An Emerging & Affirming Critic From Within
Lately I have been indulging in a very unhelpful and unhealthy passtime. No, this isn’t an internet porn confession. Rather, I have been frequent a few of the more… extreme emerging church “critics”. I will not name them here, because I would as likely link to above mentioned internet porn. Over stated? In this case, no. They are hateful and hurtful, and anything redemptive that one might discover in them is not worth the price one would have to pay to swallow their poison.
This is not to say there are not excellent critics out there. In my own life, I have a large network of very honest, wise and humble friends who would not identify themselves are engaging or even interested in the church in this emerging culture. There are many leaders within the established church who believe that the conversation/movement goes too far, but are willing to cautiously add guidance, temperance and discernment to this engaged within it. We need them- I need them very much.
However, the critics we could perhaps learn the most from are those within this emerging community itself. The value of affirming critics from within cannot be overstated, as who better knows the dynamics, intentions and convictions better than those who share them. This should never exclude the other critiques from without, but if we can embrace the necessary humility and patience, we have a wealth of wisdom that could help us move towards maturity.
That is where I hope my future lies on this journey- to be an affirming critic from within the emerging culture. I have been deeply moved and encouraged by all that I have discovered on the way. I am thrilled by a exciting hope for what the future holds for the whole Body of Christ, in part because of the contributions of this young movement. However, unless we are real about our own weaknesses, tendencies, biases, over-reactions, compromises, immaturities, limitaions and pride, we will become that which we seek to change- a narrow, misguided group of well-intentioned, but distracted Christians.
I ask myself if I am qualified to such a critic and, frankly, I don’t know. One thing I do know is that I love God and I love His Church. My life is deeply invested in the “established church”, and it deeply invested in mine. It has laid the rich foundation upon which my faith has been built. I want to do my part to serve God more faithfully every day. I do not want to reject it, nor arrogantly point out its flaws. I am a part of it. There is only one Church, one Body, one Faith. And that is a truth – an Absolute Truth that I will never reject.
Jamie said ABSOLUTE TRUTH!! And in a positive way! I’m so proud!
And yes, though I shudder at the thought of you being a part of the emerging church, you are an affirming critic of it. The two words I’m so glad you’ve said so far in your correspondence to me: No compromise. I think that’s the key that emergents need to grab a hold on…
Jez,
LOL! Yes, I believe in absolute truth. In fact, many (even most)within emergent firmly believe in absolute truth. Where it gets confusing is in how confident on certain topics we are to claim we have it all worked out. However, that is what faith is for, right? Faith & humility.
Peace,
Jamie
Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m perfect.
Jez,
You too, eh? (wink)
Peace,
Jamie
Jamie, internal critics have one huge advantage. They have no assumptions about being above their own criticisms. I think for any movement to mature it has to do some serious self-reflection. I get excited when I see this happening in movements.
Frank,
We need to be very intentional about our internal criticism. I hope to explore this more in the weeks to come.
Peace,
Jamie
I’ve been suggesting this for a couple of years now, but so far, no takers. The problem is two-fold (probably more, but this is just off the top of my head):
1. Because of the incredible diversity of the emerging church, one doctrinal statement is quite literally impossible. An emerging Vineyard will be quite different than an emerging Salvation Army church (like Hamilton’s Freeway), or an emerging Pentecostal church (Winnipeg’s SoulSanctuary), or an emerging Plymouth Brethren semi-mega-church (Victoria’s Lambrick/The Place).
They are all conversing, listening, and learning from each other, but in the end, each will have its own unique approach rooted in the theological background they come from. And that’s a positive thing, in my view.
2. (on the somewhat more sarcastic side) No-one wants to be the first to offer a self-criticism for fear of being labelled “modern”, “irrelevant”, “unwilling to truly embrace an emerging expression”.
Although to be fair, Jason Clark DID broach this in August 2004, with “Love/Hate the Emerging Church”. It’s well worth a read.
http://emergent.typepad.com/jasonclark/2004/08/lovehate_the_em.html
Rob,
I think I am at the point that I need to putout my critiques and let them fall where they may. We’ll see what people say.
Peace,
Jamie
Jamie,
I hope your comparison to “internet porn,” “hateful and hurtful” “poison” is not referring to our discussion at examingingemergent!
I for one am glad for your comments there and have been putting the results of my first round of research out on the web for just that reason – to gain the critique of those in the emergent movement.
I agree with you that there is a place for healthy critique within our own “groups,” but that can’t replace an outsider’s view. I need guys like you to show me the “logs in my own eye.” Frankly, the people that run in my circles probably have the same logs and just wouldn’t see them.
- Paul
Paul,
Of course not! While I think your critique lacks the basis on deeper conversation and research, you have been very good in your critique. The sites I refer to would (I hope) be obviously overboard even to most critics like yourself. I did not name names, as I would not want to be responsible for direct people into their poison.
I also agree, as I affirmed in my post, that we need the view of those “outside” the conversation. Therefore, we need people like you. My hope for your blog is that you will refine your critique to acknowledge the areas where you have made mistakes, while holding to those things that need to be addresses.
Thanks for stopping by!
Peace,
Jamie
Jamie,
I’d love to hear your critiques, either here or through email.
I actually used part of Jason Clark’s “Love/Hate the Emerging Church” when I was teaching on “Detoxing from Church” at Tyndale Seminary last year. I think some people were surprised that there is internal critique already taking place (Jason’s stuff is two years old already), and that I would include it in presenting on the EC, but I think it’s healthy and more would be even better.
Paul,
I agree with Jamie’s response, but wanted to add that I, too, appreciate what you’re trying to do. I’m going to look at your stuff in more detail when I have the time to give it some thoughtful reflection (versus skimming it only). But I appreciate your obvious attempts at being even-handed and fair. Keep at it!
Another thoughtful insider’s comments can be found from the Tall Skinny Kiwi, Andrew Jones, at:
http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/tallskinnykiwi/2006/02/what_i_would_sa.html
Perhaps Jason and Andrew’s posts could be a starting point? Maybe Jamie could start a series on this (you’ve done some great ones before)?
Rob,
What it comes down to for me is that the EC is a movement made up of people which inevitably means mistakes. However, I am not convinced that is has that many more mistakes or in that much more need of critics are the established church. Which is to say that we ALL need to reflecting and examining our faith, hearts and practices as expression of faithfulness and humility.
While critiquing is an important aspect, I wonder if there is a more fitting metaphor for what we need. A doctor examining a patient to assess their health is not so much critiquing. Her search for illness or injury is motivated from an entirely different intention. Perhaps this is what is most needed.
Peace,
Jamie
On visiting and leaving a very sincere and authentic pro-emergent query at quite an anti-emergent site I was surprised to have the response to my comment being somehting to the effect of: “Thank you for being so humble and unaggressive in your response here”. This is not to blow my own trumpet but to highlight how many emergent-types can be very aggressive about their ‘emergence’ which seems entirely counterproductive to everything the emergent movement is about.
I’ve heard the emergent movement also called the emergent <i>dialogue</i> and I guess that’s what it’s all about at the end of the day – to enter into dialogue with as many diverse people as possible so that we can learn and grow and <i>be</i> together. It really is great to be open to critique, from inside or out, as long as it can be engaged with in open and honest dialogue. Make sense?
Cori,Very true. Generally, I have been able to engage anti-emergents well. However, there have been times where, when other commenters acknowledge my points, I get banned without explanation.Further, the sites I refer to above have treated myself and others, who endeavour to be respectful, very poorly. I agree that many emergents engage poorly, something I plan on posting on soon. Thanks for commenting.Peace,Jamie
Jamie, it’s refreshing to hear your heart on this. Because of voices like your own, much of the angst and overly critical commentary on the institutionalized church from within the emerging church movement has already begun to subside — not that meaningful criticism and dialog isn’t greatly needed… it is. But I think we’re increasingly seeing thoughtful leaders like yourself taking an even-handed look at ourselves — wanting to learn, to grow, and to honor Christ in all that we do. In addition, YWAM leaders are uniquely positioned to help us with some of the needed assessment, in that they have long served Christ somewhat from the margins of institutionalized Christianity, while maintaining a passion for the kingdom, and for the poor and disenfranchised that many of us long to see restored to the body at large.
Bless you, brother.
Chris,
Thanks for your kind comment. I only hope that I can serve the Church in serving God more faithfully, just as I struggle to do the same.
Peace,
Jamie
Good POV here.
As an aside, there’s one blog (which shall remain nameless) that I’ve frequented in the past. They are intensely critical of anything with the name “emerging church” even remotely attached to it, and further critical of just about anything else that doesn’t fit into their tightly packed belief matrix. I’ve replied gently, almost neutrally, to a couple of their posts, but have been edited out of the dialogue. I had wondered why ALL the blog dialogue remained so ideologically consistent. Now I know.
When reasonable dialogue is feared and censored, the heart of Christ becomes smothered by dead religion.
Jamie,
I afraid that you are correct in your strategy. It seems to be counterproductive to post reasoned replies at those unnamed sites. I hope to break my habit soon.
Rod
Rod,
If truth be told, I would love it if people who have linked to them would go back and kill the links. It pushes them up on search engine ranking, thus getting more traffic. Thanks for stopping by!
Peace,
Jamie