On Predictions of the Collapse of "Emerging Church" in 2008
Kester Brewin has predicted that the Emerging Church will collapse in 2008. Not necessarily the movement itself, but the movement's use of that term to define itself. Today's post at Emergent Village expands on Brewin's prediction, with Brewin himself offering more details on the thought.
I would agree that the term "Emerging Church" or "Emergent Church" is, and was always meant to be, a transitional term that couldn't be used for too long. And that's a good thing. Something cannot "emerge" for too long. At some point, it must come into full view, and then we must describe and evaluate it in its fully-emerged form.
But I'm also reminded of the words of Rob Bell touching on the notion of "collapse" and "rebirth" of "church," or various forms of it, and I think we should we should always keep it in the big picture of our minds when discussing concepts of "rises and falls" within various sub-sections of the Body of Christ.
She is a mystery, isn’t she? Still going after all this time. After the Crusades and the Inquisition and Christian cable television. Still going. And there continue to be people like me who believe she is one of the best ideas ever. In spite of all the ways she has veered off track. In spite of all the people who have actually turned away from God because of what they experienced in church…But she will live on. She’s indestructible. When she dies in one part of the world, she explodes in another. She’s global. She’s universal. She’s everywhere. And while she’s fragile, she’s going to endure. In every generation there will be those who see her beauty and give their lives to see her shine. Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail against her. That’s strong language. And its’ true. She will continue to roll across the ages, serving and giving and connecting people with God and each other. And people will abuse her and manipulate her and try to control her, but they’ll pass on. And she will keep going.
Grace and Peace,
Raffi
I would agree that the term "Emerging Church" or "Emergent Church" is, and was always meant to be, a transitional term that couldn't be used for too long. And that's a good thing. Something cannot "emerge" for too long. At some point, it must come into full view, and then we must describe and evaluate it in its fully-emerged form.
But I'm also reminded of the words of Rob Bell touching on the notion of "collapse" and "rebirth" of "church," or various forms of it, and I think we should we should always keep it in the big picture of our minds when discussing concepts of "rises and falls" within various sub-sections of the Body of Christ.
She is a mystery, isn’t she? Still going after all this time. After the Crusades and the Inquisition and Christian cable television. Still going. And there continue to be people like me who believe she is one of the best ideas ever. In spite of all the ways she has veered off track. In spite of all the people who have actually turned away from God because of what they experienced in church…But she will live on. She’s indestructible. When she dies in one part of the world, she explodes in another. She’s global. She’s universal. She’s everywhere. And while she’s fragile, she’s going to endure. In every generation there will be those who see her beauty and give their lives to see her shine. Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail against her. That’s strong language. And its’ true. She will continue to roll across the ages, serving and giving and connecting people with God and each other. And people will abuse her and manipulate her and try to control her, but they’ll pass on. And she will keep going.
Grace and Peace,
Raffi
Dope quotation. Where did it come from?
Thanks, Bradley. It's actually one of the last lines from Velvet Elvis. Glad you liked it. I always try to keep it in mind when I run accross talk of "this church booming, that church declining."
Grace and Peace,
Raffi