Emerging Churches

I'm interested in Church progression and do feel an uneasiness with many aspects of modern Church. Although this book didn't answer all my questions or take away all my unease, I did find many aspects helpful and compelling reading. I don't belong to an emerging church, however have been challenged by many aspects and do consider that in many ways, some of these churches are demonstrating a real 'alive' Body of Christ.

I believe Eddie Gibbs and Ryan K Bolger have written one of the best books concerning the emerging church (at least of which I have read), years of work has produced a well researched, well written and most challenging book.

The book begins its study looking at the changes in culture - from modern to postmodern, admitably alot of this does have a UK context - however it’s not too hard to convert this into a Aussie context. This leads into a lengthy and detailed discussion defining ‘what is the emerging church’, ending with the following definition
“The emerging churches are communities that practice the way of Jesus within postmodern cultures”.
This definition encompasses three core practices:
1. Identify with the life of Jesus
2. Transform the secular realm
3. Live highly communal lives
From these three core practices follow six resulting practices – not necessarily found in each separate emerging church
4. Welcoming the stranger
5. Serving with generosity
6. Participating as producers
7. Create as created beings
8. Lead as a body and
9. Take part in spiritual activities.”

The book looks closely at each of these nine practices. To be honest, many of these did make me consider my current opinions of Church and to some extent did help explain some of my frustrations I currently feel associated with the Church.
There are many gems hidden in this book, it takes a strong stance that churches should be missional and community/culturally based. It describes the need for the direction of church to be changed from a centripetal (flowing in) to a centrifugal (flowing out) dynamic – leading to a shift in emphasis from attracting crowds to equipping, dispersing and multiplying Christ followers.

Although I have developed and stretched my view of church gatherings/functions I still do not feel 100% happy with the result by the end of the book. I’m not surprised by that as I’m not really expecting to feel 100% peace about such issues while I’m living in these times.
I do look forward to reading The Shaping of Things to Come, Innovation and Mission for the 21st Century Church (Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch) plus Don Carson’s Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church.