What is the emergent church?

What is the emergent church?

First off I need to give some definitions of words I use and how they may be a bit different from what others may use.

I view the church as never once been intended to be an institution. On a personal level, I believe, about the time of Constantine, the Nicolaitans somehow corrupted the “church” (used in a generic form here). Their corruption came about by setting up a hierarchical and authoritarian institution.

This set up a separation of priests and laity. In Hebrews it talks of Jesus being our high priest and believers being part of the priesthood of Melchizedek. There is to be no one between a believer and Jesus for only He is our mediator.

In all this I am not anti Catholic nor do I see that believers involved in what I would consider an institution as less my brothers and sisters in Christ. I believe the faithful have served God in many capacities, from kings to slaves. We are called to be priests wherever God has sent us.

Now, when broken down from the Greek, the word Church means (I wont go into all the techy stuff here), “The Called out ones” or “The chosen ones called out to perfection”. In the Book of Revelation Jesus sends letters to believers at 7 different churches, which would read, “To the Called out Ones who gather in…” I beleive this is true even today. For example, I am “One of the called out ones to perfection who gather in Billings.” I would add my ministry’s name to be more specific as to the location.

Many modern churches under the traditional authority and institutional model say this is what they believe, which they may; yet I do not see it in practice.

Now, I am finally to the question. “What is the emergent church?”

Again, as you read each person’s posts we will have a little different idea and approach to this question. Many people, as big papa pointed out to me, have never even heard of the catch phrase we have put on ourselves. It is associated with being Postmodern, which by the way is another topic altogether. Suffice it to say for me personally I am a postmodern only because I live in the postmodern age. Yet, as a believer I hold to the truth as taught in the Bible.

Emergence is defined as “Newly formed or just coming into prominence; emergent: emerging markets; the emerging states of Africa.”

To be emerging is defined as: NOUN: 

1. The act or process of emerging.

2. A superficial outgrowth of plant tissue, such as the prickle of a rose.

So in a way, we are something coming into prominence that is in the process of emerging.

Or let me use this illustration:

Jesus is the vine and we are the branches… as we take in the Life of Christ in us, we bear fruit. Yet, without the Life of Christ flowing in us we are not a true living thing. The fruit emerges only if the Life is in the branch, which is attached to the Vine.

This leads me to what I believe the church really is. The church is a living organism. It is the literal Body of the Living Jesus. We are placed into this body, as we become believers, much as God placed Adam in the Garden after God formed Adam. We are a new creation in Christ. We are all connected as One in the Body of Christ here on earth. We are the literal Body of Jesus Himself on this Planet.

I see that as the modern churches age has ended, whether moderns accept it or not, changes are coming. People are less responsive to institutions and authority. They are looking for what I call The Real, who is the person of Jesus.

When people seek The Real they will find authentic and true worship that is by the power of the Holy Spirit and Truth.

The emergent church is a budding flower that has risen out to the carnage of modern thought. In case one thinks I am being a bit strong, I also believe we of emergent thought will leave our own carnage if we are not careful. Yet we have the advantage of being young as an age. With this we can move forward and make mistakes and experiment, grow and change things as we hear the Spirit guide us.

I believe we are God’s Garden, to use an illustration. He has planted a new generation who is seeking The Real. Most do not even know His Name nor that this is even a person. We of emergent thought are not out to change things, but rather to start afresh like a budding plant in God’s Garden. The Bible points out that one may plant, another water, yet it is God who makes things grow. God is planting, now, visions in the heart of believers to reach this postmodern/post church generation. If we listen, I believe many will come to Jesus. As we grow, I believe God will guide and help us in His Way. I know some weeds will spout out, yet that is God’s problem and He will deal with it.

I see that the new churches will have an organic and natural feel and style to them. It will not be easily marketed. The Fellowship that I am part of developing in Billings does not have a traditional Sunday sermon, for the people are the sermon. We gather to fellowship, worship, and study and discuss the Bible. We are not afraid of discussing anything and I personally enjoy people who challenge the norm in thought.

There was a time when the Eucharist table was in the front of the building. When the protestants came about they moved the table and set in its place an alter. I see that it is time to move the table not in front but in the center of our fellowship. We gather for that reason… to fellowship and break bread together as a symbol of being the Body of Christ Jesus on Earth.

Blessings,

iggy