This dispatch is from PastorBoy, a.k.a. John Chisham, recorded here for your edification, delivered in the bunker housed deep below the store front of our fledgling organization I mean, organism.
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I guess the most striking thing that I have read so far from “The New Christians” (TNC) is the illustration about the health of the forest. The well established forest is one which is supposed to represent the Church. As we walk into that forest with a forest expert, he does not look at the tall trees that are well established, he looks to the soil, the hummus, what is growing on the floor of the forest as determination of the health of the forest. This is what Tony claims in this book is an illustration of Emergent- the radical new growth on the floor of the old church forest.
I know that all illustrations are imperfect, however, as a former Science teacher, I must mention that not all things that grow on the floor of the forest represent health. Bears do poop in the woods, as do many other animals. They also die there, decomposing (rotting)into the ground. From this natural breakdown of organic materials, new things feed and grow. Some of these things are new trees and other plants. Many more of these things are fungus (like mushrooms) and lichens and other such things. Most of these things are poisonous if taken in by the wrong creature, such as human beings.
The Emergent church has brought us some new awareness of structures in the old church that can be brought into closer accountability to be sure. Our practices should certainly be reexamined so we can be more effective in living out our faith before others. However, much more of the movement is poisonous, certainly as they seek to deconstruct and rewrite the scripture to better fit their own world view and beliefs, and attempt to make eastern practices such as yoga, contemplative (centering) prayer, and eastern-style meditation into the mainstream.
Foresters will also tell you that one of the most effective ways of propping up the health of the forest is a good old lightning strike that starts a fire and burns up the underbrush and quickly decomposing it so the soil becomes more rich, effectively feeding the trees in the forest. The fire of the Holy Spirit is desperately needed in the forest that is the church, burning off all that is harmful and hidden in the underbrush so that we can be fed and grown up into the image of Christ to the glory of God.
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And all God’s people, sitting in rows on padded pews at the back of the sanctuary, said: Amen !
Doug
pastorboy
Good grief if this is the “depth” you are going to go… forget it man this will be a total was of time..
PB you need to move on and teach about Jesus as you seem so far out of your depth, even as a science teacher…
To tell you the truth I could have done a better job than you did~!
1. Show the cover of the book… so everyone knows what you are taking about!
2. the picture is a man with binoculars walking through the forest.
In that forest is full of dead brush that God is naturally cleaning… and just like the RCC that was stuck in the traditions of man we are again at that same crossroads. In an article by Ingrid of SoL she promoted “biblical” contemplation that was promoted by “Christian mystics” before them. TO quote from the article Ingrid used here…
http://wordofmouthministries.blogspot.com/2007/10/ingrid-pushes-contemplative-prayer.html
“We rightly criticize those who engage in transcendental meditation and other mindrelaxing exercises because these practices are connected with false religions, such asBuddhism and Hinduism, and have nothing to do with Scripture. Such forms of meditation focus on emptying the mind to become detached from the world and to merge with the so-called Cosmic Mind, not to attach to, listen to, and to be active for a living,personal God. Yet, we can learn from such people the importance of quiet reflection and prolonged meditation.” http://www.hnrc.org/files/PuritanMeditation.pdf
So like the reformers and puritans before the Emergents are clearing the forest and paving new paths so that the traditions of men that now entrap us may be cleared so that the Truth Faith can be seen in its purity as opposed to the clutter of those who have mucked it with modernism.
Now, in a old forest also we have deep roots and a safe shelter, and as PB pointed out the “poison” is there.
Yet, as Jesus stated of the wheat and tare, we must trust God in that He knows what he is doing in keeping Tare in with the wheat until judgment day when they are all separated.
In the end it is about faith in God that He will keep us… and not trust in our ability to root out things that could hurt young trees and possible kill them
be blessed,
iggy