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In the continuing sadness and frustration about what I would call urban legends and over-generalizations being made about "the emerging church" and their theological beliefs, I was reading a new book by Bob Whitesel that has something of merit to repeat here.  The book is called "Inside the Organic Church: Learning From 12 Emerging Congregations"
Bob has visited Vintage Faith Church two times and we are one of the 12 churches he went to for his study as he prepared to write this book. Unlike those who write about "the emerging church" either in books or blogs, yet never actually visit one or take the time to specifically talk to leaders of existing emerging churches - Bob had the integrity and just plain common journalistic sense to go actually visit 12 different emerging churches. He spent time at each church, went into the worship gatherings and met with the leaders of each before he went and wrote about them. So here you have a professor from Indiana Wesleyan University who has studied churches for many years and he wrote this after actually visiting 12 different emerging churches, so he could speak with more accuracy and authority about them. Here is what he said: "Much of the criticism about the emerging organic church has focused upon the worries and reservations that, due to their engagement with postmodern philosophies, organic [emerging] churches may subtly begin to embrace heretical beliefs. Quite frankly, before I embarked on my journey I had a premonition that I would find a proliferation of unorthodox theology..... I was surprised to find this not be widespread in the emerging organic church. The vast majority of my encounters were with orthodox theology, coupled with denominational predilections. Thus, while the methodology is experimental, entrepreneurial, and inventive, their theology usually follows quite closely orthodox and denominational roots." I have read the book and he does say there is a small percentage who would venture into theological areas he called "not orthodox and even aberrant". But he continues again and says "to my surprise, the majority of these emerging congregations have adopted the theology and core beliefs of the denominations that birthed them." My point in this, is showing when someone actually does research before they write or post blogs, they will find that the "vast majority" as he reported and felt are orthodox theologically. So according to Bob there are a minority of emerging churches he would see differently, but not the majority as is being spread in certain circles. Bob didn't do what I see as as a pattern and basically equate "the emerging church" to one or two people's writings then say with authority that you have "the emerging church" all figured out. May people who feel they want to be vocal and write books, or send letters, or write blogs about "the emerging church" take Bob Whitesel's lead and have enough integrity, respect and professional maturity to follow his example. You may not have the time to visit 12 different churches, but if you are determined enough to want to go and publicly expressing your opinion as facts and point out error - you certainly can have the decency to take even a small amount of time to go to some emerging church web sites and check them out or email the leaders so you aren't propagating incorrect accusations and even slandering other Christians with generalizations and false accusations. I have said about all I need to say about this - but I was thumbing through Bob's book tonight and read that which was speaking about what I blogged about . Thank you Bob for being someone we can respect and that you took the time to actually study, visit and actually know what you are writing about before you wrote something. Thank you for calling out things you felt were "unorthodox" in a minority, but when you do this, I know I will surely listen to you, since you have earned the right and the respect to do so. You have actually "done your homework" and spent time looking a a diversity of emerging churches and thank you for taking the time to do so, so your voice is more accurate and trustworthy.
Original content by: http://www.dankimball.com/vintage_faith/2006/12/from_someone_wh.html.
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Scott Bartchy is a radical. He believes in a subversive system that embraces those on the fringes of our society and seeks to establish a new way of life that goes against the status quo.