I read an article in the August 8, Philadelphia Inquirer about the emerging church. The article was titles “‘Emergent’ churches seek a looser approach.” The article features the Well, an emergent church in Feasterville, PA. Brad Jackson, age 33, is pastor of the Well, and made the following statement. What is in bold is exactly the mindset I have about the emergent church. Not that critique isn’t necessary now; even McLaren would say that’s not helpful (to delay critique). Dialogue is wanted.
Anyway, here is what Jackson said:
We refuse to play by the established rules. It drives people crazy on both sides. On the right, they’re talking about better leadership or how to grow bigger churches. On the left, they’re almost in panic mode, asking “How do we save these churches”? But what’s not being talked about is the missional center of the Christian gospel.
We’re not trying to overthrow megachurches or Bob Jones or the Christian Century [magazine]. Just give us a little space where we can talk about these things with a little theoogical vigor. We’re trying to carve out a place in the American church for dialogue, where there aren’t set answers.”
