All things to all men
Durning lunch today I listened to a lecture entitled What is the Real Emerging Church? by theologian D. A. Carson. (Thanks to this post on Adam Ochuk’s blog for pointing me to this resource.)
While the series of lectures is largely a critical look at the so-called emerging church movement, Carson concludes this first talk with a summary of things he finds commendable about the movement. One of those is a desire to be able to talk with anyone from any culture or strata of life. As an example of someone not connected with the emergent movement who he thinks does this extraordinarily well, he held up Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. Carson called Keller “one of the most theologically-astute pastors in the United States,” and yet his most distinguishing trait is his ability to engage in meaningful conversation almost anyone from any background. Carson shared about a meeting he had with Keller wherein he asked Keller about a Bible study group Keller was leading at the time. It didn’t surprise Carson at all to learn that the group was made up of lesbians investigating the claims of Christianity.
Back in June, I wrote a post entitled “Ain’t Gonna Study War No More” in which I expressed my concerns as I prepared to begin study at a highly-theological seminary that I wouldn’t be drawn into the way that theology is too often used…a hammer with which to clobber other Christians. Moreover, I strongly desire that Karyn and I would not lose what many people seemed to think was one of our gifts: the ability to connect with many different kinds and ages of people.
Mentors in the faith like Carson and Keller give me hope that we can “emerge” from these years with strong theology and warm communication not as either/or’s in competition but as both/and partners in ministry. May the grace of God enable us to do so.
Share on Facebook
August 20th, 2004 at 3:37 pm
mark, i don’t think you guys will have any problem with that. any guy that starts listening to radiohead AND digs it… they are forever cool in my book. rock on!
August 20th, 2004 at 3:42 pm
And who was it that turned me on to Radiohead, eh Joe?
Credit where credit is due, bro’
August 21st, 2004 at 12:04 pm
No worries. Clobber me and I’ll fire a missile at you.
August 21st, 2004 at 1:04 pm
Appreciate that, Geof
, but I want to keep this tension that I’ve written about twice. I never want to slip into the danger of thinking I couldn’t possibly become a “Westminster jerk” as Christiana put it once.