Happy Halloween! he he he
I really need to quit going to the Emergent No blog. About once every two or three weeks I’ll take a visit, usually to get a good laugh. But today, they just pissed me off.
But as we’ve seen, they are using 1,000 year old Western Romanism as well as pagan ways to relate to a “new” generation in the 21st Century. Additionally they assume that Scripture alone can’t address the questions of the day. God says that Scripture actually DOES address our daily lives and His power and Word equip us to live godly lives (see Proverbs, Psalms, 1Peter, Eph. 4 just for starters). Scripture addresses marriage, parenting, beliefs, sex, governments, freedom, legalism, dress, food, holidays, drink, church, authority, taking care of the widow and orphans, missions, tithing/offering, work issues/ethics, money issues, doctrinal issues (heaven, hell, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Trinity, sin, wrath of God, salvation), bitterness, forgiveness, repentance, homosexuality, feminism, study, singing, war, peace, neighbors, home and hearth. How can anyone say that the Bible needs to ‘be made relevant and that we need to find new ways of finding answers to today’s issues’? All it takes is study the Word then do as it says and proclaim it. The gift of wisdom is the gift of applying biblical principles to our lives, and God has already given that to the church.
All it takes…
First of all, the problem Emergent No really has is that we’re studying the Word and coming to different conclusions. You see, when they write all it takes is to study the Word, they don’t really mean you can come to your own conclusions. I mean, obviously the Bible is so clear on every issue, you can just read it and find the answer to everything!
Well, only if you subscribe to their methods of study and agree with the teachers in their branch of the body of Christ.
And so looking at their little list, what does the Bible teach about feminism? Hmmm, that’s an interesting one. I mean, if we want to take what the Bible clearly says… shouldn’t the Emergent No ladies shut up and quit trying to teach men? Evidently what Scripture clearly says only applies when it lines up with their systematic theology and biblicism.
Ah, any way, just have a happy halloween Emergent No folks.
Andrew -
I did a podcast about a week ago…
http://www.alanhartung.com/blog/index.php/2005/10/21/the_emerging_church_series_vested_in_the_12
Rob -
I value dialogue, but it’s posts like I just read today that make me feel like dialogue with Christians from their way of thinking is fruitless, and perhaps even harmful. Their disdain (specifically towards Roman Catholics) for other types of Christians is repugnant to me. It was once a mild annoyance, and I found some humor in their extremism. Now it makes me angry… and sad, at the same time. Maybe I can give their blog a chance, but I feel like it’s arguing and not dialogue. I’ll pray about it. Really.
Robbymac -
Yeah, I’m not there enough to know the general tones of each person. But you’re right, it’s pretty convenient for their internet exemption from Scripture. How is it they can contextualize verses they want, but if any one else diverts from the “clear” message of Scripture… there’s hell to pay!
Any way, thanks all for stopping by the blog. I actually do want to dialogue more myself with others of differing viewpoints, but real discussions. I’m not too sure if that’s possible with Emergent No, but maybe I’m just too close to them ticking me off with this latest post!
Anonymous
October 31st, 2005
Since there is no scripture to study, do, and proclaim addressing the internet, of course one can do as they deem wise… That makes sense …to some … It is a good thing we have eachother (secular and not-so) to bounce these lead ballons off of, isnt it?
(I (b.t.w.) cannot do too much patrolling through the internet … It puts me in a worse state than than possibly trying to find inner peace at an “all-you-can-eat” buffet … )
Beth Wacome Keck
November 1st, 2005
I’ll have to visit Emergent No. I wonder what they would think of my recent posting about Halloween? And really…what happened to A Different Perspective??
Andrew Hubbard
October 31st, 2005
Carla at e-no tries very hard to keep things discussion-based and doesn’t give in to attacking on a personal level very often (and not at all in recent weeks). Denise (Surphing) isn’t quite as mature as Carla, so if you find things ever getting malicious, check the identity of the person responding to you; you’ll usually find that it’s Surphing who gets nasty, not Carla.
As far as the three women there teaching and correcting men’s theology, they have addressed that issue and stated somewhere in their archives that those verses apply only to local churches, and not the Internet.
So, they feel their criticisms of any denomination that allows women into leadershp or allows them to teach are valid, but that they themselves are exempt from that standard online. (Convenient, eh?)
If you can keep your cool in your comments, and not let the e-no site become an addictive distraction from other more important things, then I encourage you to continue your efforts to be in dialogue with them.
Good luck!
Oh, and happy halloween!
robbymac
October 31st, 2005
Keep going to Emergent no. We need to engage all people in conversation. Especially those that don’t agree with us.
Although I disagree with the ladies of Emergent No I have found them worthy of debate. They keep the dialogue going and never seem to get too personal. Especially in the comment section.
Rob
Rob Auld
October 31st, 2005