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July 05, 2005
"12 Tension Points in the Emerging Church," by Andrew Jones
The “TallSkinnyKiwi,” Andrew Jones, has just written a great overview of some of the “new directions” emerging churches are attempting to take (in his opinion, they are tension points between emerging and traditional churches). Many of these “tension points” are what pulled us towards our current community.
Here’s one of Jones’ “baker’s dozen”:
11. Western and GlobalRead the rest here.
Our global world is impacted by voices from all over the world. Theologians, missionaries and teachers, especially those from Africa, Asia and Latin America, are often suspect under a highly western-dominated educational system. I see this tension point as being one that is only just beginning – much of our future debates will find their root in the clash between west and east.
Posted at 1:18 pm
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Comments (2):
These are really thought provoking points, and normally I would get all wrapped up in them. However, recently I heard Bishop Scott Jones of the United Methodist Kansas Conference speak, and he blew me away on issues of religious difference or contention. His statement was that we must remember , “The main thing is keeping the main thing the main thing.” With that in mind, reading Christ’s last words to us in Matthew 28: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
As I see it the “main thing” by Christ’s command is to make disciples. Therefore if we are to keep that the main thing, all else is insignificant in comparrison. So, if we lose sight and focus on Christ’s command by instead looking to arguments of difference or contention, making disciples becomes secondary or insignificant. If on the other hand we focus on making disciples, then arguments of difference or contention become secondary or insignificant. For me, I intend to keep the main thing the main thing!
As I see it the “main thing” by Christ’s command is to make disciples. Therefore if we are to keep that the main thing, all else is insignificant in comparrison. So, if we lose sight and focus on Christ’s command by instead looking to arguments of difference or contention, making disciples becomes secondary or insignificant. If on the other hand we focus on making disciples, then arguments of difference or contention become secondary or insignificant. For me, I intend to keep the main thing the main thing!
Larry () - July 05, 2005 at 4:22 pm
Good point, Larry… That did strike me a little as I was reading these points. What prompted me to post about this, though (even though I didn’t mention it) was that these points don’t necessarily seem like contentions to me — maybe a re-focussing back to the main point.
I’ll have to think about that a little more.
(By the way, the United Methodist denomination is one of the earliest adopters of some of the “emerging” church philosophies.)
I’ll have to think about that a little more.
(By the way, the United Methodist denomination is one of the earliest adopters of some of the “emerging” church philosophies.)
timsamoff () (URL) - July 05, 2005 at 7:00 pm
