Postmodern Legalism (The Emergent Church)
Here is a quote I found while reading Tony Jones’ Postmodern Youth Ministry“We must end the false dichotomy between justification and sanctification (133).”
Jones had been speaking about salvation and how justification is not a one time thing and how it is a process. The implication of this view is that the way you get justified, is by becoming just (not imputed righteousness). The way you are to do this according to the emergent view, is by getting involved in a Christian Community and learning the Christian language. As you do this you become more and more sanctified which is the same as becoming more justified.
May the Lord open their eyes,
Doug
P.S. I realize that this is not the view of everyone in the emergent church.
posted by Doug E. @ 3:09 PM
10 comments
10 Comments:
This is an interesting perspective. I suppose once the relativism of pandora's box is opened the church is open to all kinds of fanciful views.
There is a huge population, from my alma mater, who attend and make up the body of believers at a local "emergent" church known as Imago Dei. A couple of profs, one I worked for, also attend there. Of course the emerging church is on a continuum--and Imago Dei is definitely more "traditionalist"on its views relative to issues like inerrancy, salvation, and homosexuality (what a combo), for example--but at the same time they do have their "relevant" doors (if you know what I mean) open to wide for my liking. Another issue I have, is that, in general, the emerging church is most appealing, and intenionally so, to generation X (and some boomers)--which is very un-healthy, because in my view it fragmentizes the body--and leaves no space for older people to feel comfortable worshipping with the PoMo's.
Just some rambling, sorry :-)!
In Christ,
Bobby
P.S.
I'll be responding, in a summary fashion, to your response to me on your "active righteousness" article. I just need a little time to formulate a rebuttal and summary ;-) :-) that is as precise, coherent, and clear as your summation was!
Contra Mundum,;-)
Bobby
Bobby,
Thanks for your thoughts on the EC. I like it when we agree ;-). And I know we agree on all the essentials.
Thanks for the Christian fellowship,
Doug
So if I understand his statement correctly, justifaction is dependent on some sort of works? Is that what he's saying?
Joshua,
He may try to say it is all of grace but ultimately that is what He is saying. Justification is a process of becoming part of community and learning the Christian language.
But even if he does say it is all of grace, the truth of justification is that we get God righteousness accredited to our account and this is a one time, instantanious even that happens at the moment of faith.
Doug
Sounds more in agreement with the Roman Catholic church than with Protestants.
Johnnie,
You've hit the nail on the head.
Doug
I agree with Johnnie. Recently I finished reading a book that contained a chapter dealing with ECT (Evangelicals & Catholics Together). It shared how Roman Catholic justification is entirely different that the Christian view on justifaction. The Emergent view does seem to be more aligned with the Catholic works progression sort of justification, verses the declared righteous justifiction because of the imputed righteousness of Christ.
Sounds like faith + works, not faith alone. The Mormons do the same things..."Oh yeah, we believe we are justified by faith....plus baptism and adhering to the 10 Commandments." The last 2 Mormon missionaries I spoke to clearly declared that law-keeping is necessary for salvation, plus faith. Yet they somehow claim that this is all of grace and not of works. Not good at all.
My bad on the spelling. It's "Justification"...my eyes don't see well this late...God bless, Doug.
While not everyone in the emerging movement embraces all of this teaching, it appears that those who are viewed as the key leaders in the movement (Tony Jones, Brian McLaren, etc) promote this teaching. It is the work of these men that most in the emerging “church” adhere to and are influenced by. If the leadership of any movement, denomination or individual church becomes corrupt, it is inevitable that those under their influence will be corrupt as well. And the false teaching of these leaders seems to prevail in emerging circles.
What Tony Jones is teaching here about justification not being just a one-time, forensic declaration, is very close to Roman Catholicism. Having grown up in the Roman Catholic Church, this sends a chill up my spine because it is absolutely false. The emerging church promises spiritual freedom, but in reality it is just leading people further into spiritual bondage.
The emerging church and certain elements of contemporary evangelicalism, with their overt ecumenism, seem bound and determined to align themselves with Roman Catholicism. We desperately need to emphasize sound theology and a proper understanding of the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Scripture. The lack of sound teaching in contemporary evangelicalism, reducing doctrine to a lowest common denominator, has created fertile soil for the seeds of heresy to take root. Much of the emerging church philosophy is even influencing mainstream evangelicalism. May God open the eyes of us all to the infiltration of this heresy in our churches!
This is an incredibly dangerous statement. I shudder to think of the doctrinal can of worms this opens.
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