Emergence is...
I finally finished 'A Generous Orthodoxy' and on p.276 McLaren quotes Steven Johnson's Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software. I thought this a good example not only of emergence, but of this blog. He says,
Emergence is what happens when the whole is smarter than the sum of its parts. It's what happens when you have a system of relatively simple-minded component parts -- often there are thousands or millions of them -- and they interact in relatively simple ways. And yet somehow out of all this interaction some higher-level structure or intelligence appears, usually without any master planner calling the shots. These kinds of systems tend to evolve from the ground up.
I thought this a beautiful picture of what happens when each of us 'simple-minded component parts' interact with simple key strokes... and 'somehow intelligence appears.' :) By that I mean... I sure appreciate EVERYTHING that has been shared here, and I hope it continues (and I hope others will join the conversation)!
A Generous Orthodoxy was pretty good. I recommend it if you haven't already read it.
posted by dan at 8:26 AM
8 Comments:
I like that definition. The reason people fear it though is the lack of control. Perhaps they don't trust Christ to be self-protective of His own doctrine. They feel the obligation to defend Christ.
I'm not sure emergent is really an accurate name for what we call emergent. I think a lot of authors try to mix a colloquial use of the term with the phenomenal use of it. In the sense of emergent phenomenon I think the connection with postmodernism falls short. In other words, what we see as ministry to/by postmoderns is not really emergent phenomenon but it is emergent in the colloquial sense of having appeared. Wow, I think I just confused myself.
We try to do the same thing with chaos theory which states that sytems that exihibit mathematical chaos do show some sense of order. If I remember correctly this is also where terms like "strange attractors" comes in but I don't remember math to well. Several authors have gone in that direction in explaining the emergent church movement also.
What I'm trying to say is that though it is fun to try and make a connection to actual emergent phenomenon that's probably pushing it too far. But please excuse my being anal. The idea that we do so much better in community is so true.
Brian, your thought on control reminded me of this quote:"Dave has named what the real issue is in evangelicalism - power. Evangelicals are enamoured with power and control. That's why numbers and measures are so important to evangelicals, and why compliance is next to godliness. What's important to evangelicals is freeing you from the world that squeezes you into its mold so evangelicalism can, in turn, squeeze you into its mold. Evangelicals resist and declare as enemy anything they can't control - including God, by the way. A post-evangelical is not a one time evangelical who's given up on truth, she's an evangelical who's given up on control."
- Mike Yaconelli commenting on Dave Tomlinson's work, The Post-Evangelical.
Man Tom, like the word "colloquial" isn't bad enough, then you throw math into the equation! :)
Is this what you mean when you talk about how sometimes the best things that happen in church often happen simply because we are "in community" rather than from programming and planning and such?
And, by the way, if any of you are wondering if Tom might be a bit loony because he's a Brethren in Christ pastor... yes, he is (but not because of his denominational affiliation). He and I are also bagel and coffee partners on a weekly basis.
peace
Tom,
THAAAAANK YOU!
a very accurate and well said thougt! I'm dealing with the very evangelical scenario that you speak of in this post! all over the greater Toledo area there is a control issue... everyone wants to control God and put God in their box (Theology and Doctrine of the denomination)and that is who God is. I wouldn't mind exploring the idea that we go back to the Nicene or Apostle's Creeds and rethink how we can get along in our diversity. It's time for the body of Christ to be joined together by each and every ligament. Let's be in community and be the community that Christ desired us to be.
Tom,
"Evangelicals resist and declare as enemy anything they can't control - including God, by the way. A post-evangelical is not a one time evangelical who's given up on truth, she's an evangelical who's given up on control."
Wow!
Ugly picture of evangelicalism. Certainly, there is truth in it. But, is it a little too overgeneralized and hyperbolic?
Rob,
RE: "I wouldn't mind exploring the idea that we go back to the Nicene or Apostle's Creeds and rethink how we can get along in our diversity."
You may recall that Dan Kimball posted here awhile ago and identified his theology as based on the Nicene Creed plus mystery.
I believe that the reclaiming of the Nicene Creed will be a theme in the Emerging Church. And, I'm not certain that I consider that to be a good thing or not.
I AM concerned that we move beyond merely rejecting the evangelical theology of the Reformation. I'm just not certain what the positive statement of Christian belief will be in the post-Reformation era.
I embrace your call for Christian unity. It has been a characteristic of all 'Awakenings' that those who are in tune with the new movement of the spirit were of one heart, no matter what their faith tradition.
Bill,
I'm not for rejecting all or any of the evangelical theology, as long as it does not get in the way of the truth that Christ spoke and lived.
I'm in process of trying to get things going here in Toledo of an interdenominational Saturday night service at the YMCA. the only fear that I have, at this point, is that the agendas and dogma of each denomination may serface and destroy any unity that is started with a project like this. I want to reach people where they are at, acepting them for who they are and allowig God to move in their lives as they see Christ being lived in the life of those committed to following Him. I do fear that there could be a time thta our "Denominationalism" could drive a wedge into this idea and destroy anything that God has started in teh lives of the people we touch.
Isn't it ironic how we constantly get in the way of what God is doing by interjecting our desires and wishes instead of focusing on the things of God?
I do believe that we need to re-examine our beliefs and question the reasons we hold to our doctrines. If they pass our examineation why not keep them, but if they're found to be lacking why not rework them to be more true to the heart of God?
It's time to be the Body of Christ and reach with His hands, teach with His words, Move with His feet.
Rob,
I agree. My degree in is Church History and, specifically in the area of 'Revivalism.'
One characteristic of recent revivals is that the people on the cutting edge of them were not caught up in the denominational barriers that separated them. My guess is that people who are a part of the 'Emergent' Revival (and, that's precisely what I think this is) will join with you, if your desire is of the Spirit. I would not be discouraged by those who are not joining in the revival and who might oppose you.
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