Why We're Not Emergent: comments on DeYoung and Kluck's work

Finally. A couple of days ago I finished We We're Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be) by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck. DeYoung is a pastor at University Reformed Church in Lansing, MI. Kluck is a sports journalist and member of DeYoung's congregation.

(I Know. I took forever finishing the book.)

In order to facilitate two completely different writing styles, DeYoung and Kluck rotate chapters, each writing every-other (mostly). DeYoung's chapters are lengthy, and could be considered "heavy" for the book's target audience. Kluck, as a sports journalist and church layman, writes much shorter and "readable" chapters. I found both authors engaging and informative, and I enjoyed the change-of-pace between two distinct methods of writing.

Why We're Not Emergent reveals many dangerous aspects in the Emerging Church. Rightly, however, DeYoung and Kluck celebrate the positives coming from the movement, although the two authors are decidedly against the Emergent Movement as a whole. The most glaring negative of the book is that the authors (understandable though it may be) cite only the most egregious examples of poor theology within the Emerging Church. However, the authors do commend, even recommend, Scot McKnight's works as examples of good theology from a(n) (semi)Emergent voice.

I found myself agreeing with almost everything in Why We're Not Emergent, and I highly recommend it to anyone who reads Bell, Sweet, McLaren, Kimbell, etc.

Here is a review of Why We're Not Emergent by Amy Sondova on TheOoze, which is the flagship website of the Emerging Movement. The review is surprisingly positive. Here.

And here is the book: Why We're Not Emergent

May growth and critical thinking ensue!

A Move Toward Hope

Dr. Mohler published a post yesterday concerning news which is shifting the paradigm of the Episcopal Church in America. 

In 2003, the Episcopal Church elected an openly-gay Bishop, which caused a firestorm both within the Anglican and Episcopalian Church (Europe and America respectively) . Yesterday, however, news came that conservative Episcopalians have broken away from the church and are officially forming the Anglican Church of North America. This new denomination intends to hold highly Scriptural authority, specifically regarding the biblical position on homosexuality. 

Perhaps the most significant (and most exciting) aspect of the new ACNA is that the divisions will not be determined by territory, but rather theological unity.

Here is the article from Dr. Mohler: Theology Not Territory

Remember to thank God for our fellow believers who are taking a courageous stand for biblical teaching!

God's Man Won: toward a biblical perspective of the election

America has elected a new leader. And God should be praised. 

Most of you could guess that I am not an avid Obama supporter. In fact, I may not have even voted for him (I'm being neutral). But whatever side of the political coin we land on, we must recognize that God raises nations up, and God causes nations to fall; God ordained President-elect Barack Obama to become America's next president. Scary or not, we have to be thankful that God has placed us in this particular place and time, for his specific purposes. 

So as we pray for our nation, let us be thankful in all things, recognizing that God is active and deliberate in the lives of his people.

New List

I have recently added a list of recommended books to my blog. I am reading or have read all of the books listed. Each book has much to contribute to our conversation of Culture and the Christian (I threw in some of my favorite literature as well). I will continue to update the list as I encounter books which, I feel, are significant to our confessing evangelical community; I will take the time to review some books here.

(Though I may review books which contribute negatively, I will list only books which I feel are thoroughly helpful.)

Rob Bell's Sex God

As promised, I just finished Mars Hill Bible Church pastor Rob Bell's second book, Sex God. As I expected, this second volume has its pros and cons; I will try to highlight examples of both.

The counter-orthodoxy which intrigued me in Velvet Elvis, disturbed me in Sex God. For example, Bell's opening chapter seems to paint heaven and hell as metaphors, or perhaps spiritual realities of some sort rather than literal locations.

Chapter two, I think, is a flop; Bell simply misses his own point. "Sexy on the Inside" (the second chapter), spends a great deal of time developing the idea that nature, people, and creation as a whole, are disconnected. Bell consistently claims that humans need to be connected back to each other, nature, and to reality (I think by reality, he means some kind of creational harmony). I agree that creation is disconnected, but I think Christ is the one who connects us to God's true reality. So, I think Bell makes a good diagnosis, but completely misses the prescription.

Also, throughout Sex God, Bell seems to intertwine Christianity and "true reality" with eastern religion-feeling spirituality. Much of this work deals with balance--sexual, spiritual, communal, etc. I found these references to be, well...scary. Further, Bell writes statements, most indirectly, which make me wonder if Bell is propagating theistic evolution (?).

WAIT! As with most of life, we cannot "throw the baby out with the bath water." Bell's second book does have redeeming qualities.

"Under the Chuppah" (chapter seven) is a very helpful chapter on the emotional and social intimacy of marriage/relationships. Bell illustrates how allowing family, friends, hobbies, work, etc. into relationships can be detrimental; keep the relationship between two people, don't air your dirty laundry, etc.

As in my comments on Velvet Elvis, I maintain that Rob Bell is more orthodox theologically than his writing paints him to be. There is no question that Bell's methods (even his vocabulary) are UNorthodox, and the paradox between how he writes and how he preaches raises serious questions.

Sex God left me craving more (much more) theological substance.

Overall, I do not think that Sex God carries nearly the impact which does Velvet Elvis. However, if one is able and willing to read attentively and discerningly (as we should read everything!), Bell's second work presents some helpful and insightful material.

But such material is few and far between.

Here you go(Sex God), may growth ensue!

Five Sacred Crossings: a review

About a month ago I read a new book by Craig J. Hazen called Five Sacred Crossings. In which, Hazen works a thorough examination and defense of Christianity into a novel. The novel is set in southern California, where a middle-aged Christian college professor agrees to substitute teach a professional friend's religion class (at a secular college). The Christian college professor introduces a book to this class which he received as a gift from a tribal community during the Vietnam War. The book, The Five Sacred Crossings, teaches five philosophical/spiritual propositions which the reader must unpack through communal discussions and wise direction from an elder.

Hazen uses each "crossing" to address different worldviews, and to explain and defend the Christian worldview. Five Sacred Crossings addresses these issues through the questions and responses posed by the students at the secular college.

The only odd aspect of the novel was that Hazen had his main character, the Christian college professor be a smoker who enjoys watching the Simpsons. I am not sure why Hazen would go out of his way to involve his character in two semi-controversial actions when neither is important to the story line. Perhaps I missed some hidden reason.

Regardless, I found the work to be extremely helpful and informative (I learned quite a bit about eastern religious beliefs). Dr. Hazen is pioneering a new form of apologetics which I think, in a quality works such as this, should be embraced. This new book made a great addition to my library.

I highly recommend Five Sacred Crossings to any and everyone! I would add that Hazen's book might be particularly good for nonbelievers and young Christians.

Here it is (Five Sacred Crossings), may growth and enrichment ensue!

Atheist Encounter: a confirmation of non-evidential apologetics

Yesterday, I had the immense pleasure of dialoguing with a professing atheist. This atheist is a student at the University of North Florida studying sociology (I am not even going to try to spell her name; she is German, and has only been in the States for about two years).

She told me that her best friend is a Muslim, her parents (who I think are still in Germany) are Christians, and she and her husband are atheists.

I asked her why.

She began telling me that atheism is the only ideology that makes sense, that she does not need to believe in anything, and that those who believe (she would simply use the word believe) only do so because they think they are missing something in their lives.

I turned the conversation to creation. She could not believe that I did not believe in Evolution. She kept saying things like, "Wow", "of course", and "it's been proven" (I am still not sure what it is, or what has been proven). We continued to discuss everything from creation to meaning of life to defining good and bad for about twenty minutes. When I told her that creationism is valid because nothing we experience is not created, cars, clothes, meals, etc., she simply told me that that doesn't make sense.

As I was driving away from work, I began to see that it didn't matter what I said, my new friend was not going to see my point of view. Her mind is completely bent toward atheism and utter disdain for anything religious. I could have argued for hours alongside Josh McDowell, Bill Craig, and Ken Hamm, but my atheist co-worker's mind would not have changed. She is set on error.

However, if the Holy Spirit moves in her life, a simple ray of sunshine could change her eternal destiny!

My encounter with atheism starkly reminded me of how insignificant I am. I can do nothing for this poor, confused college student. Conversely, the Holy Spirit's can open her mind to the love of God, and to renew her through the atoning work of Jesus Christ.

We should continue to dialog with atheists, agnostics, and other nonbelievers, I only mean that our human words and reason cannot bring people to a saving knowledge of Christ aside from the distinct work of the Holy Spirit.

May the conversations continue!