tenable?

  More non-Pagan Christianity? news...

from Tony Jones' new book The New Christians:

"The second characteristic of emergents is a high- if tortured- desire for inclusion. In interviews, similar comments were repeated in all eight churches: 'openness,' 'nonjudgmental,' 'wherever you are on the journey,' 'inclusive.' But they were quick to point out that this doesn't necessarily mean liberal or relativistic. One emergent stated 'Just because our church is open to various viewpoints doesn't mean that anythng goes. We really believe things. We just also really believe that we might be wrong.' This is a tricky middle path between the certainties of evangelicalism and the openness of liberalism, and the jury is out as to whether this middle ground is really a tenable place to stand."

I appreciated that last line more than just about anything I've read from "emerging church" literature recently. We talk the game of a "chastened epistemology" pretty well, but when it comes down to it, we tend to proclaim things just as certainly as those in the church structures/paradigms we're trying to move away from.
So, to hear someone like Tony say (in effect) "Were trying to plot a middle course and it may not work" is really refreshing to me. It's putting that particular value into action where it really counts- not just telling others not to be so sure of themselves and their projects, but admitting: What we're trying to build might not hold.

The fault lines have begun to show between the "emergent" and "emerging/missional" camps... Issues of universalism (which really deals with the issue of "to what END are we "missional?" and the place of evangelism in our communities) and how we think of homosexuality ("Welcoming but not affirming" vs "Welcoming AND affirming"), among others are already showing the even within this "third way" kind of movement, there are and may always be left/right polarities.

Comments

[Rose]

Bob,
Thanks for reviewing. Does he name the eight churches mentioned in this piece?

[Bob Hyatt]

No... at least not yet. It might be in here somewhere...

Tony?

[Miracle]

I do think there will always be the major polarities, but I don't think its that important.
The emerging church might not be about finding that middle road, because we do have to define our stance on beliefs.
I think that it is more about finding that higher connection point which joins the two ends together to maintain one entity.

The connection point is in Tony's statement, 'We really believe things. We just also really believe that we might be wrong.'

[Pistol Pete]

I'm a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA). We eagerly promote, affirm, even provide grants for "inclusion" "diversity" "multi-culturalism" and other noble causes. The more we spend our time, talent, and money in these areas, the less inclusive, diverse, and multi-ethnic we become. If you want to find a truly diverse church, look in evangelical circles with clear, consistent Biblical theology.

[Julie Clawson]

I do wonder how those from the mainline churches take all the talk about "middle ground." Many of them are finding things in this emerging conversation that they appreciate and which helps their faith, but to be constantly told that "we emergents don't want to be like them" might not be the most welcoming stance to take.

[matybigfro]

I have to say I’m find all this talk of 'emergents'
Well annoying

Is it just me or does it sound like the 'emergents' are the new cool kids in the new cool club that everyone wants to be a part of.
Cos gen xers just aren't cool enough these days
And post modern’s are as passé as new rave
It reeks the of the trend setting ways of the uber cool young culture elite of London that build up and demolition new cultural movements at least twice a year