the emerging church

Oct 12, 2007

There are a number of streams of theology and new church work in the western world today, and it is often difficult to keep track of it all.  Too many blogs, too many new books, and too many emerging church conferences means it is challenging to know who is saying what about Jesus.  Who are the reformers?  Who are the heretics?  Who loves Jesus?  Who wants to get rid of him?  Who still believes the Gospel?

Recently, Mark Driscoll, lead pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle and head of the Acts 29 Church Planting Network (of which Vintage is connected), gave a talk identifying the different streams of emerging church theology & practice.

Mark does a great job identifying not only what is being said in the different streams, but also looking carefully at the influences in these streams and where the streams are heading if they stay on their current course.  If you want a good summary of all this, keeping the focus on Jesus and the Gospel, give it a listen.  At the end, Mark sums up what it means to remain faithful to the Gospel and engage the Culture with strength, humility, and the love of Jesus.

He ends by saying, "There are times where we must make a stand... where must preserve the doctrinal integrity of the church and it is my attempt to do that tonight.  But the vast majority of our time should be spent making converts - seeing people meet Jesus."  If that isn't happening, then we are wasting our time in dialog and conversation and doing nothing for the kingdom - and that is the sad state of much of what is happening in the church in America today.

You can download or listen to the talk here.