Posted on 12/07/2004 5:12:03 AM PST by missyme
As we enter the 21st century, a vital new expression of Christianity is growing in the United States and worldwide. This movement even has a name. It is called "the Emergent Church."
This movement expresses what I call "progressive evangelicalism," because it emphasizes traditional evangelical beliefs - affirming the doctrines of the Apostle's Creed, a high view of Scripture and the importance of a personal transforming relationship with a resurrected Christ - yet rejects the structures and styles of institutionalized Christianity. The Emergent Church
The Emergent Church turns away from spending money on buildings. Instead, most congregations meet as "house churches" or gather in makeshift storefronts and warehouses.
Emergent churches espouse a decentralized grassroots form of Christianity that rejects the hierarchal systems of denominational churches. Each emergent congregation makes its own decisions by consensus.
Leadership is fluid, with all members sharing authority and participating in the mission of the church. Task forces are assembled to undertake such specific programs as feeding the homeless, establishing a partnership with a Third World church, developing an after-school tutoring program for disadvantaged children or organizing people in a poor neighborhood to solve pressing social problems.
The missionary programs of such congregations are committed to direct involvement with those they decide to serve. These churches want little to do with bureaucratic organizations with professional administrators. Members of these congregations want to be involved personally with those in need. They want to know the names and faces of the people they serve.
Emergent congregations must not be confused with those nondenominational mega-churches that seem to be popping up increasingly in communities across the nation. In fact, the two are markedly different.
Emergent churches often express a disdain for the "contemporary-worship music" heard in many mega-churches.
The worship in emergent churches often includes classical music, and such congregations often follow a more formal liturgical style that may even incorporate such ancient forms of praying as that of monastic orders.
The people who join emergent congregations are often folks who have tired of what goes on in churches that have "contemporary services."
A postmodern mindset
The Emergent Church is often somewhat indifferent to theological and social issues that seem urgent to mainstream evangelicalism. These church members tend to think that the crusade against homosexual marriage is a waste of time and energy, and they tend to reject the exclusivistic claims that many evangelicals make about salvation.
They are not about to damn the likes of Gandhi or the Dali Lama to hell simply because they have not embraced Christianity.
In many ways, these Christians express a postmodern mindset that may come across as being somewhat "new age."
They see care for the environment as a major Christian responsibility. They are attracted to Christian mysticism. They talk a great deal about "spiritual formation" and focus significant attention on the healing of illnesses through prayer.
This new expression of Christianity is growing faster than most sociologists could have predicted. It is thriving, in part, because so many people are fed up with the arguing and pettiness that they claim are all too evident in the rest of Christendom.
It remains to be seen whether the Emergent Church will fade away or become an ongoing expression of Christianity.
But there is no question that it is attracting many sophisticated Christians who contend that traditional mainline churches are devoid of vitality and mega-churches are irrelevantly narrow.
Funny how nobody has asked the question: Who's making the money? Did Jesus make any money? How much does the moneymaker make? And...Why is religion based on money?
I see it as underground church setting up the necessary cadres for when we won't be allowed to worship Christ in public. I am a part of several small groups in homes and other places that, as of now, are supplementary to my regular church experience. We call it "Doing Life Deeper" and "Partnering with Others on our Spiritual Journey." Those aren't trademarks or anything, but we say them often enough that they need quotes.
Ho 'bout Jed Smock? Remember him?
Lakewood had quadrupled in the last five years. It's hard for me to see how Christianity is dying because it's going great guns here in the south. But I realize more and more communists and liberals are choosing hell.
Here is some information from the horses mouth:
http://www.reformed.org/calvinism/
http://www.reformed.org/calvinism/Spurgeon-Calvinism.html
Christ is the only one who paid for salvation. He paid for it on the cross.
Obedience is a requirement for what?
Think about it though: I live a hectic life with family friends and work. I have little time to serve others, so I gladly "tithe" to the church who I know will do great things with my money (a representation of my time and energy).
I invite unsaved friends to church or encourage the nonbeliever to go to church or speak with my pastor.
I make sure that on Sunday morning my kids go to a separate class than I and that they get a playful lesson and a cookie.
It is all about moving responsibility to the church and away from me.
He doesn't understand imputed righteousness.
Love for Christ.
If you love Me, you will keep my
commandments.
You cannot love Christ and ignore His commandments.
Forgiveness is required by the saved because they cannot maintain obedience, but the lack of effort is a lack of love for Christ.
...died...??????
.......or, better.......????
What's to struggle with? Remember the thief on the cross? He was one of God's Elect, but it wasn't evident until the very day he BELIEVED.
.................................????????....................
???.....Acts 16:30-31.........is it 'shalt',....or 'might'....?
(Titus 1:2.........Romans 10:17)
I don't hop in the boats of one-armed boat-rowers. Sorry to disappoint you.
Come on board!
Rower needed?
:-)
Regeneration occurs after repentance of ones sins and the acceptance of Salvation through (only) Christ Jesus.
Biblical repentance as preached by John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Apostles, involved a change of heart and mind towards God and sin that results in a change of life: obedience.
Salvation is not dependent on one's obedience.
Salvation is not dependent on the amount of one's effort to be obedient.
Salvation is not dependent on the amount of one's love for Christ.
Obedience is a fruit of salvation.
Effort to be obedient is a fruit of salvation.
Love for Christ is a fruit of salvation.
You have it backwards.
What's old is new and what's new shall become old again.
God the Father only sees Jesus when he looks at his redeemed. The righteousness of Christ is the only righteousness that is acceptable to him.
That's why the righteousness of Christ must be IMPUTED to the redeemed. The righteous deeds of men are as menstrous rags to God. He isn't pleased by them and he won't accept them.
That reeeeeeeally makes some people mad, too. Hahahaha
Unconditional Election
Unconditional Election is the doctrine which states that God chose those whom he was pleased to bring to a knowledge of himself, not based upon any merit shown by the object of his grace and not based upon his looking forward to discover who would "accept" the offer of the gospel. God has elected, based solely upon the counsel of his own will, some for glory and others for damnation (Romans 9:15,21). He has done this act before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1:4-8).
Where does this leave free will? God chose some for damnation at the start of the universe, there is no hope for them. They will not hear the Gospel, or if they do will not accept it, or if they do will not be saved?
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