Re: Bethel College & Seminary, the McManus Brothers, Mysticism and the Emerging Church
| Posted On: 03/01/06 06:14:28 AM |
Age 29, IA |
I read all of the articles surrounding the Emergent Church debate and have to admit, you guys are pretty disgruntled. You act like if a pastor doesn't remind people of how broken they are that they're not doing their job. Do people really need to be constantly reminded of how broken they are? Deep down inside through that thick wall of defense, most people know how broken they are. Erwin uses a tool Jesus used particularly well...love, to break through that wall to get to people so often offended by "Christians" who are quick to judge and rarely walk the walk.
I don't agree with everything around the EC and Brian McLaren in particular, but that also reminds me that I rarely agree with the teachings of another "Christian" by the name of Pat Roberts.
Look at the fruits of Erwin's work. Have you listened to his sermons? They're free. He's very Bible based. He just uses LOVE to attack the wall put up by comdemnation...why don't we let Christ convict our hearts instead of "Christians" who don't live the life Christ calls them to anyway...
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Re: Bethel College & Seminary, the McManus Brothers, Mysticism and the Emerging Church
| Posted On: 02/28/06 11:32:31 PM |
Age 23, FL |
I write this knowing that you will not change your mind, but in hopes that some honest dialogue can be had.
I personally am friends with Alex McManus and I was an intern at Mosaic for a summer. I know both Alex and Erwin to be people more concerned for the mission of Christ than almost anyone I have ever met.
The fact that they dont have a clear gospel presentation on their website makes them somehow guilty of not being concerned about mission? It is apparent that you didnt dig very far into their church to see that their first core value is that mission is why the church exists. They dont get tranfer growth, people actually come to know God there. I cant say that about a lot of places, how about your church?
The fact that they played an Eminem clip on their site makes them against the gospel? Again, if christians are afraid to engage with the world and we insist on supporting hymn-singing events instead of getting to know people, we are missing the boat.
The Evangelical climate initiative was backed by Wheaton College as well as Rick Warren and the fact that some other organizations support it that you dont agree with will make you withdrawl? I dont understand this rational in the least bit.
As for Alex and the Mystic, I am glad to see that you understood the metaphor. I also hope that you read his disclaimer.
I also thought you would like to know that Erwin and Mosaic are not affiliated with the Emergent movement. You can ask Brian McLaren himself.
I have a hard time hearing you criticizing one of the only churches I have ever been a part of that is reaching those who dont know god and inspiring others to do the same. If that is emergent spirituality for you, I am all for it.
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- Re: Re: Bethel College & Seminary, the McManus Brothers, Mysticism and the Emerging Church
| Posted On: 03/01/06 12:08:01 AM | | Age 34, MN |
Brannon said he objected to the Global Warming Iniative for many reasons including who was funding it...go and re-read his article. Erwin is part of the EC. Notice he is teaching for Bethel for what is called a degree in EC Leadership. In addition, read his book, see what conferences he speaks for, the books he endorses. If it walks like a duck and sounds like a duck...you know the saying. Erwin is EC. Lots of these guys are trying to say they are not EC when people like Brannon bring the heat on them. However, saying your not part of the EC and then speaking for EC conferences, writing on EC and incorporating EC principles makes you EC. As we their false believes are revealed,many of the EC leaders will stop clalling themselves that....Liberals due this all the time, change the names of their liberal policies and agendas to fool the public...but again, if it walks like a duck, and sounds like a duck....you know the saying....So, buy their spin if you want but Erwin is EC...There may be varying degrees of EC and Erwin may not be of the extreme liberal EC but he is still EC...The proof is in the pudding.
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Re: Bethel College & Seminary, the McManus Brothers, Mysticism and the Emerging Church
| Posted On: 02/28/06 06:32:46 AM |
Age 79, OH |
You posted this remark in your reference to global warming:
"The initiative has been extremely controversial in evangelical circles because its funding comes in part from foundations that have also supported such things as globalism, abortion, and same-sex marriage."
That is inapropriate to discount a concern because a group you don't agree with also supports a real concern.
You discount myticism, but the fact is that a great number of church organizations have lost their spirituality and have tragically become more political than Christian.
It seems that many in the church would rather return to the Dark Ages, when knowledge was considered to be evil.
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- Re: Re: Bethel College & Seminary, the McManus Brothers, Mysticism and the Emerging Church
| Posted On: 02/28/06 11:39:59 PM | | Age 23, FL |
Thanks for your response. You make a great point that I hope will be heeded.
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Re: Bethel College & Seminary, the McManus Brothers, Mysticism and the Emerging Church
| Posted On: 02/27/06 12:53:46 PM |
Age 57, MO |
Thanks for this valuable information. We are all under a burden to relate the gospel to as many people as possible, but using anti-christian means is unsupportable biblically. It was clearly the biblical task of the New Testament Church to deliver people from gnosticism, docetism, and other forms of mysticism, as well as to promote clear-headed godliness in thinking.
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