[SERay]

The Emerging Church movement consists of a diverse group of people who identify with Christianity, but who feel that reaching the postmodern world requires us to radically reshape the church’s beliefs and practices to conform to postmodernism. That one must shed any offensive content in the Christian message and seek ecumenical agreement with politically correct considerations. To develop a construct a theology that “has universal implications". Postmodernism is hostile to the objective and exclusive claims of biblical Christianity and overturns some of the distinct doctrine essential regarding message of Christ.

[Tracea]

I'm not sure about the emerging church movement, at least not by that name. But I am de-churched because I don't like some of what I've seen and experienced in the churches I've belonged to. For starters, I accepted Christ at a very fundamental church that was so legalistic I don't know how I could have managed to spend 15 years there. God's grace was sufficient, but the subtleties of "works mentality" were preached along with grace, confusing people and turning many neurotic. We were saved by grace, but only if bla bla bla... I was more afraid of condemnation there than I was before I got saved! Go figure. Then I went to a church that was far too liberal, where the pastor took advantage of his power and used neuro-linguistic programming on the congregation, and speed seduction techniques on vulnerable women he counseled. He was a predator of women and was ousted, but I had had enough of the church experience after that. I would love to find fellowship again, but then part of me is so wounded I don't want to return. I know church as we know it has to change... it has to keep up with the times without compromising the integrity of the Gospel.

[SERay]

Tracea, I relate to what you are saying completely. Pastor David Wilkerson of Times Square Church in New York (one of the real fellowships worthy of attending) commented recently that his mail box is full of people crying out for solid biblical teachings from genuine churches. Scriptures mentions that in the last days there will be a famine of truth, that people will seek everywhere for genuine Spirit breathed hope and counsel. I feel we are in that time. An organization completed a census on church growth in 2005 and found that the number of new conversions were in the 2% range, that the majority of the growth were mega-churches who were merely attracting people from smaller churches. The church is not growing, it is merely gestating from trends and fickle church shoppers. The church as a whole today is dead. There I said it, "dead". There are remnants here and there that keep the flame fanned, but they are hard to find. The remnants are usually small groups, who in themselves fear revealing themselves whereas they do not want to loose the power of the Holy Spirit by inception of lukewarm believers. Harsh? I don't think so, just being real. It's going to get worse unless something supernatural takes place. A positive change usually requires a large scale disaster which equals desperation which results in prayer that yields a revival.

[CarlSW]

I'm not sure what the 'Emerging Church' movement is either, but I am not a fan of Post-Modern trends and theories.

Unfortunately, the reality does seem to be that multiple viewpoints make it difficult to communicate and deal with accuracy and sorting out what is or is not legitimate information and to figure out which paradigms/viewpoints have the best footing in reality.

But there is a reality, there is such a thing as accuracy and correct information when it comes to building bridges or winning at Chess, for example.

Instead of trying to embrace everything, I think it makes more sense to humbly emphasize key spiritual principles that bear spiritual fruit, and to be compassionate of the fact that we all are faulty in our understanding to one degree or another, and confused. In other words, to be humble and patient and gentle, but to be firmly established in what spiritual fruit is, and to speak on beliefs with conviction but without arrogance or nastiness.

[SERay]

Your last paragraph summarizes it all nicely Carl. Could not have said it better myself.

I constantly tell people I am not a heresy hunter or a galactic spiritual sheriff. I am merely a watchman that sounds a warning regarding the seduction of Christianity by the Kingdom of darkness via the New Age.

It can get very complex trying to identify every aspect of ones theology, and since a person's position moves over time, it shows that our understanding is limited to our knowledge. I try not to be dogmatic about my positions since many things are unknown to me. However there are fundamental cardinal doctrines that are etched in steel. Not subject to change and no variation warranted thereof.

[BIANCA RODRIGUEZ]

One of the most recent emerging Church movement is named Growing in Grace. This movement was founded by a puertorican,born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, who was an heroin addict and an ex convict. This movement had gained popularity a few years ago, and has followers in many countries. This man at first said he was Apostle Paul, then a semigod, after that, Jesuschrist on his second coming; as per today, he is The Man Jesus and also The Antichrist (???!!!). Even that all that sounds (and in fact it is) nonsense, this character is a wealthy man. He drives a BMW, has a few luxury residences (or mansions?), wears a Rolex with diamonds and quite a few very expensive jewelry (gold and diamond jewelry), wears elegant and expensive clothes and goes everywhere with a bunch of bodyguards, to protect him (protect him from what?). I'm sure this movement who's leader is an egocentric, ambicious, but also charismatic man, it's going to past than many others. But, meanwhile, naive and ignorant people follows him, listening to his nonsense and ridiculous preaching (most of the times he talks about his divorces, his problems with the IRS, and money, money and more money; and giving him their donations so he can kepp on living like King Solomon.
Any comment is more than welcome.
Cordially,
Bianca Rodriguez.

[SERay]

Thanks for your comments Bianca. A lengthy article regarding Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda, founder of Creciendo en Gracia is found within the main website at this location.

http://www.eternalpath.com/creciendo.html

This is not part of the Emerging Church Movement. "Growing in Grace" is a cult founded by a demonically possessed man. The Emerging Church Movement or Postmodernism is about removing the offensive content of the Christian message to make it politically correct while offering psychological advice and positive reinforcement. It retains little of Christ's message and caters to the New Age philosophy of ecumenical tolerance. Brian McLaren, Tony Jones, Dan Kimball, Eddie Gibbs among other theologians departing from Christ's teachings are founders and sustainers of this movement.