Comments on: Why I decided NOT to critique the Emerging Church http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2007/01/31/why-i-decided-not-to-critique-the-emerging-church/ Thoughts from Australian cartoonist and pastor, Matt Glover Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:51:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: ZyprexaIM http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2007/01/31/why-i-decided-not-to-critique-the-emerging-church/#comment-141312 ZyprexaIM Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:22:30 +0000 http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2007/01/31/why-i-decided-not-to-critique-the-emerging-church/#comment-141312 Steam account help on a different computer? Steam account help on a different computer?

]]> By: Looking for Jesus: Refugees in Faith at MattGlover.com http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2007/01/31/why-i-decided-not-to-critique-the-emerging-church/#comment-11931 Looking for Jesus: Refugees in Faith at MattGlover.com Mon, 09 Apr 2007 03:18:28 +0000 http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2007/01/31/why-i-decided-not-to-critique-the-emerging-church/#comment-11931 [...] Like I said in this post, I still think you’re either church or your not, and loosing sleep about whether your emerging, missional, institutional or whatever is a waste of energy. Let’s just get on with telling the story, eh? [...] […] Like I said in this post, I still think you’re either church or your not, and loosing sleep about whether your emerging, missional, institutional or whatever is a waste of energy. Let’s just get on with telling the story, eh? […]

]]> By: the eighth day http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2007/01/31/why-i-decided-not-to-critique-the-emerging-church/#comment-11230 the eighth day Wed, 07 Feb 2007 19:50:30 +0000 http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2007/01/31/why-i-decided-not-to-critique-the-emerging-church/#comment-11230 <strong>Thoughts from the Blogosphere...</strong> Here's some interesting posts: Matt Glover lets the distinction between emerging and traditional church dissipate as he ponders his journey through intensive engagement with both in a post entitled Why I chose NOT to critique the emerging church. Matt... Thoughts from the Blogosphere…

Here’s some interesting posts: Matt Glover lets the distinction between emerging and traditional church dissipate as he ponders his journey through intensive engagement with both in a post entitled Why I chose NOT to critique the emerging church. Matt…

]]> By: Paul http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2007/01/31/why-i-decided-not-to-critique-the-emerging-church/#comment-11220 Paul Mon, 05 Feb 2007 13:46:38 +0000 http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2007/01/31/why-i-decided-not-to-critique-the-emerging-church/#comment-11220 Thanks Matt, a very thoughtful post! Thanks Matt, a very thoughtful post!

]]> By: Fernando’s Desk » Blog Archive » Roundup From Around The Blogs http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2007/01/31/why-i-decided-not-to-critique-the-emerging-church/#comment-11218 Fernando’s Desk » Blog Archive » Roundup From Around The Blogs Mon, 05 Feb 2007 03:11:38 +0000 http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2007/01/31/why-i-decided-not-to-critique-the-emerging-church/#comment-11218 [...] Why I Decided NOT To Critique The Emerging Church - Thoughtful post not just on witholding critque, but on the blurring of the edge between the “emerging church” and the conventional church. In my own thinking I’m also becoming less concerned about the emerging church category and more than a little weary of the scathing anti-traditional rants (that often feel like they are fuelled by resentment). [...] […] Why I Decided NOT To Critique The Emerging Church - Thoughtful post not just on witholding critque, but on the blurring of the edge between the “emerging church” and the conventional church. In my own thinking I’m also becoming less concerned about the emerging church category and more than a little weary of the scathing anti-traditional rants (that often feel like they are fuelled by resentment). […]

]]> By: Keith Bates http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2007/01/31/why-i-decided-not-to-critique-the-emerging-church/#comment-11190 Keith Bates Wed, 31 Jan 2007 05:24:16 +0000 http://www.mattglover.com/wordpress/wordpress/2007/01/31/why-i-decided-not-to-critique-the-emerging-church/#comment-11190 It's a bugger isn't it? Whatever you start off doing, in the end it ends up being church! To me, what is important whether you are mod, post-mod or trad is to keep the focus on Jesus, and the mission of Jesus. The issues which confront the emerging church movement are the same as those in the house church movement, cell church movement, tradional denominations (including the Pentecostal ones), even the Methodist movement and Salvation Army. The dynamics are usually pretty similar. One person or small group catches a vision for a new way of doing church that will be more "relevant" or "authentic" or "effective"- different generations use different buzz-words. They gather a group who sort of see the same vision (but often with another agenda), then they make a big missional leap which gets some people saved... then you have to work on turning that next generation into radical, visionary disciples. And that's where it all falls apart! So what's the answer? I wish I knew. I do know that the answer is nothing to do with worship styles or structures. It's all to do with the heart. A statement near the end of "The Heavenly Man" really struck me. He says something like "In the West you focus on making converts. In China we concentrate on making disciples." Maybe we need to work on convincing those who profess to be Christians that Jesus has to be Lord not just Saviour. Can it be done in a rampantly consumeristic society? Blessings Keith It’s a bugger isn’t it?

Whatever you start off doing, in the end it ends up being church!

To me, what is important whether you are mod, post-mod or trad is to keep the focus on Jesus, and the mission of Jesus.

The issues which confront the emerging church movement are the same as those in the house church movement, cell church movement, tradional denominations (including the Pentecostal ones), even the Methodist movement and Salvation Army.

The dynamics are usually pretty similar. One person or small group catches a vision for a new way of doing church that will be more “relevant” or “authentic” or “effective”- different generations use different buzz-words. They gather a group who sort of see the same vision (but often with another agenda), then they make a big missional leap which gets some people saved… then you have to work on turning that next generation into radical, visionary disciples. And that’s where it all falls apart!

So what’s the answer? I wish I knew.

I do know that the answer is nothing to do with worship styles or structures.

It’s all to do with the heart.

A statement near the end of “The Heavenly Man” really struck me. He says something like “In the West you focus on making converts. In China we concentrate on making disciples.”

Maybe we need to work on convincing those who profess to be Christians that Jesus has to be Lord not just Saviour. Can it be done in a rampantly consumeristic society?

Blessings

Keith

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