Becoming Conversant with the Emerging ChurchOctober 29, 2007
In his book, Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church, Dr. D. A. Carson writes giving clarity to the movement (well, as much clarity as there can be with a movement where proponents have so much trouble agreeing with each other) and the movement’s implications on reformation theology, or, evangelical orthodoxy.
Spencer Burke, Brian McLaren and others are into this new idea of “trying new ideas and putting a postmodern spin on (even) the message!” Listen to what Mike Yaconelli writes in his book, Stories of Emergence: Moving from Absolute to Authentic:
“Challenge an accepted belief or confess doubt and you’re the equivalent of a car-carrying communist. Brows furrow. Eyes narrow. Lips purse. Want to earn a place on the Colorado Springs… er, I mean, Hollywood black list? Admit your uncertainty about homosexuality as a biblically condemned sin. Want to be branded as a traitor in your own church? Admit your ambivalence about a denomination-defining symbol such as baptism” (p.30, emphasis added).
This is sad, disheartening and evil. To say that we must admit uncertainty – when the Bible is crystal clear about issues like homosexuality, baptism, salvation, the clear gospel – is to deny the authority and clarity (perspicuity) of Scripture. This is exactly what Yaconelli, McLaren and Burke are doing as the headmasters of this Emergent Church movement.
Note this: in a 2004 Q & A session with the Emergent Convention, McLaren was asked his judgment on the matter of homosexuality. Well, biblically speaking we know what he ought to have said (cf. 1 Cor 6; Rom 1; 1 Tim 1, etc – it’s sinful, wrong and the homosexual needs to repent!). Rather, McLaren said that he did not want to answer directly to the issue. Here is what he did answer: 1) It is not entirely clear that what the Bible means when it speaks of homosexuality is exactly what we mean today when we speak of homosexuality and 2) He wants to stress the crucial importance of treating homosexuals as people, like other human beings in need of grace.
McLaren also noted in his leading work, A Generous Orthodoxy:
“And although the debate has been agonizing, liberals have blazed the trail in seeking to treat homosexual and transgender persons with compassion. Conservatives may follow in their footsteps in this issue just as they have in others, several decades down the road, once the pioneers have cleared the way” (p.138).
Frankly, McLaren (as well as other Emerging Church advocates) give me very very little evidence that they are fairly described as being a “biblical” and “orthodox” and “reformed” Christian.
Steve Chalke is another proponent of the movement and writes about it in his book, The Lost Message of Jesus. Well, with a title like this one has to come with some skepticism – for we have no lost message of Jesus. The Scriptures clearly portray the real message of Jesus.
The whole thrust of this book by Chalke is the emphasis on the truth, “God is Love” (1 John 4:8) and he notes that Christians are to “love the loveless, embrace the untouchable, feed the hungry, forgive the unforgivable, heal the sick and welcome the marginalized.” What he does not cover is phrases in the Scriptures like:
Psalm 7:11 11 God is a righteous judge, And a God who has indignation every day.
Romans 9:22 22 What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?
Exodus 34:7 yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished,
Revelation 14:10 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God
Romans 1:18 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
And on and on and on…
Furthermore, Chalke now defines God in terms of his one controlling attribute, love. “The Bible,” Chalke says, “never defines him as anything other than love…but more than that, it NEVER makes assertions about his anger, power or judgment independently of his love” (p.63 of his work). I am not sure what Bible Chalke is reading. Yes God is a God of love. But the God that I read about in the Bible is also angry with the sinner and will be glorified in vessels of wrath prepared for destruction (i.e. “hell”). Chalke failed to mention this in his work.
D.A. Carson notes that Brian McLaren and Steve Chalke have largely abandoned what we may call, the biblical gospel. This means that we need to warn our people about these men because they are false teachers. We must pray for them and earnestly seek God that He may bring these men to Himself. We need to recover the biblical gospel that these individuals and the Emerging Church movement has lost.
We need to proclaim boldly that all mankind is under God’s wrath and sin until a person repents of his sin (John 3:36). This is the most fundamental principle of the orthodox gospel that the Emergents are neglecting to recognize.
Let us take a stand for the gospel and be those men and women who are sold-out committed to the full and unadulterated biblical gospel. Soli Deo Gloria.
Your Pastor and Friend,
Geoffrey R. Kirkland
