I think that the generous orthodoxy that the emerging community seeks has the room, willingness, and humility to learn from the Reformed. However, the presentation of that message coming from the Reformed camp has often been so brash as to not allow for discussion, let alone an ‘agree to disagree’ standpoint – all of which strains the relationship to the point where the emerging community cannot hear the valid concerns. This, in turn, further frustrates the Reformed, because they think that they’re simply being ignored, which causes more lashing out, more missing the point, etc.

Eventually, of course, it gets to the point where we’re completely talking past each other. The Reformed are calling the Emergents ‘heretics’; the Emergents are ignoring, or winking at, the critique.

I think that any meaningful theological discussion must be entered with the presupposition of friendship and good will. Both parties need to be willing to listen and not just speak; each party needs to be willing to learn from the other.

Thank you for opening up such a space. I’ll keep watching the site.

It is this kind of attitude that makes this whole conversation really difficult. Reformed is a theological framework (understood by interpretation of the Bible systematically) and Emergent is a movement of thinkers and movers seeking to define the Christian life and church within a post-modern context. Those two do not stand in contrast to me. Do I wish that emergent church had a clearer doctrine? Of course… but that’s not going to happen, and thus irrelevant. So why not help seek to learn from the Emergent movement and test it against Scripture and a Reformed framework. In my heart, I believe that there is much to learn from it.

I’ve been blogging for quite some time on the intersection of Reformed Theology and Emerging Church ideas.

“Vanguard Church” (http://vanguardchurch.blogspot.com/) is a top blog in EC circles in which I connect Reformed Theology with the Emerging Church conversation, and “Friend of Kuyper” (http://friendofkuyper.blogspot.com/) is a resource on how Neo-Calvinism and the Emerging Church can intersect.

I’ll be back!

keep up the good work, Reformergent…you’re a needed voice in this thing.

God bless.

Am I Reformergent? I have no clue although it sounds cool… I’ve written in other people’s blogs, however, about the need for the Reformed guys (Piper, Driscoll, Carson, Mohler) to quit being so belligerent. I think the emerging conversation is ABSOLUTELY necessary for our post-modern post-christian nation today and I wish those guys would understand the heart of these big emergents. These Reformed guys (I exclude Keller because he’s encouragingly reasonable and non-judgmental. He’s awesome.) need to learn from the Emergents about what it means to humbly approach theology as part of God’s mystery. Sure, Scripture is an amazing, unique, inspired, and authoritative revelation of God (although I wouldn’t say fully and finally authoritative anymore), and sure, substitutionary atonement is one of a handful of great examples and theories of the work of the Cross (although not the ONLY or the BEST as the reformed guys seem to express). But these guys flailing their arms and spitting out “heresy” without humility and caution does them a great disservice. Emergents just want to talk (and hopefully do), and heresy is the farthest from where MOST of these emergents are.

Regarding your list, I was thrilled and happy to read it. That is a list I’ve been wanting to read and am surprised as to why I didn’t write a similar one, although I do now align myself a bit more with emerging/postmodern “ideals.” I would love to flesh out some thoughts about the nature of church with you however we can do so.

Glad to add you to my blogroll and to my Google reader!

Dan