As usual, Kevin, has me reading a book with him that he really thinks is great.

This book is called, “Deep Church” by Jim Belcher, and seeks to take a look at the discussion (or sometimes worse, the fight) between the Emerging and Tradition sides in Evangelical Christianity. His premise is they might be a third way actually… beyond these to sides of the coin, and deeper.

I’m only 3 chapters in, so this will probably be brief – but there is something that has consumed me more than anything else in this book…

It is the author’s desire and repeated statements of the necessity of these two groups to come together, learn from one another, walk together and be one in spirit. The author makes a point of asking how we can be Christians, but be unwilling to work together or love one another… therefore negating what Jesus says when He says, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35).

The normal response to the love thing I hear from each side is:

- Traditionalist’s: “Loving does not mean letting everything go and not telling someone where they are wrong. We can’t just let Heresy continue under the guise of love. Emerging people want all happineess, good feelings and emotions – with no substance. Love is standing on truth and correcting people as much as it’s about embracing people, if not more so…”

- Emerging’s: “All we ever get from the “Mainstream Church” is we are so wrong. You’ve got to hit ‘em with the truth and get hands raised or the sinners prayer prayed (that doesn’t mean there life has to change by the way, just as long as we get them to church and get them to receive their fire insurance), but where is the love and grace and letting people be who they are. What’s wrong with good feelings and emotions, I believe in truth, but my truth may not be someone else’s truth. It’s not my job to tell everyone where they are wrong… isn’t that God‘s job?”

So we’ve got the gate-keepers of heaven (Traditionalists) on one side, and the feel good, it’s all good lovers (Emerging) on the other side…

How do we ever bridge the gap…?

Seriously, how do these two groups come together and share the truly, all-incompasing “Good News” that Jesus offers (not just “good truth” or “good feelings”)? Or do they really need to? I have heard way too often, at least subtly, that the Traditionalists aren’t even sure most Emerging’s are Christians and so don’t see how they need to line up with Heretics – cause isn’t that who they are battling… Heretics? And the Emergings can’t figure out why they need to align with Traditionalists who have butchered the Gospel and made the Good News into a prayer, and church into a show where you come to hear one guy monologue for awhile and who kick out and oustrsize all the people who Jesus would have loved and hung out with…

Being in both camps at some point in my life, I agree with Jim Belcher that they need to find a way to come together. Both have valid concerns, valid points and can learn from each other… while being corrected and changed by each other. But when both sides can be so polarized towards one another, I wonder if it can ever happen – or if you listen to some of them, it really shouldn’t and can’t happen.

Maybe they can’t come together… maybe it’s just not possible. The Apostle Paul and Barnabas went separate for awhile. But I wonder if Paul and Barnabas still believed they were part of the same movement, part of the life changing message of Jesus (I believe they did). I’m not sure if the Traditionalist and Emerging’s truly believe or agree that they are part of the same movement (although my experience has been more of the Traditionalists don’t believe they are part of the same movement, more than the Emerging’s I am around – but this is probably just an isolated experience.) … part of the same church/Body of Christ.

What do you think? Does it matter? Is the author (or myself as well) way off on thinking this is important? Is this just another rabbit trail, side issue that really isn’t an issue in most parts of the faith?

  Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2009

2 Responses to ““Deep Church” by Jim Belcher… beginning thoughts.”

1. Josh
   November 20th, 2009 @ 10:40 pm

   As usual, my question is whether or not it’s simply a matter of difference that’s not to be overcome until one or the other party (one wonders how “polar” these two are) changes or loosens their interpretation? Both “sides” believe the other is wrong? If both are entrenched, why not simply go separate ways?

   I have a sinking feeling that the each group needs the other in a very resentful-unhealthy way. Each likes having the other to define itself against. If emergents ignored “traditionalists” (or just evangelicals since the 70′s) what would they talk about? Is there any content beyond the criticism?

2. Josh
   December 1st, 2009 @ 6:13 pm

   One response to that might be (and often is), ‘shut up, jackass!’ It won’t hurt my feelings.

Leave a Reply

Name

Email Address

Website

Comments

CAPTCHA Code