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 Edmund (Eddie) Gibbs is an English born missionary, professor, scholar, and author who has taught at Fuller Theological Seminary in California since 1984. Drawing from professional expertise in Church growth and renewal as well as first-hand church planting experience with the Church of England in Chile, South America (:8), Gibbs is able to provide a historical high-level view of the emerging church movement.
Co-author Ryan Bolger is also a Fuller Theological Seminary professor with expertise in contemporary and postmodern culture. Bolger’s background as a generation X-er involved in several new paradigm churches (:8) helped balance out Gibbs’ Baby Boomer generational worldview.
This book was born out of a desire by Gibbs to follow up his theoretical book ChurchNext with more practical data and Bolger’s need for field research to complete his Ph.D. degree at Fuller Theological Seminary (:7). Joining together, the authors set out to analyze “emerging trends in the U.K. and the U.S.” (:8) with the goal of proving that the church is in the “midst of a cultural revolution and that nineteenth-century (or older) forms of church do not communicate clearly to twenty-first century cultures” (:17). Continue reading Emerging Churches by Eddie Gibbs and Ryan Bolger
 James K.A. Smith is a Christian philosopher who came to Christ through the ministry of the Plymouth Brethrens before having a long “sojourn in the Assemblies of God.” He is now a Professor of Philosophy and Congregational/Ministry Studies at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Smith was influenced by the writings of Francis Schaeffer – to the point that he considers this book a “sequel to Shaeffer’s own engagements with humanism and existentialism” (:21). It is also worth noting that the core of the book was formed out of a series of lectures given at Schaeffer’s study center, L’Abri Fellowship, in Switzerland (:12). In regards to the emerging church movement, Smith has been both a critic and a friend, arguing that the emerging church is not postmodern enough. At his core, Smith is a proponent of Radical Orthodoxy, a “sensibility that seeks to articulate a robust confessional theology in postmodernity” (117).
The thesis of Smith’s book is that the French postmodern philosophy promoted by Jacques Derrida, Jean-Francois Lyotard, and Michel Foucault has a “deep affinity with central Christian claims” (:22) that can help Christians “recapture some truths about the nature of the church that have been overshadowed by modernity and especially by Christian appropriations of modernism” (:23). Continue reading Who’s Afraid of Postmodernism? By James K.A. Smith
 Tony Jones is the theologian-in-residence at Solomon’s Porch in Minneapolis, MN (Doug Pagitt’s church). Prior to this, he was the National Coordinator for the Emergent Village (2005-2008) as well the Young Adult leader for Colonial Church of Edina, MN (1997-2003). Jones holds degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div. in systematic theology/postmodern philosophy) and Princeton Theological Seminary (Ph.D in practical theology). He currently lives in Edina, Minnesota, and is active in the PTA and Cub Scouts as well as severing as a volunteer police chaplain (255).
The thesis of Jones’ book is fairly simple: to tell the story of the emerging church. That is, to tell the story of how the emerging movement started and what factors affected its growth and development.
To do this, Jones starts off chapter one by describing the “Old Country” dominated by mainline Protestant and evangelical churches. After describing the various problems on both the ‘right’ and ‘left,’ Jones describes the new “Frontier” being pushed open by the emerging church (chapter two). Throughout both of these chapters (as well as throughout the entire book), Jones makes liberal use of personal testimonies – highlighting the fact that the emerging movement is not about doctrine or church structure, but is about real people finding freedom in God to live hope filled lives. Continue reading The New Christians: Dispatches From The Emergent Frontier By Tony Jones
 Have you ever been engaged in a long conversation when it suddenly hits you: “We are talking about two different things! Same words but different definitions!!”
Well, this is exactly what has happened here on Requisite Danger these last two months!! 
I have been using the term “emerging church” in one way – while some of you have been reading it in another way. Specifically, some readers have been reading the term exactly the way Webster would define it (i.e. churches that are emerging – or up and coming). Yet, this is not the way that I have been using the term.
For me – and for a lot of folks around the country – the term ‘emerging church’ brings to mind a new movement within Christianity (similar to the Jesus Movement, the Third Wave, etc – if these terms confuse you, check out Adrian Warnock article on the “The State of the Evangelical Movement” for a short history lesson). Therefore, in an effort to clear up the confusion, here is a brief definition of the Emerging Church Movement:
The Emerging Church is a movement that began in the mid to late 1980’s (Andrew Jones of Tall Skinny Kiwi fame says 1989 as well as Wikipedia – but there are some that 1985 is the true date) among mainline Protestant and Evangelical churches in the USA and UK (note, however, that the movement did not stay within these countries or denominations, but quickly spread around the globe with Brazil having one of the largest Emerging Church conferences in the world). Continue reading Defining the Emerging Church
 I was reading about the Israelites crossing of the Red Sea in Exodus last night when something jumped out at me – no, it wasn’t a Jasmine or any of the local cats. Instead it was the last part of verse 31 in chapter 14:
And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.
This sounded odd to me as I figured the people of Israel would have ‘trusted’ God earlier – like before or during the ten plagues. Going back, I discovered that they didn’t trust God before the Red Sea crossing. They bowed down and worshiped Him:
- And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped. – Ex 4:31b (when Moses first came to the people)
- Then the people bowed down and worshiped. The Israelites did just what the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron. –Ex 12:27-28 (right after the Plague of the Firstborn)
In reflecting on these passages, I came to realize that there is a difference between believing and worship God and fully trusting Him. Continue reading Worship vs Trust: Reflections On Crossing the Red Sea
Nine days and counting to the kick out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup games in South Africa. At which time, 32 teams from around the world will begin a month long journey that ends on July 11th.
With billions of fans across the globe, this is truly one of the few world sport [...]
A few weeks ago on DeepChurch we discussed Tri Robinson’s papers “Take the Best and Go” about the current state and future of the Vineyard Movement. Previously, we looked at whether or not the Vineyard is still a center-set movement. Today I would like to ask a simple question: what is the “best”?
In a lot of ways this is a loaded question as I’m sure everyone within the Vineyard has their concept of what is the “best.” Tri answers this question in the first of three papers:
“Some saw us as a movement of signs and wonders, some as a prophetic movement, some as a church planting or church growth movement. Still others viewed us as an innovative, evangelistic movement, and in later years a movement of social justice – compassion and mercy. As for me, it’s all Kingdom stuff, and because of it I see it all as being the “best.” In the end, the best is ALL of the Jesus we see in the gospels and as interpreted for the churches by the letters.”
Along these lines, I would like to suggest that the “best” of the Vineyard Movement is nothing less then the ability to live in the tension.
Currently there are many organizations and movements that focus on worship, compassion, signs/wonders, church planting, etc. The unique thing about the Vineyard is that God taught us how to live in the tension of all these movements. Continue reading What is the “Best”?
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Who Writes This Mess? My name is Joshua Hopping and I am a Son of the Most High journeying through a foreign land following the Wild Goose (i.e. the Holy Spirit) one step at a time.
As I journey along the Way, I have the privilege of serving as the bi-vocational pastor of the Payette River Vineyard Christian Fellowship. I am also a voracious reader who loves studying church history, theology, and world missions.
This blog, "Requisite Danger", is a record of what God is teaching and showing me as I try to follow Him wherever He leads as well as occasional random thoughts. I pray that you will join me in this journey through online/offline interaction as this life is lived in community.
May His grace and peace be upon you.
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