1. Emergent Church Movement
Session 13
Discernment and the
Emergent Church Movement

2. What is Emergent?
The Emerging Church is a movement that claims to be Christian.  The term “Emerging Church” is used to describe a broad, controversial movement that seeks to use culturally sensitive approaches to reach the postmodern, un-churched population with a Christian message.  
Matt Slick (President and Founder of the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry), “What is the Emerging Church?,”

3. 10 Common Traits
An awareness of and attempt to reach those in the changing postmodern culture.
A broader approach to worship using candles, icons, images, sounds, smells, etc.
An inclusive approach to various, sometimes contradictory belief systems.
An emphasis on experience and feelings over absolutes.
Concentration on relationship-building over proclamation of the gospel.

4. Shunning stale traditionalism in worship, church seating, music, etc.
A de-emphasis on absolutes and doctrinal creeds
A re-examination of the Bible and its teachings.
A re-evaluation of traditionally-held doctrines.
A re-evaluation of the place of Christianity in the world.

5. What is Emergent? Mars Hill Bible Church Sojourners
Crossroads Emergent Village
Transmission Mosaic
Solomon’s Porch Vintage Faith
Saddleback U2

6. Roots of Emergent? Liberalism…modernism…social gospel
Postmodernism…skepticism…Emergent

7. Who Is Emergent? Brian McLaren Leonard Sweet Erwin Raphael McManus
Rob Bell
Eddie Gibbs
Dan Kimball
Donald Miller
Doug Pagitt
Tony Jones
Nadia Bolz-Weber
Bono
Rick Warren

8. Who Is Emergent? Brian McLaren Leonard Sweet Erwin Raphael McManus
Rob Bell
Eddie Gibbs
Dan Kimball
Donald Miller
Doug Pagitt
Tony Jones
Nadia Bolz-Weber
Bono
Rick Warren
In 2011 Time Magazine named Bell on its list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.
In February 1999, Bell founded Mars Hill Bible Church, with the church originally meeting in a school gym in Wyoming, Michigan. Within a year the church was given a shopping mall in Grandville, Michigan, and purchased the surrounding land.
As of March 2012, Sunday attendance numbered about 14,000 with over 6,000 actual members.

9. Who Is Emergent? Brian McLaren Leonard Sweet Erwin Raphael McManus
Rob Bell
Eddie Gibbs
Dan Kimball
Donald Miller
Doug Pagitt
Tony Jones
Nadia Bolz-Weber
Bono
Rick Warren

10. Who Is Emergent? Brian McLaren Leonard Sweet Erwin Raphael McManus
Rob Bell
Eddie Gibbs
Dan Kimball
Donald Miller
Doug Pagitt
Tony Jones
Nadia Bolz-Weber
Bono
Rick Warren

11. Who Is Emergent? Brian McLaren Leonard Sweet Erwin Raphael McManus
Rob Bell
Eddie Gibbs
Dan Kimball
Donald Miller
Doug Pagitt
Tony Jones
Nadia Bolz-Weber
Bono
Rick Warren

12. Who Is Emergent? Brian McLaren Leonard Sweet Erwin Raphael McManus
Rob Bell
Eddie Gibbs
Dan Kimball
Donald Miller
Doug Pagitt
Tony Jones
Nadia Bolz-Weber
Bono
Rick Warren

13. The Danger of Emergent
Dangerous because they “claim” to be Christian, “followers” of Jesus Christ and “believers” of the Bible.
A different meaning of “truth”
A different view of “scripture”

14. The Danger of Emergent A different view of God
A different view of Jesus
A different view of man

15. The Danger of Emergent A different Kingdom A different view of church
A different kind of worship

16. The Danger of Emergent A different purpose for mission
A different take on morality

17. The Danger of Emergent A different view of heaven A denial of hell
A different view of experience
A false Gospel

18. God’s Truth vs. Emergent Belief
Trinity………………. Pantheism
Sin Separates……… Universalism
Jesus=Cross………. Jesus=teacher
Last Days………….. Dominion
Salvation…………… Enlightenment
Judgment………….. Inclusion
Authority (Word)….. Discussion
Conversion………... Self Acceptance
Repent/Believe…… Experience
Certainty………….. Uncertainty

19. How the Emergent Church Became Influential
Changing religious terminology
Twisting and distorting Scripture
A lack of discernment among Christians

20. Effects of Emergent Distrust of Scripture
Conforming to the world of universalism
The lost think they are saved (false conversions)
Christians condemned for believing and following God’s Word.

21. Guarding Against Emergent
Know Scripture
Encourage your pastor
Use discernment (1 Thess. 5:21-22)
Educate yourself (2 Timothy 2:15)
Enlighten others

22. Response to Emergent Know God’s truth Proclaim God’s truth
Defend God’s truth (1 Peter 3:15, Jude 3)
Expose falsehoods
Pray for leaders and followers

23. Additional Resources

24. CASE STUDY…The Inevitable Trajectory of Emergent Theology
Rob Bell

25. Case Study: Rob Bell Dissatisfaction with ‘church’.
Uncomfortable with Scripture.
Seeking alternative ‘truth’.
Offering alternative interpretation/understanding.
Denying the gospel.
Endorsing / Promoting immorality, promiscuity.
Condemning those who believe Scripture.

26. End Session 13