Should emergents remain in their traditional churches?

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Permalink Reply by Brian McConnell on December 10, 2010 at 3:16pm

I can certainly appreciate your situation Jack. Whatever's made it's way into the water is changing EVERYTHING.

 

Although I'd advise, as best you're able, honoring and sustaining the friendships you've cultivated at church, your own spiritual development can be facilitated by expanding that same sphere of interpersonal relations in respect to others.

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Permalink Reply by Sa Say on February 3, 2011 at 5:18pm

I think everyone has to approach their transformative experience differently. Luther certainly had no intention of leaving the Catholic church, but wasn't given much choice. Others have been able to work change from within. We can't all leave the established churches...nor can we all stay. As an itinerant worship leader whose calling has been in new and emerging churches, I don't stay anywhere very long. My deep-rooted family is not in a single church dwelling, but all over the country in many churches. And my way of going about things is not going to have much impact, but it might help to sow some seeds as I move through to the next place.

 

If you are not just seeking within yourself, or from others, but desperately searching for God's own guidance, I know the decision you finally come to will fill you with peace and a sense of purpose.

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Permalink Reply by Ricky Maye on July 2, 2011 at 12:49pm

You may have to leave, that doesn't make you a bad person, nor the church a bad church, it just means you two are going in two different directions. I wrote a book called REthink Christianity and I got alot of similar questions and most people found it was better to find a community that is on a similar path.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Croghan on July 2, 2011 at 3:49pm

Hi Jack (and folks) - I think every situation is different, but speaking from my own personal experience - it may make sense for you to "leave" in the sense of directing some/most/pretty-much-all of your fellowship/worship/ministry/etc. time and talent - and even financial giving - to another (emergent?) community that you feel called to, that's incarnating the gospel in a way that harmonizes with your gifts and passions, that you may help form, etc.  But if you do, so far as it depends on you, try to "leave" in such a way that you can come back.  Not necessarily in the "if you change your mind" sense, but as part of the extended family, coming home for holiday dinners and the like (metaphorically speaking).  Try to maintain as many friendships as possible, try not to burn bridges, keep communication and fellowship alive, and show up from time to time.  If folks are open to it, this can lead to all kinds of opportunities for conversation, cooperation, exchange of ideas, collaboration on mission/justice activities, etc., between the "traditional" and "emergent" communities/worlds.

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Permalink Reply by Jack Sutherland on July 7, 2011 at 8:59am

Thanks!  I think this makes a lot of sense.

 

It's tough when something I seriously disagree with is being preached from the pulpit.  Like a one way conversation I just have to suck up and take.  However lately I've realized that the most beneficial conversations (for me and others) happen with those in the pews.  So for the moment I'm just working on being patient and humble.

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