9.27.2005

e-m-e-r-g-i-n-g?

i think we're still trying to define emerging. ok. on the emergent-us site for august '05, doug pagitt has a link to a recent article in relevant magazine (see link below). doug writes that emerging churches seek to live as missional communities. a wah? a community that goes on mission trips and hands out tracks?

i recently visited a church plant in orange county, and they too were talking about being a missional community. however, they got it. being missional is not about having christian tracks and mentally raping people into a verbal confession of jesus as their personal lord and savior. no, being missional is willingness to serve. willingness to walk with, dine with, and be with. being willing to change their babies' diapers.

being missional is embracing a man who has been robbed and beaten, a widow, and a broken-hearted person... what does it mean to be missional?

doug made a list of 7 attributes of an emerging church, and reminds us that it is "not intended to be static - nor the end of the conversation." it is good for consideration.

  • Emerging Churches strive to be positive about the future.
  • Churches within the emerging community are committed to God in the way of Jesus.
  • The Kingdom of God is a central conversation in emerging communities.
  • The emerging church values communal life – living like family.
  • Emerging churches seek to live as missional communities.
  • Friendship and hospitality are transformational pieces in the emerging church.
  • Communities in the emerging movement value theology.

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