan,
these are good questions to ask. I too read the article about the EC being supported by al qaeda. I think the political question comes from how many people that are really involved with more emergentish views read the Bible. I have met people that are still pretty conservative that identify with the group but most of them do lean a more to the left.
If you really want to try to find an answer to this, I suggest that you try to track down the guys that have influenced the Big-Whigs in emerging thought. I am sure you have read Hauerwas, but you should look into some more of the post-liberal writers and the scholars that identify with the movement known as Radical Orthodoxy like John Milbank, James K A Smith, or Katherine Pictstock. That will give you a better answer I think.
I just read A Generous Orthodoxy for the first time, Dan, so this has been the summer of contemplating the emergent church movement for me. I'm still thinking.
i'm not sure where the E. Church (emerging or emergent) stands on a lotta stuff, but i don't think "they've" got it all ironed out yet either!
nevertheless, i'm still impressed that you took a course under McLaren.
wow!
thanks for all the comments... I'll be reading more on this in the near future!
Honestly? I think the questions are good, but the author's an idiot. First, he gets most of it wrong, about islam, about the emerging church (and about the "strength" of the traditional church too), and about the results of "fighting" in general.
First off, the emerging church is strongest in countries that are "oppressed" by one group or another, be it radical islam, communist dictators, or secularists. In fact, the emerging church movement is probably as close as it gets to a first/third century approach to life; it's a church that thrives under the oppression because it knows that there's more than being able to own your own church building.
Second, if he's right about the way islam works, I'm pretty sure that al quaeda wouldn't support anybody but radical islamic fundamentalists ... I mean, that's part of the problem in the first place, right? So why would they support the emerging church? It's just not the way those particular muslims think, they believe ALL evil (as they see evil) should be wiped violently from the face of the earth, including emerging christians (who are no different to them than any OTHER sort of Christian).
I'd say that there are plenty of us who consider ourselves "conservatives" in the emerging church, it's just that the liberals tend to be the ones who are heard (because, of course, their opinions differ ... also it's possible that they're just the sort who like to be more vocal, who knows). Personally, I'd put myself on the conservative side of the middle, but my opinions vary from issue to issue. But I most certainly consider myself missional/emerging in my theology, though again, what that means can be a bit vague (since the terms are tossed around by a lot of people).
Mandy - you're right. And I'd wager that one of the best ways to tell an "emerging" church is whether or not they think they've got it all figured out yet. There are some very traditional-looking churches who I'd include in "emerging" because they've put their focus on three things: 1) God 2) mission (great commandment/great commission) 3) their ultimate inadequacy in all things next to God. I know a lot of churches SAY they don't hold a candle to God, but I wonder sometimes if they think they already know everything because God wrote it down for them.
Basically the question comes down to this: is al quaeda an enemy? I don't believe they are, not because they don't kill innocent children (or adults for that matter), but because they're still human beings. The evil one is the enemy, the one who deceives men and women into believing that killing children and street vendors and even one's self for a cause is a good idea.
But if you want to talk more, email me and we'll do coffee :) (that goes for anybody, by the way)
Dan,
Not to skirt the subject totally but I minister at a rural Church where we still sing hymns and whatnot. When I walked into Cokesbury the other day and saw the title "Standing on the Promises or Sitting on the Premesis" I though, now, that is a hilarious title; I literally laughed out loud. Probably most pepole connected to a rural, country Church can relate.
www.michaelhalcomb.blogspot.com
I'm no friend of Emergent, but that article was really stupid. It's no better than people comparing Bush to Hitler instead of articulating thoughtful disagreements.
I think the Emergent crowd raises some good questions, but doesn't answer any of them-- because they're not looking for answers, they're looking to be "relevant". I agree with them in the negative reaction to a lot of American Christianity, which is far off from biblical Christianity. But I don't think they offer a better model, and their suspicion of objective truth has really bad implications for the doctrine of Scripture. That's my take in brief (well, brief for me).
"I think the Emergent crowd raises some good questions, but doesn't answer any of them-- because they're not looking for answers, they're looking to be "relevant"."
I agree completely with Jake.
this has turned out to be a really good conversation, which leads me to believe that the emergent church is a relevant topic for leaders in the church today. What is our relationship with this group of Christians? How can we support, encourage them? What can we learn from them? What are the central elements too our Christian faith (the non-negotiables)?
I'm still trying to figure all this out in my own mind, so thanks for all the good comments and keep 'em coming.
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