Why Reformergent?

Simply put, reformergent is a blog interested in the interaction between Reformed theology and the Emerging church movement. As our society moved out of modernism into post-modernism and beyond, the church has sought ways to interact with contemporary culture. In the recent decade, the emerging church has rose to popularity and some controversy as a church that has sought to be relevant to contemporary culture.

Although there are some valuable traits to be gleaned from emerging ecclesiology (theology of the church), spiritual life, and evangelism, I also have hesitancies regarding their theology and orthodoxy. As stated by Phil Johnson in Pyromaniacs, the generous orthodoxy in the emergent church is neither generous nor orthodox. If my creed as a Reformed individual is, ‘reformed and still reforming,’ I think it is extremely valuable to examine the rise of the emerging church and test the theology, methodology, ecclesiology, and all the other ‘ology’s against Scripture to see if its clearly against Scripture, clearly reflected in Scripture, or an area where Scripture is silent.

In light of my traditional Reformed theological understanding of Scripture, I do think that the Emerging church has emphasized some valuable areas of individual faith and community faith. Here are the major areas I think that the Emerging movement is scriptural and a valuable voice for the contemporary church:

1.) Missional Living : Social action, community involvement, and sacrificial hospitality is primary in lifestyle living. There is once again an interest in being light and salt in a broken world. This involves primarily politics and culture. Although the emerging church sometimes lacks an emphasis on evangelism as part of missional living, there is still value in their approach to how we can be ‘in this world, and not of it.’

2.) Social Justice : There is a highlighted interest in social reform, seeking political, social, and to some extent, economic equality. Given the constant biblical instruction in caring for the poor, orphaned, widowed, disenfranchised, and the ‘least of these,’ this is certainly a biblical concept. We should be lovers of peace, and therefor seek that. But I am also not interested in equating the Kingdom of God with simple social justice, which some emergent thinkers tend to do.

3.) Authenticity : The emerging churches are often the most welcoming communities around, although sometimes erring by being TOO welcoming. Church is a place for sinners, and I highly value the welcoming and grace-filled attitude we should have as churches, but that is not to completely throw out any understanding of biblical obedience and sanctification.

4.) ‘Unstructured’ Ecclesiology : Although sometimes too unstructured, I don’t think the Bible is as detailed about defining the Church as many Reformed theologians believe. There are definitely some prescriptions given, and I agree in elder leadership, teaching/preaching the message of the apostles, prayer together, communion and baptism as marks of the church, but in actual ’style,’ the Bible is fairly quiet, so why not seek methods and styles that are at once biblically correct and culturally relevant.

The voices of the emerging church have grown loud, and it seems like those against it have lately grown louder. It doesn’t seem like individuals are always thinking as openly, seeking to engage both sides in a constructive way. That is not to say I won’t have posts about the parts of the emerging church that concern me or parts I simply don’t agree with, but I am excited to see where this goes.

I look forward to the conversations that will hopefully start up in regard to these two topics that seem to get many folks heated. Once again, I seek humility for I don’t know all the answers. That’s why I am here.