WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

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In recent years a new way of thinking and interpreting the Bible has crept into churches.  It is subtle, often undetected for what it is, and is usually widely accepted by the uninformed.  It is called the emergent church movement.  The signature teachings of the emergent church movement conflict with the truths of God's Word, leading many to embrace doctrinal error that will affect one's understanding of the salvation message. 

Scot McKnight, a member of the Emergent Church Movement, in his article, "Five Streams of the Emerging Church" in "Christianity Today" describes the key elements of the emergent church movement.  These five streams identify basic tenets of belief which we will find form the basis of the conflict with orthodox Christianity.

*The first is prophetic rhetoric.  This is characterized by provocative, sometimes divisive speech that signals their belief that the church needs a drastic change from the traditional Evangelicalism.  McKnight says, "...they are beginning to live as if that change had already occurred." 

*The second stream is postmodernism.  Specifically this is a rejection of the concept of absolute truth and consequently absolute moral standards.  This is particularly evident in those who minister as postmoderns.

*The third stream is praxis-oriented.  "Praxis" means practical application.  Hence according to McKnight the emergent church movement seeks to develop a new doctrine of the church as expressed through worship, "right living" (orthopraxy), and missional work "by participating with God in the redemptive work of God in this world."  Social justice, mysticism, ancient worship forms, and inclusiveness are some of the themes being embraced.

*The fourth stream is post-evangelical.  This means a distancing from mainstream Evangelical Christianity, rejecting systematic theology or more accurately, a dogmatic theology.

*The fifth is political.  McKnight assures us that by political, he means that many are liberal or Democratic as opposed to conservative or the Religious Right. 

To understand how the emergent church movement differs from orthodox Christianity, one must look to the proponents of the movement.  The most visible is Brian McLaren who is the author of several books that discuss the tenets of the emergent church movement.  He is also active in a number of organizations such as the Emergent Village community.  Add to the list, Dallas Willard and Richard Foster, mentors of the emergent church movement, who promote contemplative spirituality/mysticism.  Rick Warren has joined the group, introducing CSM to his congregation.  Other notables include Tony Jones, National Coordinator of Emergent; Leonard Sweet, Professor at Drew University; and Rob Bell, pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church.

Following are affiliates of the Emergent Village who have provided financial support in 2009 as listed on the Emergent Village website:

• Abingdon Press
• Amahoro
• Baker Books
• Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
• Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
• InterVarsity Press
• Jossey-Bass Publishers
• The Journal of Student Ministries
• Journey Community Church, Dallas
• NCCUSA Faith & Order Commission
• Wesley Theological Seminary
• Zondervan Publishing House

Let's look more closely at some of the more alarming concepts...

Universal Salvation for Everyone

In the November/December 2009 issue of the "Baptist Bulletin", Bruce A. Sabados explains in his article, "Brian McLaren's Emerging Universalism" that Brian McLaren is "largely responsible for the international spread of emergent ideas."  Mr. Sabados alerts us to the most alarming teaching of the emergent church.  That is the belief in a universal salvation for everyone.  Ultimately no one will be barred from receiving eternal life according to McLaren who rejects the Biblical concept of individual repentance and faith preferring a corporate inclusive salvation that surely God would not deny to anyone. 

This is in direct conflict with the Scriptures which teaches that there is a coming judgment and punishment.  Consider these teachings from God's Word:

"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished"  2 Peter 2:9

"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:  who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power"  2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 

We know from reading the Bible that there is a clear distinction between those who have accepted Jesus as God's Son and Savior.  The crux of the Gospel message is those who will recognize their sin, repent from their sin, and trust that Jesus' death on a cross paid the price for sin that God's Law demands, will be rewarded with forgiveness of sin and will receive a place in God's Kingdom in Heaven.  They will be adopted into God's family, called His children, and will be joint-heirs with Jesus.  They will live eternally in the presence of God and Jesus. 

Those who reject Jesus (as the only way to receive salvation from the punishment of sin) will be eternally separated from God and ultimately cast into the Lake of Fire for everlasting punishment. 

"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."  Revelation 20:15

Let us also be reminded that God wants all to come to repentance and accept the gift of salvation through Jesus.  He does not want anyone to perish the Bible says.  However, all who enter in must come by way of Jesus.  There is no other means by which man may be saved.

Inclusion of Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism

Andy Crouch in his article, "The Emergent Mystique" in "Christianity Today," comments that Dallas Willard and Richard Foster are "key mentors" of the Movement.  They are responsible for the current trend in contemplative spirituality/mysticism (CSM) and the emphasis on the spiritual disciplines.  Foster is best known for his book, "Celebration of Discipline:  The Path to Spiritual Growth", which has been well received, but unfortunately is filled with error. 

Willard and Foster are proponents of spiritual experiences fostered by participation in spiritual disciplines they have developed.  Pastor Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries has done extensive study on exposing the error behind Willard's and Foster's teachings.  For example, in his book, "The Spirit of the Disciplines," Willard itemizes an exhausting list of disciplines that supposedly help us move toward spiritual perfection.  However, Silva quotes DeWaay's comment in his article "Which Spiritual Disciplines?": "The spiritual disciplines that are supposedly necessary for spiritual formation are not defined in the Bible." 

Silva's exposure of unbiblical teaching continues with a beginning quote from Willard followed by comments from DeWaay: 

“This factual priority of solitude is, I believe, a sound element in monastic asceticism. Locked into interaction with the human beings that make up our fallen world, it is all but impossible to grow in grace as one should.”  So if we cannot grow in grace without solitude, how come the Bible never commands us to practice solitude? The same goes for many other items on Willard’s list."

Contrary to Biblical teaching, we find works added to the Biblical truth of salvation by grace alone.  One theory is that by participating in spiritual experiences we can position ourselves to create "space" for God in our life so that we can be more receptive to God.  Unfortunately, this could be fraught with dangers of demonic influence: 

"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.  Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.  Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there:  and the last state of that man is worse than the first."  Matthew 12:43-45a

We are commanded to take every thought captive, to consciously think on things that are pure, good, righteous, etc.  We are not commanded in the Bible to empty our minds and distance ourselves from reality so we can commune with God in the spiritual realm. 

Postmodernism

Before you reject the absolute truths of the Bible, consider this verse:  "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."  Proverbs 14:12

I believe the Bible is the infallible, inerrant, and inspired Word of God.  It contains absolute truth that we can rely on to guide us in daily life.  We know the character of God is one of order, not chaos or confusion.  He has given us His Word so that we might know Him and know His Law and accept His son, Jesus, as our Savior and Lord over our life. 

Dogmatic truth from God's Word provides a sure foundation upon which to base our life.  It is unchanging and has remained unchanged throughout the centuries.  The Emergent Church Movement questions the validity of absolute truth from God's Word.  In their eyes, Scripture is only true if it's true for you.  Therefore truth is relative.  In their quest to adapt Scripture to the culture, they have surely compromised the Word.

The question is if you cannot trust God, why should you trust man?

Conclusion...

The Emergent Church Movement would have us to believe that the Bible is unreliable and is an inadequate testimony of God.  They would have us place our trust in our spiritual experiences versus the truth of God's Word.  A spiritual experience is more reliable and believable than a Scriptural or Biblical means of discovering God they suggest.  They believe their spiritual experiences will ultimately lead to a universal salvation that says all ways to lead to God.  To think otherwise is judgmental, intolerant, and divisive. 

We can be thankful that the Bible is clear that Jesus is the only way to salvation.  We are saved by grace through faith.  Let us be careful not to let anyone rob us of our sure foundation.

"That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.  He that believeth on Him is not condemned:  but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."  John 3:15-19

“I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.” Song of Solomon 2: 1

My favorite flower is a red rose.  It is beautiful and it smells so sweet just as Jesus is beautiful and sweet.  I love the words to this inspiring song that Edward Mote wrote “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.  I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus Name.  On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand.”  Every time I sing this song or hear it, I am reminded of the faithfulness and beauty of Jesus. 

The greatest Christian is only a sinner who has been saved by God’s grace and by the precious cleansing and atoning blood of our risen Saviour.  We must keep our eyes on Jesus and trust in Him and not in people.  We need to anchor ourselves to the solid Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ.  One of the definitions for hope in Webster’s Dictionary is “to expect with confidence”.  We can trust Jesus to protect us.  He will be faithful to heal our hearts and dry our tears with His tender kisses when satan hurls his poisonous darts of discouragement, criticism, and judgment at us. 

There are times that instead of putting our trust in Jesus we put our trust in people and then we wonder why we get hurt.  We should never put our trust in anyone other than Jesus.  He will never hurt us and He will never fail us.  What He tells us we can rely on and we can take it to the bank.  Our precious Saviour is trustworthy and it is always safe to trust Him.  Indeed, Jesus is our flower of hope.  Have you put your trust in Him? 

Has there ever been a time when you invited the Christ of Calvary into your heart?  If not, please don’t put it off.  You may not have another day or even another hour to live.  Swallow your pride, admit that you are a sinner, ask God to forgive you for your sins and ask Jesus to come into your heart to be your personal Saviour before it is too late.  Your family and friends can’t do it for you as much as they want to do it.  Salvation is a personal issue between you and Jesus.  Will you open your heart to the Saviour of the world who loves you so much that He died for you on a cruel cross of horror and agony?

-Joanne Lowe, April 15, 2009

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