the words on these pages are concepts, you must live the experience – augustine
If interested, please check out Tony Jones’ response to Brett Kunkle’s paper that I had previously linked. Despite how you may regard the writers, voices, and thinkers of the ECM, Tony Jones aptly demonstrated their very capable minds.
Click here to read his response.
I just finished reading an excellent paper by Brett Kunkle from Stand to Reason on the Emerging Church Movement (ECM) presented at last weeks Evangelical Theological Society. While I consider myself a participant and friend to the Emerging Church movement at large, I too see reason to be hesitant towards all of what men like Brian McLaren, Doug Pagitt, Tony Jones, and Spencer Burke are saying.
Mostly, I am interested in the ECM and more particulary Emergent Village because of its successful capability to capture and engage ecumenical theologians from all theological spectrums. As is the case, and as you would all agree, you can look favorably upon something and still be hesitant to adopt all of its principles. While I would agree with 80% of ECM literature and teachings, there are a few logical conclusions (which this paper brilliantly presents) to be weary of.
This paper, presented by Kunkle is handsdown the most sincere, balanced, and fair critique to the ECM I have read thus far. Normally, any talk of the ECM within evangelical gets relegated and reduced to discussions on the nature of truth, thus presenting a rigid and knee-jerk reaction to the ECM (which, to some agree, I cannot blame them). What bothers me is the widespread inability to offer any form of Christian charity towards those in the ECM (if you are interested, please visit apprising.org to see how not to engage in the conversation).
With all of this said, I encourage all of you to visit read this brilliant 15 page paper. It is excellent.
I have been a subscriber to RELEVANT Magazine for about the last two years, and sadly, I just happened to renew my latest subscription. Month to month, the style of RELEVANT never changes, and I have gotten to the point to which I can actually predict what will be in the magazine. I am considering sending this into RELEVANT to see if they would post it in their reader feedback.
The mathematical formula for your average 20+ something Christian magazine, or just plainly RELEVANT:
+ good looking white, male pastors of suburbia writing some cliche’ editorial
-substantive depth
x by music reviews of non-Chrisitan albums in an attempt to make us look cool and trendy
+ the token emerging “pop” theology
x numerous repetitive books, offering the key to life through the mask of uncertainty
+ numerous conferencesadvertisements that “engage the culture”
x by atleast three articles about social justice
/ chiding evangelical cynicism with a discussion of postmodernism
Here, this is how you can be successful in creating your own evangelical subculture magazine called, “RELEANT.” Or should it be perhaps called, “CLICHE?”
I fear that if I continue to read Christian media outlets, I will only become more irritated. RELEVANT is the standard Christian message in a Rolling Stone image.
My soon-to-be-Bride, Christian is graduating on December 15 with her B.S. in Elementary Education. As you could imagine, she is very excited and I am very proud of her completing an education degree in 3 1/2 years which can normally take some students 4 1/2 years.
With that said, there is a teacher in the Bolivar district, a 3rd grade teacher to be precise, who is going on medical leave for 2nd semester. And not to be presumptuous, but this would be an excellent position for Christian to be in should she get the job. She would not be a substitute teacher and thus would qualify for regular full-time teacher salary and benefits. So, I am asking everyone to please pray for Christian and I as we go through the application process. Her interview is on Friday at 10:00 AM. It would absolutely wonderful for her to get this job seeing that it would provide us with a stable income.
Now, on the over-analysis on my part: To be honest, I am not sure how to pray for this situation. I believe the natural human inclination is to pray selfishly that she would get the job. But though, is it selfish to ask God to honor a request? This whole predicament has really gotten me thinking about the motives of our prayer. Am I really more interested in God meeting the needs of our financial situation or should I be more interested in how will God actually supply the need, whether that comes in the form of a job, or perhaps something different. What I recognize above all is that God knows what Christian and I need more than what I think we need. Being human means being selfish and being fallible, thus we can only trust in God for our certainty.
As it relates to the job, I feel guilty praying for it because of recognizing my recent hardheartedness as it relates to giving and tithing. Perhaps, God will show us the condition of our heart above all. Why do I feel as though God should honor my request when I feel as though I have not been faithful to him with my own giving.
Regardless, I ask that all of you would pray for Christian on Friday and that above all, we would trust God at all stops along the journey, in the times of abundance and in the times of uncertainty.
Thanks,
Andrew
If you’re a conservative evangelical Christian in America, then you are most likely going to have a bad day today as your gather the results from yesterday’s balloting.
Alright, well, things are going well. The first 15 page paper is about done and tests have gone well. Please pray for Christian and I as the wedding nears and also as she will be applying to teach full-time starting second semester.
Now, for the real reason I am posting, for which it could not be ignored. Below, you will find a music video by the Oak Ridge Boys “It’s hard to be cool (in a minivan).” And yes, country music does suck, but that is not what is at interest right here. In the video, the main character throughout the video is a guy that I know very well. His name is Scott McDaniel and he was our coordinator for Centrifuge and above all, just a fantastic all-around guy. So, please check out this video. It’s hard to think that I have a friend that is in a well-known music video.
