While we wait…(I’m thinking of a word that starts with “E” and rhymes with “regurging”)

While we wait for Waymeyer’s next installment in his “Guidelines for Studying Proverbs” series I thought I would drop a few lines regarding some items of interest, mostly about the “E” word (I have no chicken in this cock fight but I do care about how this conversation is shaping what preachers do when they are supposed to be preaching). For those of you who lack imagination, I’m talking about the emerging church.

• The latest edition of The Master’s Seminary Journal (vol. 17, Num. 2, Fall 2006) should be required reading for expositors if for no other reason than Richard Holland’s (we like to call him “Rick”) article on “emergent preaching” entitled: “Progressional Dialogue & Preaching: Are They the Same?” Rick takes on the growing trend that has turned the pulpit into a place for “progressional dialogue”  resulting in “intentional interplay of multiple viewpoints” which has been part and parcel of the emerging church dialogue. The chief proponent of this view has been Doug Pagitt who has authored the provocative Preaching Re-Imagined. Holland argues (persuasively in my mind) that Pagitt’s counsel has more footing in Fosdick than Scripture. Surrounding the whole “emerging church” debate there has been little shortage of thoughts and ideas from a plethora of viewpoints but relatively little has been written specifically dealing with the preaching style of the movement. Rick’s analysis is a great place to start and will certainly balance-out the presently vapid tone of discussion that has permeated this overlooked area.
• We need more “charity” in discussion. Is there anyone worth listening to that would argue against such an axiom (if by charity we mean “benevolent goodwill and love”)? However, and this is just an observation, often times “charity” is called for as a last rhetorical resort with the sole purpose of masking uncertainty on Bible knowledge.  There’s nothing wrong with not knowing something about theology or some finer point of biblical data but one should not retreat behind the battle cry of “show charity” simply because one has raised questions and didn’t like the resulting answers. I found Rick Phillips’ thoughts on “The Uncharitable Jesus” to be helpful and instructive on this issue.
• Be sure to check out part one of Matt Waymeyer’s “Guidelines for Studying Proverbs” if you haven’t already and note the comments which have been equally informative.
• If you are preaching this Lord’s Day, may you faithfully proclaim “Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” (Jude 24-25).