An Old Model for the Post-Emerging Church Part 3
An Old Model for the Post-Emerging Church part 3
So how does this tie into the emerging church? I think this model addresses the legitimate concerns without letting go of “that which we have received” (1 Cor. 15:3) nor calling into question the “elementary truths of God’s word all over again.” (Heb. 5:12)
What issues are legitimate?
Community: Hopefully, this is obvious in the Nehemiah 8 model. But as I’ve complained in very early blog posts, I’m concerned with the health of a church that is mono-generational. It’s ironic that a group can point fingers at a mono-cultural church yet not notice their narrow age range. So cultural elitism needs to be avoided both ethnically as well as generationally. Multiculturalism isn’t realistically achievable in every location, but multi-generational is in any location. I found this church in Australia…
There is CHAOS CHURCH “(kid friendly church) sunday mornings @ 11:00-ish glen and ruth's place” which I want to believe includes the kids in the service. Although, presenting a church as chaotic seems to be defiant of 1 Cor 14:33.
I get many hits when I search on Café church but these pretty much seem like hippie Jesus coffee houses repackaged. I think part of the reasons these have a short season is the monogenerational default. Although they may provide an evangelistic entry point for pre-Christians, they can’t provide for children nor provide elders who have a lot of wisdom to impart. Background ambient music and ambient art and bean bag chairs are mostly for teens and twenties. Here are some recycled coffeehouse fellowships…
'Cafechurch is about a group of christians who want to enjoy church and each other through the challenge of community. We meet weekly in a cafe where we share our faith in a forum that is informal and interactive.” They’ve learned two important lessons.
Lots of how to stuff here and here
The Lantern Arts Centre is another weakened form I’m not enthused by. It supports the Cottage Beck Café church whose list of values I can agree with half of.
Another value of the emerging church is authenticity. I’m just not sure how that plays out in large emerging churches where people in their 20s can slip in, be entertained and taught, and they slip out. I’m not sure how it works in a small church over 20 people. Is 12 the limit for authentic relational gatherings?
I’ll stop here for today...
to be continued
So how does this tie into the emerging church? I think this model addresses the legitimate concerns without letting go of “that which we have received” (1 Cor. 15:3) nor calling into question the “elementary truths of God’s word all over again.” (Heb. 5:12)
What issues are legitimate?
Community: Hopefully, this is obvious in the Nehemiah 8 model. But as I’ve complained in very early blog posts, I’m concerned with the health of a church that is mono-generational. It’s ironic that a group can point fingers at a mono-cultural church yet not notice their narrow age range. So cultural elitism needs to be avoided both ethnically as well as generationally. Multiculturalism isn’t realistically achievable in every location, but multi-generational is in any location. I found this church in Australia…
There is CHAOS CHURCH “(kid friendly church) sunday mornings @ 11:00-ish glen and ruth's place” which I want to believe includes the kids in the service. Although, presenting a church as chaotic seems to be defiant of 1 Cor 14:33.
I get many hits when I search on Café church but these pretty much seem like hippie Jesus coffee houses repackaged. I think part of the reasons these have a short season is the monogenerational default. Although they may provide an evangelistic entry point for pre-Christians, they can’t provide for children nor provide elders who have a lot of wisdom to impart. Background ambient music and ambient art and bean bag chairs are mostly for teens and twenties. Here are some recycled coffeehouse fellowships…
'Cafechurch is about a group of christians who want to enjoy church and each other through the challenge of community. We meet weekly in a cafe where we share our faith in a forum that is informal and interactive.” They’ve learned two important lessons.
Lots of how to stuff here and here
The Lantern Arts Centre is another weakened form I’m not enthused by. It supports the Cottage Beck Café church whose list of values I can agree with half of.
Another value of the emerging church is authenticity. I’m just not sure how that plays out in large emerging churches where people in their 20s can slip in, be entertained and taught, and they slip out. I’m not sure how it works in a small church over 20 people. Is 12 the limit for authentic relational gatherings?
I’ll stop here for today...
to be continued
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