A Theolgian for the Emerging Church
Many of us have lamented the death of Robert Webber to whom so many owe so much in the way we view the church and providing a biblical foundation for change. He helped many of us break free of the bland leading the bland mentality. However, we may still have a theologian for the emerging church in Ray S. Anderson. I just finished reading "An Emergent Theology for Emerging Churches" (with a Forward by Brian McClaren). I highly recommend the book, even though I have a few reservations. It is very readable. (IVP Books)
I especially like his insight into Jerusalem (Old Guard) and Antioch (emerging). Although one of my concerns is connecting Jerusalem with the 12 and Antioch with Paul may promote a two church view. That being said I think there is much to be gained from the book.
And while I am on the subject of books I will comment on another one that I am currently reading. Richard Mouw has written a book called "The Smell of Sawdust" subtitled "What evangelicals can learn from their fundamentalist heritage". As a recovering fundamentalist I am finding the book very helpful. I have tended to be quite sensitive to the smell of sawdust but Mouw has helped me regain my balance. I, like the women with the issue of blood have suffered much by the hands of physicians/fundamentalists, but I am finding healing.
Labels: book reviews, Theologians
posted by vieuxloup at 12:18 PM
4 Comments:
In my Emerging Church Movements class last semester, Anderson was the second book we read after Webber. Agreed, it was thought-provoking stuff. I came away with different perspective on both the church in Jerusalem and the church at Antioch ... not to mention the necessary emphasis on Paul's teaching. Definitely recommended ...
Interesting, Lew.
I checked what readers of the book said about it on Amazon. Typical of books on the Emerging Church, the comments were all over the place and so were the ratings.
Tammie, would you mind telling us a little more about your Emerging Church Movements class last semester.
What else did you read?
What did you learn?
uh... hi. 'scuse me...
Dan, you're needed back at the other blog.
Thank you.
Sorry. Didn't get back to the comments all that quickly. Hope you're still interested in the answer.
Anyway, books from ECM class, besides the Anderson book, were The Church in Transition by Tim Conder, The Emerging Church by Dan Kimball, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society by Lesslie Newbigin and Webber's Ancient-Future Faith. In true emergent fashion, the class was held via blog postings on a private blog accessible by class members. I don't know how effective it was because, personally, I didn't have much time to read through the posts and comment in addition to doing my own posts.
Hmmm. As to insights or what I learned, that's difficult to assess. I've been curious about the emerging church for some time so there were some aspects of the course that were just reinforcements of what I already picked up on my own. In some ways, I also found an academic confirmation of what I had been sensing among my students - the need for community, a sense of faith leading to understanding, etc. I think the most insightful information for me at my church (where I am a volunteer youth worker) was Conder's. For an overall picture, Kimball's was awesome. Each brought its own insights, but I think I have to go back through Newbigin again. There was just so much to mine there that I think I missed stuff!
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