DISQUS

Ben · 7 months ago

Appreciate your post and that gives me hope. I've been part of quite a few conversations among different people, unfortunately, I have been guilty of not implementing some of the spiritual awakenings that have occurred, but that doesn't mean that we should ever stop conversing; instead, we are to continue and intentionally implement what we can as we go. It's also good to journal about those conversations; in the hopes that even though not everything is going to be implemented today; it may be remembered and later implemented. Thanks for posting.

http://benjaminyost.blogspot.com/2009/06/waking...

Monte_Asbury · 7 months ago

I'm not sure I've ever seen implementing as the goal. Given the diversity of our congregations, I'm looking for clues in what others think and do that might help me assemble a clearer view of where God might take us. I'm looking for creative minds who have insights that I might not have considered. I really don't want to implement others' approaches; I want to be formed by them.

JeremyDScott · 7 months ago

Monte...hmm...okay...I think you missed my point.

I'm not asking for examples so I can write them down as a five-year plan for my church...I'm asking to hear how the emerging conversation has formed local communities into action as an encouragement that the conversation goes beyond conversation.

So you say you want to be formed? The question of my post is: "How's that going for you? What's that look like for you now? What's your orthopraxy? How has the formation of your mind and heart moved your hands?"

Perhaps I'm not being clear...

Dan · 7 months ago

I'm with you, I also grow tired of the conversation that never results in any action or conclusions. Postmodernism has done a great job exposing the shortcomings of modernism, but I think you just touched on one of its major problems.

James Diggs · 7 months ago

I think for me the "conversation" has always had a context of orthopraxy and action. Maybe I was fortunate that much of my context for the conversation in the last few years has been working to serve the homeless or adults with the developmental disabilities. My life, theology and ministry has been greatly shaped by these experiences over the last few years.

On the other hand, I also know from my efforts to plant a church that moving the conversation beyond just talk can be a struggle. There have been many times I grew tired of just talking about things and wanted to do more as a church community. This was not as easy away from the context of a vocation that happened to serve the poor. The question became, how can we as a community live such a way together where we can really make a difference; especially living in the suburbs? We have done "service projects" and other things like that, but we are still very much seeking and so we are still "talking".

I can say this though, If someones participation in the emergent conversation is just through the internet than likely all you are ever going to get is "talk". This is a conversation best had with a community that can try and live these ideas out together. After that I would suggest finding an emergent cohort in your area where you can get face time with others who are wrestling with the same issues and are wrestling to do more than just talk. I love the internet and the way it has brought so many of us together. But at the same time I have always thought that the strength of our conversations that connect us has always been built on real experiences that we have as we bring them to the table to talk about.

Thanks Jeremy for encouraging us to share our stories, and/or to make sure we are working to live these conversations out so that we have stories to share.

Monte_Asbury · 7 months ago

Well, let's see: we call this post-modernism because we don't know what it is. It seems perfectly natural to me that in this endeavor - as in most of finding the will of God - we know what it isn't more than what it is. That's why I'm here - to share others' courage when they say, "I don't think modernism's concepts are the essence of our faith," and "If we don't see it and do it that what, what are some options?"

In few places is this more challenging than in the COTN. For systematic theology is a product of enlightenment reductionism, not of our timeless faith. And the COTN uniqueness is rooted in a few elements of systematic theology. Who is thinking this through? What are its implications for preaching, for evangelism, for discipleship? What are its implications for the very mission of the church? For, as Mclaren heard in Africa, "everything must change" if we are to work from a more accurate and more timeless Christology.

I find myself tempted to leap into new forms of praxis every month. It would feel so good! But I'm convinced doing so would merely busy me up enough that I wouldn't see through the fog into the harder, more foundational questions of what we must become.

I'm sure each of us are somewhat different from one another in where our passions lie, and that is how it should be. I suspect that we who are foundations-impassioned (who yearn to see why) need those whose passions are praxis-oriented, and I would hope, vice versa, as well. Together, we find our way.

But I don't want to jump for the sake of jumping. I need to know which way is the way to discovery of what post-modernism will be when we know what to call it, lest I just move one more time according to my own prejudices. That takes a whole lot of waiting, praying, listening, thinking, trying. I'm not advocating inaction, but radical (in its sense of "of the root") action.

Dan Smitley · 7 months ago

I think the necessity for action may be why it needs to be more about post-modernity then it anti-modernity. We, both in the CotN and culture at large, need to take the best from modernity and join it with the best that post-modernity has to offer. To assume that the world in which we are headed will be void of all modernity is naive. Because post-modernity is still coming into its own its easier to continue the conversation rather then putting it into practice.

I also think the lack of action may deal more with what portion of emergent/ing church you are around. I have seen some portions that are too focused on the action without having decent conversation to start from.

Brian Postlewait · 7 months ago

Jeremy I appreciate the critique you are articulating here. However, I think like James, I have never known this conversation apart from very concreted communities living and working out their discoveries and adventuring in a embodied life together.

My journey began in college in 1994 and stretched through a quasi-monastic community, a couple local churches in very post-christian/post-modern neighborhoods, and community faith based social ministries grappling with and acting upon theological assumptions often never asked in years gone by.

As has been mentioned before--the title "emerging church" will grow old, but the communities grappling with the questions raised within this conversation continue to evolve.

I wonder if your experience has to do with context. There are still geographies that are not post-christian and post-modern. For many post-moderns swimming in these communities they are bound to experience tensions. The online conversation may be a important bridge as they continue a faithful life within their community. In this sense the conversation lays ground work for the gospel in the years ahead.

Nazbollah Insurgent · 7 months ago

The Guardian Council of the Nazarene Revolutionary Guard has instructed it's members to join in the Hajj to Orlando for General Assembly. Our Midwestern Strike force members will tailgate at our Mecca in Lenexa prior to departure for Orlando. A good ole' fashioned "Dinner on the Grounds" will feature a southern gospel band, and a full course potluck. Special treats will be given out to our little Nazbollah guerilla fighters.
Nazbollah Strike Force Commando's will be instructed to guard our sacred Manual with all it's God-given strength. We will purge our sacred denomination from all this emergent heresy. We are offering a resolution to the General Assembly whereby anyone associating with any emergent groups be sent to a re-education camp where they can be cleansed from this modern thought. Our Church has always stressed purity of heart, so now is the time to rise up and join the Revolution.
Orlando is our place of victory. Orlando is our place of Jubilee.
God bless the insurgency! God bless Nazbollah! God bless the Nazarene Revolutionary Guard!