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To: Terriergal

“Our philosophy is, it’s time for us to take back Christianity,” Jones explains. “It’s not the property of ordained people. It’s not the property of seminary master. It’s not the property of elite people with diplomas. It’s the property and purview of all of us.”

He’s mistaken to say Christianity belongs to us. Christianity belongs to Christ. He is the head and his saved dwell in his body.
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“Perhaps no American archetype better embodies the glories and struggles of our search for collective meaning and divine purpose than the tortured soul of the self-proclaimed and duly anointed gospel preacher or revivalist – that rare mix of eloquence, showmanship, falsetto emotion, alligator tears and stark piety – selling us God, salvation or a revelation from the best or worst of intentions.”

Collective meaning? Also, I don’t think this guy knows any truly appointed preachers.
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“I think a lot of people have been searching and searching,” Jones says. “What people want in a religious community is to ask questions.” He adds that some of those people don’t buy the answers they hear. “It’s all scripted.”

The Word is God and God is the Word. Can’t be a true Christian if you don’t believe that. If you reject the “scripted,” you are rejecting God.
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Emergent Village, the online and off-line community of the emergent church, puts it this way: “We believe in God, beauty, future, and hope – but you won’t find a traditional statement of faith here. We don’t have a problem with faith, but with statements.”

Again, these people have a problem with statements—like those “scripted” in the Bible.
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Jones says the idea is to be more open and welcoming about “who gets to serve communion, who gets to preach” and even about how to interpret the Bible. To that end, emergent churches welcome everyone to share ministry ideas, ideas for how to work in the community, even how to worship.”

The Word is very clear about such things. If you disagree, then you want to be your own god.
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For example, Solomon’s Porch in Minneapolis, founded by Pagitt, who is pastor, describes itself as “a church of people, not an event created by the leaders.”

“There are people who think I’m a heretic, the anti-Christ, a cult leader,” says Jones, “because I’m questioning the way it’s always been.”

Yep, it’s always been that way based on the Scriptures, which he is rebelling against. His brand of religion should be called Consensus Christianity.
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Pagitt, with a shrug of his 6-foot-6 frame, says the road show is meant to “shine a light,” to prompt people to consider this question about Christianity: “Is it possible that your version is fitting for you but not for everyone else?”

That’s not Christianity, that’s moral relativism.
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“Jones likens the difference in the traditional and emergent churches to the difference between an encyclopedia and Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

“The Encyclopedia Britannica has what is thought to be the authoritative version of, say the Vietnam War,” Jones says. “On Wikipedia, the authoritative version of that war is a constantly evolving entry that gets longer every day” as people add their own experiences and analysis of the war. The facts don’t change, but because they are added to, the Wikipedia version “is truer because more people have a hand in editing it.”

Again, Consensus Christianity. Reject the Word and shape it to your own limited human experience and whims.

Emergent Christianity doesn’t sound Christian at all. It sounds more like a rebellion against God’s Word and personal “will to power.”


7 posted on 06/23/2008 11:41:42 AM PDT by ViLaLuz (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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To: ViLaLuz
you got it! Here's Lighthouse Trails take:

In [The book The New Christians], Jones degrades the authority of Scripture several times in the book. A theme for that book would go something like this:
Emergents say they believe in truth, but they define it as something that is always changing and being refined, can never be grasped, and enfolds all beliefs, except the ones that insist there is only one truth.

You would be appalled at how EVERY denomination is taking these kind of soft talking charlatans seriously... and bringing in their false doctrine.

8 posted on 06/23/2008 12:02:23 PM PDT by Terriergal ("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
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