The “Emerging Church” Movement — What Is It?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesBack in the 1960’s and 1970’s, there was a cult-like like religious movement called the “Boston Movement” (rooted in the Crossroads movement). The adherents of this movement promoted many off-the-wall man-made teachings contrary to the teachings of the Bible. Many congregations of the Lord’s church were adversely effected by the false teachings of this movement, causing many splintered congregations.
Today we are seeing the advancement of another religious movement or ideology called the “Emerging (or Emergent) Church” movement (see article).
The basic teachings of this movement are based on subjective thinking – see 3 (feelings-based) rather than objective thinking- see 5 (based on logical thinking and reason – Isaiah 1:18 NKJV; cf. Mark 12:28 NKJV; Acts 17:2 NKJV; Acts 18:4,19 NKJV; Acts 24:25 NKJV), and promotes the godless philosophy that truth is relative rather than absolute (see article).
It also promotes the teaching that “all roads [religious teachings] lead to heaven,” which is not true (John 14:6 NKJV; cf. Matthew 7:14-23 NKJV; Matthew 15:10-14 NKJV). The inspired apostle Paul pretty well sums up the problem of the “Emerging Church” movement (as well as all other man-made movements), when he states:
“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3-4 NKJV).
Brethren, not only do we need to be aware and knowledgeable of all false teachings that are being promoted today, but we need to adhere to Paul’s admonition to Titus regarding the qualification of elders and their stand against false teachers:
“Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict” (Titus 1:9 NKJV).
John warns us:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1 NKJV; cf. Acts 20:29-30 NKJV; 1 Timothy 4:1 NKJV; 2 Peter 2:1-2 NKJV).
The standard of testing is by God’s inspired word (2 Timothy 3:16 ASV) delivered to us by Holy Spirit inspired men (John 14:26 NKJV; John 15:26-27 NKJV; 1 John 4:6 NKJV; cf. Gal. 1:11-12 NKJV; Ephesians 3:1-6 NKJV; 2 Peter 1:16-21 NKJV).
Let’s be aware of the great deceiver and his devices — one of those devices being false teaching (Revelation 12:7-9 NKJV; 2 Corinthians 2:11 NKJV).
In order for members of the Lord’s church to gain a better understanding of this ungodly man-made movement, I’ve included the following articles by faithful gospel preachers, describing some of the tenets of the movement, as well as some additional secular articles and video.
Related Articles:
- The “Emerging Church” — The New Face of Heresy
- The Emerging Church Movement
- The Muddy Waters Of The Emerging Church
- Philosophical Underpinnings of the Emerging Church
- A Quick Review of Phil Sanders’ Article “The Emerging Church Movement”
Related Secular Articles:
- Five Streams of the Emerging Church
- The Emerging (Global) Church
- Exposing The Emerging Church
- Appropriate Response to the Emerging Church Movement
Related Video: