Are There Dangers in the Emergent Church Movement?

There appears to be great confusion among American religious leaders between what is really happening among some of the younger generation’s expressions of their faith. Is there a difference between “Emerging Church” and “Emergent Church” groups? If so, what is the difference and what is the impact on local expressions of faith through the church and cooperative associational ministry?

Read the following news summary and then let’s ask a few more questions about this movement.

• Emerging Church Dangers Go Far beyond 'Style Issues'
  OneNewsNow.com reports that John MacArthur believes most Christians are not aware of the dangers posed by the "emergent church" movement, which he says is counter to scripture in its underlying theology. MacArthur's new book The Truth War: Fighting for Certainty in an Age of Deception, says while the emergent church talks of reaching people by appealing to the culture, emergent church leaders do not have a high regard for the unchanging truth of God's Word. And too many Christians aren't aware of the problems associated with that. (SOURCE: Crosswalk.com, Religion Today Summaries - June 21, 2007)

Do you have “Emergent Church” or “Emerging Church” leaders in your ministry area? Is there a difference? Are they deceived? Do they value the truth of scripture? Maybe they are on target trying to reach their culture and McArthur is off base? Which is it? Can it be both?

What must we do as associations to effectively minister to these young leaders? Do we defend them before other older church leaders in our area who do not understand this movement?

What should our position be in this movement?

bobby gilstrap, DoM
Huron & Southeastern Associations
Michigan

Welcome, baptist association bloggers!

Well, here goes. This is our first posting on the Network of Baptist Associations blog. I am honored to get the chance to moderate and host this blog for NOBA, and glad to be a part, with all of you, of witnessing a new day in the work of baptist associations. This blog will serve as a running commentary and place of dialogue on the issues associations are facing, and hopefully will provide (in the postings and in the comments) some insight and wisdom on the task before us. Anyone is welcome to comment here, but we especially welcome Southern Baptist Directors of Missions and associational staff who are members of NOBA. We appreciate your willingness to cooperate with other associations to help all of us see and meet the needs and opportunities of the future.

With that in mind, let me introduce myself. I am actually not a DOM, but am a part-time Church Planting Strategist for the Gwinnett Metro Baptist Association in Gwinnett County, Georgia northeast of Atlanta. I am also planting and pastoring a church called Woodland Creek (http://www.woodlandcreekchurch.org) , and I serve on the NOBA Communications Team. And from time to time I get to serve as a worship leader and breakout leader at events like the NOBA Summit. My passion is church planting and leadership development, especially in the next generations of the church. I am fascinated by associational ministry and what it can mean to the churches and community and am looking forward to learning from all of you as you share your comments and thoughts.

I know many of you are new to blogging, so might I suggest the helpful primer on the subject found at this link: http://www.evangelicaloutpost.com/archives/001127.html. And let me encourage you to set up a website or blog for your association. I have been doing a little research and only about half of our baptist associations even have a website. So let me open the blog with these questions: how does your association communicate with churches? Do your association use email, websites, blogs, phone calls or visits to pastors? What works best for you? How is your association adapting to the new tools around us and to the use of technology to connect?