Comments on: Balance, Balance, Balance http://www.fishingtheabyss.com/archives/54 Living close enough to the edge to matter... Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:41:31 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Fishing The Abyss http://www.fishingtheabyss.com/archives/54/comment-page-1#comment-928 Fishing The Abyss Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:58:17 +0000 http://www.fishingtheabyss.com/?p=54#comment-928 [...] The Emergent/Emerging Church is a postmodern movement within multiple denominations (and non-denominations) to make the living out of the gospel message accessible to a post-modern culture.  Parts of the movement which are more liberal (those that typically use the ‘Emergent’ label), tend to take too low a view of God’s Word, and try to substitute orthopraxy for orthodoxy (much like the mainline denominations from which they sprung).  Conservative churches in this movement (which often use the ‘Emerging’ and/or ‘Missional’ labels), tend to take a high view of God’s Word and emphasize a healthy balance of -praxy and -doxy - though they (fortunately) do not tend to be 5-point Calvinist (with a few notable exceptions).  While I value the Missional focus of the ECM, and I see it as a force for balance in the church, I would never label myself as ‘Emerging’ (or ‘Emergent’). [...] [...] The Emergent/Emerging Church is a postmodern movement within multiple denominations (and non-denominations) to make the living out of the gospel message accessible to a post-modern culture.  Parts of the movement which are more liberal (those that typically use the ‘Emergent’ label), tend to take too low a view of God’s Word, and try to substitute orthopraxy for orthodoxy (much like the mainline denominations from which they sprung).  Conservative churches in this movement (which often use the ‘Emerging’ and/or ‘Missional’ labels), tend to take a high view of God’s Word and emphasize a healthy balance of -praxy and -doxy – though they (fortunately) do not tend to be 5-point Calvinist (with a few notable exceptions).  While I value the Missional focus of the ECM, and I see it as a force for balance in the church, I would never label myself as ‘Emerging’ (or ‘Emergent’). [...]

]]> By: CRN.Info and Analysis http://www.fishingtheabyss.com/archives/54/comment-page-1#comment-646 CRN.Info and Analysis Thu, 08 Feb 2007 12:51:03 +0000 http://www.fishingtheabyss.com/?p=54#comment-646 [...] 4) I see the EC movement - which is not tied to any one denomination, but has risen from multiple denominations, in many cases carrying on some of the theological baggage - both good and bad - from their parent denomination - as a response to a perceived loss of balance in the Fundamental/Traditional model and the Purpose Driven/Megachurch model.  I have written about this a few times, with the primary summation here, with the diagram to the right.  For me, the ideal place for the church to sit is smack-dab in the center, which - for a huge number of purists from each movement - would be uncomfortable and possibly confrontational. [...] [...] 4) I see the EC movement – which is not tied to any one denomination, but has risen from multiple denominations, in many cases carrying on some of the theological baggage – both good and bad – from their parent denomination – as a response to a perceived loss of balance in the Fundamental/Traditional model and the Purpose Driven/Megachurch model.  I have written about this a few times, with the primary summation here, with the diagram to the right.  For me, the ideal place for the church to sit is smack-dab in the center, which – for a huge number of purists from each movement – would be uncomfortable and possibly confrontational. [...]

]]> By: the quiet one http://www.fishingtheabyss.com/archives/54/comment-page-1#comment-187 the quiet one Mon, 16 Oct 2006 03:50:38 +0000 http://www.fishingtheabyss.com/?p=54#comment-187 Thanks Chris. That's pretty much what I was thinking. I've had experience with, and at times in my life been a part of, churches that would fit into each quadrant of your graph. Each of them was lacking something that, at the time, I couldn't quite put my finger on. One that would fit nicely into the far lower left corner I would have called the "country club" model (We take care of our own - if you want to be one of us, you'd better look and act like us). It is truly a joy to be a part of a church body now that is actively seeking that balance that you speak of. BTW, I had a New Testament professor at Biola, Dr. Wilkins, that used your phrase often. I can still hear him say, "Balance, balance, balance." I think he'd like your post. Thanks Chris. That’s pretty much what I was thinking. I’ve had experience with, and at times in my life been a part of, churches that would fit into each quadrant of your graph. Each of them was lacking something that, at the time, I couldn’t quite put my finger on. One that would fit nicely into the far lower left corner I would have called the “country club” model (We take care of our own – if you want to be one of us, you’d better look and act like us). It is truly a joy to be a part of a church body now that is actively seeking that balance that you speak of.

BTW, I had a New Testament professor at Biola, Dr. Wilkins, that used your phrase often. I can still hear him say, “Balance, balance, balance.” I think he’d like your post.

]]> By: Chris L. http://www.fishingtheabyss.com/archives/54/comment-page-1#comment-183 Chris L. Sun, 15 Oct 2006 14:20:37 +0000 http://www.fishingtheabyss.com/?p=54#comment-183 Tim, As I mulled this over as I went to sleep last night and then again this morning, it has dawned on me that the quadrant I've listed as 'open air' would also fit some of my conversations with Henry Frueh, and his calls of "Revival!". Using the above diagram, this would be a call for the church body to move up and to the right. As such, it is similar to the emergent call to move to the right (for the church to stop being so inwardly-focused). It is different from that emergent call in that it would suggest we need to move up (focus more on the eternal, based on an impending judgement, based on Jesus' teaching of imminence), and the emergent call would have us move downward (focus more on bring about the kingdom as Jesus taught we should live day-to-day). I, however, think it is something in-between that recognizes the imminence of individual death and balances that with the need for the temporal aspect of the kingdom of heaven in the community of God's people and the world they minister to. Tim,

As I mulled this over as I went to sleep last night and then again this morning, it has dawned on me that the quadrant I’ve listed as ‘open air’ would also fit some of my conversations with Henry Frueh, and his calls of “Revival!”.

Using the above diagram, this would be a call for the church body to move up and to the right. As such, it is similar to the emergent call to move to the right (for the church to stop being so inwardly-focused). It is different from that emergent call in that it would suggest we need to move up (focus more on the eternal, based on an impending judgement, based on Jesus’ teaching of imminence), and the emergent call would have us move downward (focus more on bring about the kingdom as Jesus taught we should live day-to-day). I, however, think it is something in-between that recognizes the imminence of individual death and balances that with the need for the temporal aspect of the kingdom of heaven in the community of God’s people and the world they minister to.

]]> By: Chris L. http://www.fishingtheabyss.com/archives/54/comment-page-1#comment-178 Chris L. Sun, 15 Oct 2006 04:40:22 +0000 http://www.fishingtheabyss.com/?p=54#comment-178 The "open air" quadrant would be Big Tent Revivals, Bullhorn Guys, etc. - where there's focus on evangelism and eternity, but less emphasis on Christian community for continued support or earthly ministry to the poor, hungry, orphaned, widowed or imprisoned. I've got a friend who referred to this as "Fire Insurance Sales"... Once again, there's a need to evangelism and revival, but it's got to be balanced with discipleship and service... The “open air” quadrant would be Big Tent Revivals, Bullhorn Guys, etc. – where there’s focus on evangelism and eternity, but less emphasis on Christian community for continued support or earthly ministry to the poor, hungry, orphaned, widowed or imprisoned. I’ve got a friend who referred to this as “Fire Insurance Sales”…

Once again, there’s a need to evangelism and revival, but it’s got to be balanced with discipleship and service…

]]> By: the quiet one http://www.fishingtheabyss.com/archives/54/comment-page-1#comment-176 the quiet one Sun, 15 Oct 2006 03:52:09 +0000 http://www.fishingtheabyss.com/?p=54#comment-176 Chris, I'm curious about the "open air" quadrant of your graph (outward focus/eternal needs). If you explained it, sorry, I missed it. I'm picturing tent revivals. Chris,
I’m curious about the “open air” quadrant of your graph (outward focus/eternal needs). If you explained it, sorry, I missed it. I’m picturing tent revivals.

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