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NASB | 1 Corinthians 9:19 ¶ For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 9:19 ¶ For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to everyone, so that I may win more [for Christ]. |
Bible Question:
In considering what Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 9:19-20ff, how does the Emerging Church fit in? The Emerging Church (as stated by Mark Driscoll)has as it's chief emphasis, that of, "living in the tension of being culturally liberal yet theologically conservative". Can a church be both missional in it's practice and evangelical and biblical in it's theology? Does this present any problems or compromise? If so, how? |
Bible Answer: Hi, Brad. Admittedly I'm no authority on this modern phenomenon known as the emerging/emergent church movement. I've attended a single meeting of one congregation which I suspect was a subscriber to the idea. According to some things I've been reading about this movement, it appears to be making some gains in modern ecclesiology, though what permanent impact it may have is uncertain. One would hope that it, not unlike a variety of faddish notions that have "emerged" and quickly died before it, will soon give way and return to the pattern laid down in the New Testament for the New Testament Church of our Lord Jesus Christ. ....... From what I've gleaned from my readings on this new movement, its promoters take the position that what they call the "traditional church" is, to use their terminology, "out of touch" in this age that has been labeled "post modernism." But what do they mean? Just what is being out of touch? Is Christ's church for which He gave His life out of touch? Is the gospel that Paul charged Timothy to preach out of touch? Out of touch how and to whom -- unbelievers, sinners, scoffers, haters of the truth of God's word? Surely if by "traditional church" one means the church that Christ Himself built, it cannot rightly be said that it is "out of touch" of those who surrender themselves to Him and are thereby divinely added to His body, the church. ...... And wherein does Scripture teach that the church must change in order to conform to the mold of the present thinking, conduct and value systems of the "postmodern society" or any other society? Scripture teaches, "Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing pf your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2). ....... The "emergers" talk about new and imaginative ways to meet the needs of the "unchurched." So just what are the needs of the unchurched? New and imaginative "purpose-driven" programs? Or salvation of their souls? What's wrong with what Paul charged Timothy to do? Paul said, "Preach the word; be ready in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves, teachers having itching years; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Timothy 4:2-4). Are the "emergers" by their emphasis on new and imaginative ways of doing things forgetting that it is the gospel of Christ, not "purpose-driven programs, that is the power of God unto salvation? (Romans 1:16). ....... There is no such thing as an emerging church and no such thing as an emerging gospel. The church is the body of Christ, so how on earth can it be said that it is in any sense "emerging"? And there is no biblcal sense in which the gospel is "emerging" -- certainly not. It is about this gospel that Jude wrote when he penned these words: "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). ....... In summary, doesn't it make more sense simply to dedicate oneself to preaching the word of God (2 Tim 4:2), to let God add to the church those whom He saves -- that's His business anyway -- (Acts 2:47), and forget all this "emerging church" nonsense? ..... A good although short treatment of this emerging church movement is at the following link: http://www.gotquestions.org/emerging-church-emergent.html and at the end of the article the editors cite a book by John MacArthur called, "The Truth War: Fighting for Certainty in an Age of Deception." --Hank |