EMERGENT HOT LIST !
After running into one situation after another while speaking to people of the dangers of the Emergent Church movement I've decided to create a list of philosophies and characteristics of the Emergent Church as well as authors, speakers, and historic figures which have had and continue to have a major influence on the beliefs and doctrines of those involved in this movement. This is not a commentary on the views or the people involved in the Emergent movement just a list for the purpose of identification.It's important to understand the factors influencing this movement and to inform readers so as to help them discern whether or not the leaders in their churches are drifting toward these views, and if suspected to be so, prayerfully confront their church leaders and ask what the views of the church leadership are. In many cases the doctrinal statements of Protestant churches are very solid and biblically sound but unfortunately what is being taught from the Sunday morning worship service or in the youth groups may NOT be in line with safe biblical doctrine.
If your church's website recommends certain books and you discover a book by one of the authors listed below like BRIAN MCLAREN or DAN KIMBALL or if let's say your youth pastor esteems authors such as RICHARD FOSTER and his book Celebration of Disciplines or teaches things similar to that of someone like ROB BELL, I would suggest you first read up on what this author believes and is teaching. Next you should pray and then approach your pastor and ask him to give you a reason why the church would endorse such books and/or teachings. This does not necessarily mean your church is headed toward Emergent but it is cause enough to question where their leanings might be.
This is a list of warning. This list is not exhaustive and there may be some personalities or issues I have overlooked. There are articles on this site and MANY LINKS which will provide plenty of information on the dangers of the Emergent movement to christians and those who are intrigued with spiritual experiences.
Emergent Beliefs and Characteristics:
• Redefine the Christian Faith to accommodate "post-modernity"
• Redefining the doctrine of hell as not being literal
• God's judgement interpreted as simply being embarrassed by your sin or an inability to gratify your desires
• Reinterpreting the penal substitutionary atonement of Christ on the cross
• Questioning the inerrant authority of scripture
• The bible primarily as a "story" or narrative
• Conversion as becoming a part of "His story"
• Planetary salvation (Restoring the entire earth to it's original Creation and "rhythm")
• Proclaiming of the Kingdom of God being established on earth in present history more than the gospel of salvation
• Promoting a "social gospel"
• Defines themselves as "missional"
• The Protestant Reformation as possibly an ongoing process
• Believes Emergent could be a "Second Reformation"
• Questions are esteemed higher than answers
• Social and environmental activism
• Anti-war and political liberalism
• Promoting spiritual disciplines (meditation, fasting, contemplative prayer, breath prayers, centering prayer, labyrinth prayer walks, guided imagery, Lectio Divina, Ignatius Examen, stations of the cross)
• Promoting the mystical, the sensory and the experiential
• Anti-establishment
• Truth is determined by cultural influences or tradition
* Truth is not propositional
• Teaching should be multi-sensory and creative rather than linear
• Traditional preaching is replaced by discussion and dialogue
• Reluctant to call homosexuality a sin
• Occasionally use profanity to get point across
• May become worldy to reach the world
• Life experiences determine theology and orthodoxy
• Language is oriented around self – feelings, opinions, and attitudes
• Community, relationships and unity are highest priorities
• Uncomfortable with historic christian orthodoxy as having an exclusive claim on truth
• Tolerate ideological and theological differences, very inclusive and ecumenical
Emergent Preferred Authors and Speakers:
• N.T. Wright
• Brian McLaren
• Henri Nouwen
• Dallas Willard
• Richard Foster
• Donald Miller
• Tony Campolo
• Rob Bell
• Dan Kimball
• Doug Pagitt
• Erwin McManus
• Gregory Boyd
• Andy Crouch
• Chris Seay
• Tony Jones
• Leonard Sweet
• Shane Claiborne
• Brian Walsh
• Miroslav Volf
• Brennan Manning
• Walter Brueggemann
• Dr. Robert Webber
• Steve Chalke
• Alan Mann
• Matthew Fox
• Tom Hohstadt
• Bono
• Ryan Bolger
• Spencer Burke
• David Bosch
• Eddie Gibbs
• Tilden Edwards
• Marcus Borg
• M. Scott Peck
• Jacques Derrida
• Karl Barth
• Søren Kierkegaard
• Carl Jung
• Thomas Merton
• Thomas Keating
• Cynthia Bourgeault
• C.S. Lewis
• Sue Monk Kidd
• Anne Lamont
• Rowan Williams
• Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
• Madam Guyon
• Jürgen Moltmann
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• William Blake
Emergent Preferred Catholic Mystics, Desert Fathers and Monks:
• St. John of the Cross
• Ignatius of Loyola
• Peter Faber
• Dionysius
• St. Francis of Assisi
• Juliana of Norwich
• Thomas Merton
• Meister Ekhart
• Basil Pennington
• St. Teresa of Avila
• St. Thomas Aquinas
• Pierre Teilhard d Chardin
• Richard Rolle
• The Cloud of Unknowing (anonymous monk)
posted by kennyo at 7:43 PM
46 Comments:
what about Ryan Bolger - why didn't he make the list? He's a pretty savy guy after all and is why into all this crazy vodoo you're talking about. You should check into him.
Wess, thanks for the tip. I checked him out and added him to the list. Feel free to tip me off on whomever else you know about.
Can someone explain the dangers in Lewis, Bonhoeffer and Kierkegaard? Those are the three on the list that caught me by surprise, that I've read, and that I'm wanting to know what the warning regarding them is. If anyone has the time.
the purpose of this list is not for commentary on the authors but rather an aid in helping identify who those involved in the Emergent church like to read and are influenced by.
Cecil Andrews commented on C.S. Lewis recently. Ingrid from Slice and the Crosstalk had him on her show not too long ago. He (Andrews)pointed to where, in his writings, Lewis believes in and supported the necessity of purgatory. Also, that Christ had to go through some kind of pentance to redeem himself, believe it or not. There's more but I would have to go back and research it again. Maybe I will and let you know.
Hey, I got a question, are all these guys going to hell because according to you they're teaching heresy? oh yeah, and have you read a piece of work on every single person on that list? Just wondering...
Perhaps instead of "reading up on what that person is teaching" one should actually read some of the books and find out for oneself what an author is teaching. Just a thought.
Just to clarify the purpose of this list:
"This is not a commentary on the views or the people involved in the Emergent movement just a list for the purpose of identification."
It would take a lifetime to read each author mentioned on this list.
This list is simply to help people identify which authors those in the Emergent church movement enjoy reading.
Do you have a clue about what you are saying? Are you upset that the are doing church slightly different than you see fit? Does it bug you that they are reaching out to people who may otherwise never walk through the door of a church? How many of these guys have you actually sat down with to find out for yourself what they are really about? How many of these guys books like Chris Seay or Rob Bell have you read?
What I want to know is that if all these guys are dangerous, does that mean you anti-guys are safe. If I talk against you are you going to chock that up to you being persecuted for His name's sake. In that way you use scripture to justify your platform. If they are 100% wrong, are you 100% right? If they are misguided in their use of scripture, then do you have it pegged down? You are the good and correct, and they are they are the evil and false. I am sure you have scripture to back up your stances on such men as well as thorough investigation. And if you do, what if they were to reply with scripture of the way you teach. I guess it would come down to what one wants to believe.
What I don't understand is how can someone be emergent when they died long before emergent even became part of the discussion. And based on your list of characteristics shouldn't Jesus be up there. He did talk about fasting.
This list reminds me of the things I saw growing up that warned parents of the "satanic" bands their children might be listening to. And much like those, it's garbage.
What is that you have against letting people decide for themselves? I mean, come on, N.T. Wright and Dallas Willard are leading people astray? Most Christians would be a lot better off for reading either of these fine men's books.
Having read a bulk of articles and books by many of the authors listed, and having first hand experienced some of their teachings (such as Rob Bell), this list is quite good at identifying many of the characteristics and beliefs of the emergent church.
That doesn't mean that Lewis and Bonhoeffer should be added to a 'ban that book' list. But it does help us to understand where many of the stars of emergent theology grab some of their 'stuff'.
Good list and much needed.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer and C.S Lewis?
I serious doubt that any "emergent" type would be caught reading either of these authors
There's only one thing on that list that troubles me: the item "anti-war and political liberalism". First: a near-categorical opposition to war should not be confused with political leftism. In fact, in the United States, the 'great' wars between 1812 and the Gulf War were all entered under the auspices of openly leftist Presidents and Congresses, and it was the traditionalist camp that stood in opposition to them. A sense of historical perspective is in order, and the Sean Hannity show will not provide it. Second: Jesus himself - to say nothing of every New Testament author who wrote a word on the matter - could not possibly have been more clear: Christians are to be peaceful; they are not to repay harm with harm. No exceptions were made. There exist no clauses for exceptions such as 'if you were hit first', or 'if your assailant does so in the name of a false god', or 'if you wear a uniform'. If Scripture is not authority enough for you, then consider further the examples of the martyrs, who, rather than taking up arms against their persecutors, went peacefully to their (often very unplesasant) deaths - and consider how this peacefulness was a witness for their Savior to their persecutors. Opposition to warfare, then, is just about as traditionally Christian as one can get. And unbelievers see the hypocrisy of the Church, with its cheering for war, and spit on its God. Make absolutely no mistake: this pro-war attitude of the modern conservative-in-name-only Church makes Jesus a byword among the heathen, and you may rest assured that if the Church does not soon repent, it will be chastened severely for dabbling in this heresy.
Hi,
Thank-you so much for this information. You need to add one author to your list that you might no be familiar with. Up in Canada, the teachings of Brad Jersak are sweeping across the country. His teachings are a combination of contemplative spirituality mixed with charismatic visions. He has a huge impact up here with his listening prayer seminars. He endorses many of the ancient contemplative authors.He blinded so many people with his prayer practices. God bless, and keep up the good work!!
I think the author here, BTW this is my first look at this site, is simply trying to compile a list of authors that have influenced and continue to influence the emerging church movement.
Let's be fair as we make our comments, shall we? It's clear that this website is not excited about the emerging church, but I think this list is pretty accurate as to which authors will be oft quoted or referenced by folks who are excited about the emerging church.
Some of the observances of characteristics seem a little... well... shallow, IMO, but let's do try and be charitable when reading into what commentary may or not be in the post.
Ok first of all, emergents LOVE reading Lewis. and second of all, even more surprising they also love reading the Holy Bible. Please remember that the list is not a list of people who are tagged as emergent, it is simply a list of books that emergents frequently quote, (the Bible being one of them)
Now, in response to JB and seeker101
JB- Bell and Seay are emergents. I have attended Seay's church and also have read Bell's works.
101- YES! you get it. He is either wrong or right.
Either hell is a real place or it is not.
Either the sacrifice of Christ was for atonement or is was not.
Either our job is to "establish God's kingdom here on earth" or it is not.
Homosexuality is a sin or it's not.
The emergents are right or they are not.
They correctly interpret the Bible or they do not.
Like you said, it comes down to "what you want to believe"
So be warned, one of us is right, the other is not.
Either Christianity has had it all wrong for the past 2000 years, or the emergents are shaping Christianity to their liking.
Just wondering if "annonymous" above me who stated that "Christians are to be peaceful" has ever read the account of what Christ Himself will be doing to wicked people when He returns to the earth in Revelation 19...
And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, "Come, assemble for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great." And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh." (NASU)
Jesus Christ IS God in the flesh and He is the same yesterday, today & forever. When you read the Old Testament and you see how God, or Christ Himself, led the Jews on countless occasions into other nations to completely wipe out the wicked, children & infants included, that doesn't sound very peaceful to me! God IS perfect love and more loving & tolerant than we can imagine, but what we INTENTIONALLY FORGET is that He is ALSO more holy, righteous & just than we can ever imagine and He punishes sin wherever it's found! PRAISE THE LORD THAT HE SAVED ME BECAUSE I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HIS HOT WRATH WHEN HE POURS IT OUT ON THIS WORLD!
Oh man, Kenny, what an excellent list! This reads like a roll call for the emergent community. Thank you for the excellent reference! May I add some of my own observations?
- Accusation of "bibliolatry," or worshipping the Bible
- Pitting love against truth, claiming a "hermeneutic of love"
- Exclusively relational discussion of salvation over and against legal or objective
- Discussion of the cross as exemplary rather than atoning
- Inclusive language versus exclusive (e.g. "Christ follower" rather than "Christian")
- Resistant to (and resentful of) labels (sometimes even of "Emergent")
- "Deeds not creeds"
- Highly defined by reaction against yesteryear's megachurch establishment
- Value on innovation and novelty
- Skeptical of certainty
- Particular emphasis on reaching those burned by religion
- Neo-Orthodoxy-like redefinition of terms (like inerrancy, or orthodoxy)
- Accusation of doctrinal contamination with Greek thought
- Value on tension as a teaching tool
Brian McLaren says in his book A Generous Orthodoxy that he believes "that clarity is sometimes overrated, and that shock, obscurity, playfulness, and intrigue (carefully articulated) often stimulate more thought than clarity." I find that so illustritive of the Emergent community as I've seen it. It demonstrates perhaps their highest and most fundamental ethic, in my observation: a high view of man. What does it mean that stimulating thought is more imporant than clearly proclaiming truth? Apparently that men can come to their answers themselves if you just get them to try. Apparently that the problem is basically intellectual rather than moral. But to the contrary, the Scripture says, "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14). That's why the gospel must be proclaimed to all nations (Mark 13:10). Men don't need to think harder, as though their fallen minds will lead them anywhere salvific. They need to have their mouths stopped (Romans 3:19) and to receive the "foolish," offensive truth. Of course one could go on.
What about Ken Gire? One of our church's associate pastors quoted from his book Windows of the Soul and it sounded a little off to me. I've read one of his articles online and it has me concerned. Does anyone know about this author?
If you really would like to spend your time better, perhaps you need to spend your time doing less critiquing and more loving like Christ. You talk about truth, but remember, Jesus said "I am the truth"! So truth cannot be contained in propositions and cannot be known exhaustively! If you think you can know God exhaustively, you are guilty of idolatry.
Spend less time trying to arrive at certainty and more time humbly living out the love of Christ in your life.
Bravo,
But I was surprised Rick Warren was not listed. Also, if your going to list "Jesusy" Anne Lamott, you just as well list www.barbarabrowntaylor.com who has the link, www.tcpc.org on her website, The Center for Progressive Christianity which asks if you are appauled by people that think Jesus is the only way.
I know thats bad!
Bud
Is Jesus emergent because he promoted spiritual disciplines such as meditating on scripture and fasted?
Do all of these authors/pastors subscribe to all of these "qualifications"?
If I am missional and reaching people for christ, am I emergent?
Being against war is considered heresy?
People involved in the "social gospel", such as those helping widows and orphans in Africa are emergent?
So many questions... and for a guy who hasn't read each author he is calling emergent (or influencing the emergent crowd), you are making alot of bold claims. Hope you can back up this list with some proof.
the words "witch hunt" comes to mind here....
add this guy!... what about so and so!... Let's not forget him... he practices voodoo too!
Have you heard about the emergent Bible: The Voice? (www.hearthevoice.com) Do you know anything about it and if it is an accurate translation? I know Thomas Nelson is putting it out and they seem to put out good translations.
Thanks for adding a few authors to my must read list. You got the making of one heck of a witch hunt here. Thanks for the hate but you didn't do much but embolden the enemy here bud.
Bonhoeffer is sold at Ecclesia (Taft Street Coffee House)...Chris Seay's church. iguess "emergents" do read Bonhoeffer and C.S. Lewis... I do. Thi list is very laughable.
Wow .. in your profile under your favorite music you list Richard Wagner, who could very well be one of the most anti-Christian composers ever to walk the planet, and then you list Bob Dylan, who I would imagine would fit in well at an "Emerging" coffee house.
I'll take my chances reading Bonhoeffer and C.S. Lewis.
Wow is all I have to say about this. I wonder what would happen if the church became missional? If the church decided that, oh I don't know, caring for the people of the world, making sure they had food to eat and clean water to drink, not trying to run them down with dogma, using scripture as a battering ram, and taking environmental initiatives as a call to be good stewards of the resources we were given. Maybe if people were shown the love God has for them rather than what the church has been doing for the better part of the last century, there might actually be people wanting to become Christians.
Besides, one of the greatest revivals in history took place when the ideas of the enlightenment were embraced. Read the accounts of John and Charles Wesley. Post modernism is not something to be feared, but we as Christians need to learn how to relate to the post modern culture.
This information is extremely misleading. You offer up a full list of "emergent beliefs" and then back peddle with a statement like, "This is not a commentary on the views or the people involved in the Emergent movement just a list for the purpose of identification."
By the way, the items you list are misleading as well. Many of those listed which are in the movement would not touch several of the doctrinal issues you claim they teach with a ten foot pole.
There is some extreme over generalizations and apparent judgmentalism on this page. I would be very cautious as we should remember, "we will be judged in the same manner in which we judge."
Hey, what a list of good people, I think I should join them! Thank you!
Kenny, seriously.
I have no idea who you are, but dude you need to get some help.
I hope you do.
You take on all this is terribly unhealthy.
If you would like to contact me you can I would be glad to help you.
My email is pagitt@gmail.com and other contact information is on my blog pagitt.typepad.com
I am surprised you don't have contact information on your site, if you did I would have made this offer privately.
I must say that I've done a serious amount of research and I do read a lot of material. I would really not trust anything that comes from the Emergent Church or Rob Bell. Its a watered down Christianity that will leave a lot of their followers stranded when things get tuff. I honestly think its a misleading religeon that they are preaching. We are not little "gods", all power comes from our Lord and Saviour Jesus. There's too much to be said and frankly after everything has been said and done a whole lot more has been said than done..Kind regards Natie
I didn't make the list?
Thats a shame.
I am surprised Pagitt commented on this. I love the interview he did with Todd Friel. Doug made it clear that he does not even know what he believes. He couldn't make a coherent sentence, and then just went on to call Friel platonic(a word he uses when he can't think of anything intelligent to say) I feel bad for the guy, he has been blinded. I pray that he continues to read God's Word and that he realizes that he is leading many people away from the true Jesus, who died to pay sin's penalty so we can go to heaven. I know Pagitt doesn't believe in heaven, but Jesus sure talked about it alot. Maybe he should read some of that.
Ridiculous. You have made a list. Good for you. A list that other Christians like to read. Wow.
I guess the sad thing is, lists like this and the black-and-white, this-or-that statements contained in this post demonstrate a complete lack of effort to understand the true meaning of the ideas and writings of the 'villains' of the emerging church.
As someone far closer to the emergent side of things than that of my Southern Baptist roots, your words on the movement hold very little weight for those of us who understand it. The way they sound to me are comparable to how the section on Christianity in a College religions course would to you. What you've written reads like a politician summarizing the stances of an opponent. Unfortunately I don't think this is the kind of discourse that will benefit both sides of the conversation--but at least it will solidify your 'base'.
(But is this really the road you want to walk down--creating a list of indicators to find people out? Seems eerily similar to how we handled communists 50 years ago....)
too simple!!
Thank you for compiling this. It's also interesting that people only mock and make straw men arguments in response. Jesus gave us his Word, and people twist it, take it out of context, reject it.. I sure hate when people do those things with my words. Imagine how Jesus feels about what people are doing with the Bible.. rationalizing to humanism, spiritualizing to Mysticism, instead of just taking and believing His Word, His doctrine, HIS gospel. Suddenly masses of sects call themselves Christ followers yet they don't even believe Christ. They make "a jesus" in their own image...... depressing.
I understand how this is not necessarily a slam on a person on this list. The one I would object to is Madfame Huyon. When you find she influanced Hudson Taylor, Charles Spurgeon, The Wesley brothers, Watchman Nee, and Keith Green-she was a bit esoteric but would not count her as a mystic as many do.She weas sick all her life, abused by mother and sister in law-had every member of her family die and then every member of her husbands family and ended up dieing herself in a atholic prison.
KNowing this, hopefully people will see some of the "Esoteric" come out as Watchman Nee went through something similar and when I ask others opinions of him and his works am always told "too deep" to understand. Jut my 2cents worth as something like this needs to be done and leave Guyon on there as this is a good work.
Kennyo,
Your list of beliefs and characteristics is right on target. The emergent-types tend to be wolves in sheep's clothing, using words and terminology associated with Christianity, but yet with a completely different meaning. They try to speak as though they possess high intelligence, implying they are smarter than the common man. One of the characteristics we have noticed is how they like to call other Christians Pharisees. Anytime you don't share or question their beliefs you are a Pharisee. Using it like a tool to guilt you into their beliefs.
My home Church, a former megachurch, has become emergent, though they strongly deny it and will not associate themselves with the word emergent. There has been great falling away. Yet the pews are beginning to be filled with those who desire or accept the watered down gospel. Salvation altar calls are all but a thing of the past, even explained away as a wrong teaching brought about by one preacher in the 1800s. And yet another sign we see is you cannot call sin sin.
Personally, I have come to realized I have been grieving the loss of my Church. Suddenly (or gradually depending on your view) everything has changed, been torn apart, turned upside down, friends are scattered, beliefs are tossed aside, the power of the Holy Spirit is not strong and visible. The Church I planned to call home for this earthly lifetime has become lukewarm and nothing but a shell of its former self. I am saddened by the loss.
Can you tell me if there is something unBiblical in the teachings and writings of Brad Jersak? I have heard both good and bad about him....can you tell me specifically what it is that he is teaching that would considered false teaching? I noticed someone mentioned him in an earlier blog....
Thank you, Christian
Christian,
Brad Jersak has missed the mark. I realize this is an old post but if I found it, maybe someone else will read it. Jersak teaches unbiblical prayer methods and is leading many astray. Be warned. He is a nice man but following his teachings will lead you off the narrow way.
Christian,
I've written some stuff engaging the teaching of Jersak, at least at a level of interacting with his main evidence for his teaching that he presents from the Bible.
Maybe that will help/bless you somewhat (assuming you ever come back here to check this)...
The emergent church is very disturbing and sets its mind on earthly things than on heavenly things as we are to do. These scriptures by Paul is a warning for these false teachers in Philippians 3:18-21, "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." Please, also read Colossians 3:1-4 and I John 3:1-3. In God's love, Vicki
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