Stand Firm in the Faith is given permission to share a recent Newsletter article from MM outreach - July 2010 issue. MM Outreach is an Apologetic /Discernment Ministry that was established in 1979. Please see the end of article for resource and contact information.
2 Cor. 11:3,4 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.
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The Emergent Church Defined
MM Outreach - News & Views July, Aug, Sept - 2010
Well, forget the concept of “good” versus “evil” in the Emergent Church. They believe there is a third alternative, “synthesis”, with no set definition of right or wrong. Each one must decide by his or her own feelings or emotions what is right or wrong.
MM Outreach - News & Views July, Aug, Sept - 2010
Defining the Emergent Church is no easy task. Someone once likened it to trying to nail jello to the wall! Just when you think you have a definition, it slips away!
Why are so many churches of varying denominations going “emergent” or “emerging”? It truly is the latest fad to run rampant through the Christian world. Like many movements, it is not “new” at all, but has come to prominence, particularly in Bible Colleges.
It follows on the heels of the Purpose Driven Church, who strove to be “seeker friendly” and re-work the gospel message to fit the needs of the people. Unsuitable words like sin, judgment, hell etc. were never used, and people were made to feel that God would accept them, just as they were. Repentance for sin was not mentioned. Love covered all, and don’t forget the coffee and doughnuts as you walked in the door! After a “feel good” message, you left feeling good about yourself but devoid of the Gospel message.
Another way to reach people was ready to be tried--the Emergent Church. The “emergent” ideas were first presented by German theologian Jurgen Moltmann in the 1900’s who borrowed some concepts from the Buddhist monks and fused them with bible concepts, which he redefined. Scriptures that could not be manipulated into emergent theology were just ignored, and modern followers do the same. Not all Emergent Churches are exactly the same, as none are required to have any set guidelines, but can choose what “feels right” to them, and “anything goes”.
So, now we enter an Emergent Church. What might we find? Often the pulpit has been removed and the chairs rearranged to form a circle around a platform in the middle. The person on the platform reads a portion of scripture without comment or teaching. The audience is now invited to share what this portion of the bible means to them. All comments are received without criticism or correction. This has replaced the sermon of Christianity which is basically a topical study of the Bible, or a verse-by-verse teaching of God’s word.
As Bible readers know, the Bible draws the line between good and evil and leaves us in no doubt as to what the Creator requires of us to be in God’s Kingdom. We must acknowledge that we are sinners, repent of the sin, receive the free gift of salvation from our Savior, Jesus Christ, and then live our lives as the Bible instructs, with the help of the Holy Spirit. We believe in the atonement. We believe Jesus Christ died on the cross to save us and at death we will be resurrected to life with Him. Our Christian lives should produce the fruits of the Spirit, and we should lead others to Christ’s saving grace. If we slip into sin, we repent, seek forgiveness and live on in a Christian manner.
Well, forget the concept of “good” versus “evil” in the Emergent Church. They believe there is a third alternative, “synthesis”, with no set definition of right or wrong. Each one must decide by his or her own feelings or emotions what is right or wrong.
How does one try to get close to God in the Emergent Church? Their beliefs reject the Bible as an authority, hell as a real destination for sinners, judgment from God is ignored, and the cross is offensive. What is left? Nothing but feelings, emotions, and pagan mystical experiences! Yet they claim to be “Christian”, but time has proven that they have a “different gospel” and a “different spirit”. (2 Cor. 11:3,4,13-15).
The Bible teaches that world conditions will get worse and worse before Christ comes in judgment. In the Emergent Church the thinking is that the world is getting better and better until all will be eventually saved! How does the world get better? EC believers think they will bring this about by their good works. They are to choose some good work that they feel good about and then do it. They are supposed to discover something about God in the process, and grow spiritually.
They use the term “theology of hope” for this idea, and speak of their efforts as “missional”. Words, especially those in the Bible are considered by the EC to be “too limited” to teach us about God so each one has to have his/her own definition, found through their meditations and experiences. The EC says that anything that makes you feel closer to God goes, like “Christian” Yoga, contemplative prayer, labyrinth walking, “going into silence” (emptying your mind) spirit world influence, and “imagining God”. Whatever!
These folks are not living in the real world when it comes to religion! Denying reality will not work any better for these professing “Christians” than it has for the New Age Movement and Eastern Mysticism. They are in rebellion against God plain and simple!
God is our Creator and we are His creation and we need to obey His guidelines set out in Scripture, and we need to accept the revelation of Himself to us as found in the pages of the bible. Our experiences, no matter how profound, do not define God. God defines Himself!
Good and evil do exist! Absolute truth does exist! Judgment from God will come! Salvation is limited to those washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, and they alone will spend eternity with Him!
We appreciate the DVD “Emergent Church Defined” done by Pastor Bob Dewaay and TV Host of SO4J, Martha Mac. At last we have an expose of this movement which has been flying under the radar and being coy about their real beliefs.
We suggest you consider ordering two copies, one for yourself, and one for your Pastor who can put it in the church library. Truly wolves have entered in among the sheep and need to be exposed!
Copyright 2010 Lorri MacGregor All rights reserved.
Pastor Bob DeWaay's DVD - "Emergent Church Defined", can be obtained from MM Outreach.
Contact and order information: MM Outreach website: http://www.mmoutreachinc.com/ and http://www.mmoutreach.org/
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