Some thoughts on "Listening to the Beliefs of The Emerging Church"
By Chris Leonardo |
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“Listening To The Beliefs of Emerging Churches” is finally here. The title itself bears much significance since lately so much has been written and read about the emerging church by those who seem reticent to actually visit one.
It’s a sort of emerging point-counterpoint book, with five pastors from all over the United States, and all over the spectrum of Christian theology. If you aren’t familiar with the contributing authors here’s a quick glimpse into who they are.
John Burke is pastor of a church called “Gateway” in Austin, TX and wrote a book called “No Perfect People Allowed.” Karen Ward is pastor of a Seattle, WA new monastic community called “Church of The Apostles” and is a board member of emergent village and working on a couple different book projects. Mark Driscoll is the teaching pastor of a church in Seattle, WA called Mars Hill Church and author of two books with one on the way. Dan Kimball planted a church called “Vintage Faith” in Santa Cruz, CA and recently published a book titled “They Like Jesus, But Not The Church.” Doug Pagitt is pastor of a church in Minneapolis, MN called Solomon’s Porch and author of many books.
We are in fact “listening” in as these voices interact, which makes it such a great book and there’s some good midrash, some interesting collisions. Outside of the specific theology presented, what was compelling to me was the truly conversant nature, which carries a message that is not to be missed.
There’s a lot of theological ground to cover and it would do injustice to the writers if I tried to summarize it here. I’d hate to do an oversimplified response to ideas that deserve close interaction, especially since there’s a bit of that here and there in “LTTBOEC.”
The real meat of this book is the interaction of the authors, which is the real meat of the emerging church. It’s a ‘swirl,’ to quote Phyllis Tickle, of all the posts we live in today (postmodern, post Christian, post-evangelical) and a connection of many different faith traditions within Christendom.
This medium does very much carry a message, and it’s a good one. We need to read this book. It may not be important 50 years from now, but it's pretty important today. And it’s very engaging (I read it in a day or so). Editor Robert Webber writes that if you’re looking for clear categories to place these people in then, outside of Driscoll, you’ll be disappointed. Here we have a great chance to listen and read outside of typical theological structures and listen to what these leaders actually say.
The idea of giving a sampler plate of each idea presented from each contributor was tempting to me, but it would ultimately be unfair because it would be incomplete. And ironically my biggest struggle with the book itself was that it feels incomplete. One article by each contributor with one page or so responses from the others, and occasionally there are pieces taken out of context and taken to unfair conclusions.
Sadly the cover encourages lazy categorizing, with Karen Ward (pastor of a church in Seattle, WA called “Church of the Apostles”) at the furthest left and Mark Driscoll at the right. It may be hair splitting, but I figure that if its pointed out now it can be ignored later... Now, let’s cut to the chase. If you’re paying attention to this thing at all you know the narrative behind the relationship of Mark Driscoll to these people. Depending on where you land in the spectrum you may even see a theological hero or villain in Pagitt or Driscoll.
While Driscoll is to the modern Calvinist/systematic theologians as Barak Obama is to the Democratic party (a young voice that older folks are putting a lot of hope into) he doesn’t participate in the same way as the rest of the contributors. He appears to be writing not necessarily to and for the other contributers, but to and for those who put much stock into Clavinistic and systematic theologies... and they will be proud of him.
What he lays out is about as readable as a systematic theology with a little bit of flavor added. This is important; it speaks of a propositional/strictly doctrinal basis for theology. His medium is his message. This is how he interacts with all the writers. His contributions feel like they borrow too much language from academia and wikipedia. Perhaps he is so used to speaking to a general audience in the role of "teacher" that a conversational tone is a bit more of a challenge.
To put it crassly, Mark puts on a black and white striped shirt and spends a majority of the book blowing whistles on what he sees to be theological fouls. But it’s a little like having a referee at a poker game... somewhat out of place. It doesn’t really work that well. He’s given himself the role of whistle blower on the emerging church.
Frankly though, Doug doesn’t give his critics much to hold onto. I imagine he won’t feel to need to clarify what categories he doesn’t fit into (liberal, new age etc.) but this just affirms his dissenters even more. And I’m equally sure that he’s just fine with that too. Doug presents a theology informed heavily by context.
What it seems like Doug is doing in his use of language and provocative ideas is trying to get readers to let go of those old ways and sit in the uncertainty of a very new way of looking at following Jesus.
He contends that theology simply cannot be done without a cultural lens, so one should not only accept it but be informed by it. This makes some theologians wince, even allowing some to feel justified in throwing him out before interacting with his actual content…much like the emerging church itself.
Burke and Kimball occupy the space that most readers will resonate with. Kimball remains very committed to scripture and the Nicene Creed, and Burke lays heavy emphasis on ecclesiology existing effectively within a ‘global village’ by means of the story of scripture. Pagitt places emphasis on the cultural lens we have informing our theology (at least intentionally, since it will inform theology no matter what), and Karen’s chapter focuses on communal theology (a good chunk of it is written by folks from the community she pastors).
The unfortunate outcome of a single response book like this is that there's much more to be said. In an introduction by Pagitt (one of the contributing authors) during a critical concerns course at the National Pastor’s Convention he recognized this. He noted that this thing could go on forever if everyone responded to one another over and over again. So practicality says we’re left to pick apart what we have been given.
The most effective tool in this book is the interaction, but the most attention is given to the individual presentations, with no space being given to respond to the (very short) responses. I’d love to hear (particularly in Doug’s case) at least one response to each of the other contributors. Sometimes there are unfair comparisons made and poor conclusions drawn, leaving the scrutinized no chance to defend themselves.
There is a slightly competitive nature to this book, mostly from Mark due to his relationship with the movement and these particular authors. Doug recognizes this and tries to thwart it by acknowledging it. Eugene Peterson says that a competitor is a failed companion... perhaps more projects like this can and will encourage companionship among differing spiritual communities and leaders and less competition by these very strong voices.
That Critical Concerns Course on this book at NPC ended with a question. The moderator stated, “20 years from now, what kind of church do you want to leave for your children. One word.”
John Burke: “Life Giving”
Doug Pagitt: “Hope filled”
Karen Ward: “Jesus Following”
Mark Driscoll: “I’m with her.”
Burke and Pagitt laughingly winced, recanted and agreed with Karen who was the quietest contributor to the discussion but said the most important two words of the entire day.
 Chris Leonardo is the husband of Karli, the father of Ania and the associate pastor of the evergreen community in Portland OR. He listens to a lot of music, reads a lot, and is learning not to lean so much on his own understanding.... |
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