The Morphing of the Church
Emerging churches recognize that Western societies are moving beyond the context of Christendom which has prevailed for sixteen hundred years. In this post-Christendom and culturally pluralistic environment, the church finds itself increasingly marginalized and no longer a pillar of society. As it forfeits its privileged position, it must learn a different tone of witness—with grace and boldness in a marketplace of differing ideologies. In response to cultural shifts of seismic proportions, emerging churches re-imagine themselves, seeking to be a missional presence. It is this conviction that lies at the heart of the emerging church conversation.
The boundaries of the emerging church movement are difficult to define. A wide range of theological positions as well as ecclesiastical traditions are represented. Some caricature the movement as the reaction of disgruntled and disillusioned people who have abandoned the church traditions of their youth in order to “do their own thing”—a people defined more clearly by what they are not than by what they are. In our estimation, these strident voices are not representative of the mainstream emerging church conversation, which is attempting to deconstruct some archaic traditions rather than to demolish them.
The boundaries of the emerging church movement are difficult to define. A wide range of theological positions as well as ecclesiastical traditions are represented. Some caricature the movement as the reaction of disgruntled and disillusioned people who have abandoned the church traditions of their youth in order to “do their own thing”—a people defined more clearly by what they are not than by what they are. In our estimation, these strident voices are not representative of the mainstream emerging church conversation, which is attempting to deconstruct some archaic traditions rather than to demolish them.
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