More on emergent

Observations about the folks leading the Emergent movement:
- Thay are smart, well read, and articulate;

- They are very funny. The tone reminds me a lot of The Daily Show with John Stewart;

- They are serious about what they do, but there is a humility about their work. They do not take themselves too seriously. They do not believe that they know everything. They are open to dialogue with those who hold other views. I greatly appreciate this aspect of their approach.

- They are postmoderns, and very adept in their uses of technology;

- They are not parochial in their concerns;

- They are passionate about God, about Jesus, and about living lives that look like Jesus

The leaders of this movement are pretty blunt in their assessment of how we have been doing church, at least in terms of how they and many of their peers have experienced it. Tony Jones said, "The way we're doing church doesn't work." He spoke of the "lifeless, meaningless experience" he had in church growing up. What they are seeking to create are communities of faith that join God in God's work in the world, communities that form what was termed virtuoso Christians. Their focus is not on orthodoxy (right belief) or orthopraxis (right behavior). Rather it is on ortho-paradoxy, living creatively in the tension of various and competeing beliefs that marks postmodern life. There is a great focus on our inter-connectedness and on the importance of friendship.

What is compelling to me about what the Emergents are saying is that it touches on my own concern that we are missing the boat in the larger church with what we are doing. We are so focused on ourselves, and on the needs of the institution. Brian McLaren said on Thursday, "If the church is focused on saving itself while th e world is going down the toilet, how can God be pleased?" It is a good question. More later.

Jimmy