Emerging Church
Essentially, the Emerging Church is a movement of so-called ‘Christians’ that have embraced post-modernism (in their interpretation of scripture), rituals and mysticism (as their spiritual practice) and social justice (as their cause).
Emerging church groups follow a loose set of doctrines promoting a redefinition of Christianity (they justify by claiming cultural relevance) and incorporating into their fellowships elements of worship from a wide variety of historic church traditions (including Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox and Celtic). From these, the groups adapt and blend various historic church practices including liturgy, prayer beads, icons, contemplative prayer, spiritual direction, the labyrinth, and lectio divina. The Emerging Church is also sometimes called the “Ancient-Future” church.
Emerging Church leaders/authors are typically hostile and antagonistic towards true Christianity, denigrating the cross of Jesus as the sole means of salvation (claiming it is rather an example of sacrifice that we should emulate), and denying that the Bible is the source of absolute truth (as strict adherents to post-modernism must – see below). The principal leaders in the movement include Brian McLaren, Tony Jones and Doug Pagitt.
Post-modernism is a human philosophy that impacts all areas of life. Its fundamental premise is that all truth is relative. In other words every person can have their own set of beliefs which are equally valid to everyone else’s. It necessarily requires that there are no absolute truths binding on all people everywhere and for all time. (Except, of course, the ‘absolute truth’ that all truth is relative – which demonstrates that post-modernism is intrinsically illogical and therefore irredeemably flawed. On one hand, by its own tenets, I am allowed to believe there are absolutes but on the other hand I am not. In this instance post-modernists handle the blatant incongruity by branding me intolerant and a bigot, and thereby being intolerant of me. But it is a philosophy championing tolerance for all!)
Moreover, the god of post-modernism – if there is one – is impotent. In reality, post-modernism promotes us as our own gods because we individually have the right to say what is true and what is not true. Post-modernism destroys the claim of the Bible to be truth. It is a frontal attack upon God’s Word. It is the perennial lie of the devil.
Post-modernism is now the guiding philosophy of the Western World. Our governments legislate it, our schools teach it and our media celebrates it.