The Dangers of the Emerging Church and the Importance of Apologetics
The “Emerging Church” is based on theology that states the church is ever changing and evolving. “Truth” is discussed in less objective terms and is based more in personal subjective interpretation. I can’t tell you exactly what the “Emerging Church” believes because, well, they typically lack a “Statement of Faith” section on their websites. It seeks those outsiders who may have never set foot inside a traditional church. In this regard, I think that’s a very noble (and biblical based) cause.
The Emerging Church is meant for a postmodern culture where the traditional ways of church no longer resonate with its members. In a postmodern culture, reason has been rejected and experience is valued higher than reason. If experience is valued over reason, truth becomes relative. If truth is relative, the Bible, which is said to contain absolute truth (Psalm 19:7), is just a book of lies. Through my own experience, I can determine my own moral relativism.
Do you see the problem with this way of thinking? Southern Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. said of the Emerging Church movement,
“Unwilling to affirm that the Bible contains propositional truths that form the framework for Christian belief, this movement argues that we can have Christian symbolism and substance without those thorny questions of truthfulness that have so vexed the modern mind. The worldview of postmodernism – complete with an epistemology that denies the possibility of or need for propositional truth – affords the movement an opportunity to hop, skip and jump throughout the Bible and the history of Christian thought in order to take whatever pieces they want from one theology and attach them, like doctrinal post-it notes, to whatever picture they would want to draw. (Baptist Press, March 23, 2005).”
If experience and feelings are the basis of our beliefs, our beliefs are on some pretty shaky ground. Our foundation needs to be sturdy, not shaky, and the only way to find that is in the Absolute Truth of the Word of God. If the Emerging Church is denying the Word of God by subscribing to relative truth, they deny Jesus Christ himself for “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) Jesus Christ IS the Word!
In a way, this should not come as a surprise to any of us. The Apostle Paul warns us of false teachings in 1 Timothy 4:1-2
“Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.”
We cannot let our current culture redefine the Bible to support popular agendas. While times may change, the Bible does not. If there was ever a time in history where apologetics was important, it is today. If we are not equipped to defend the faith, the one true faith of Jesus Christ, we will fall to false teachings of popular preachers claiming Christianity.
In closing, I will leave you with some wise words from the Apostle Paul again. Remember friends, we must remain vigilant against a false Gospel that puts human experience above Jesus Christ. If all we need is human experience, then what did Christ die for?
“ For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
