Review: Why We're Not Emergent

We have been having a good back and forth discussion on the previous blog, and recently (out of researching for this discussion) I was introduced to the website: www.notemergent.com. Now for obvious reasons I wanted to find out what this was all about, so I went to the site and found this book pictured above. These two authors generously, or out of marketing prowess, provided a free chapter of the book, Why We're Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be). I read the free chapter and decided it may be worth the $11.99 to order it at Christianbook.com. Received last Thursday, I have now finished the book and I will provide a few thoughts here on the roundtable.

Written by two authors with very different writing styles, the book keeps you from getting too bored. Kevin Deyoung is a Cordon-Conwell Seminary trained pastor of University Reformed Church (yes, he is a part of the Reformed Church) in Michigan. Ted Kluck is a professional sports writer for ESPN The Magazine. For the times one may become bogged down in Deyoung's theologically potent chapters, the mood swings and the reading becomes much lighter when Kluck is at the pen. This was welcomed.

As you may be guessing, yes these guys are heavily steeped in the Reformed tradition, Heidelberg Catechism and all. They were introduced to the 'emerging conversation' through a church down the road a bit called Mars Hill Bible Church, where Rob Bell is at the controls. Seeing the interest in their University Students at their own church towards Bell's teachings, these two guys decided to investigate this thing called, 'emergent/emerging church'. Purporting to have read thousands of pages of emergent literature and attending many emerging events/churches, Deyoung and Kluck believe themselves to qualified to respond.

Without getting into the details, or into the extreme Reformed versus the extreme Emergent claims, the book has one major theme: The Christian Church needs balance. Therefore, the book is primarily a warning to those who are rejecting, or just neglecting, some truths about the Christian Faith that cannot be compromised. One of the ultimate examples is Rob Bell in his book, Velvet Elvis, who claims that the virgin birth of Christ may not be necessary to Christianity. I have read the Mars Hill Bible Church beliefs, and Rob Bell's church does confess to believing the virgin birth, but his passage in Velvet Elvis, these guys argue, is threatening and scary.

According to the authors, the bottom line is this: Christianity has a few things that cannot be compromised. Without them, we are nothing, and we must be careful not to lose them. Deyoung and Kluck are extremely concerned with the concept of Atonement and Salvation: Christ's Ultimate purpose. They want to make sure that we balance the 'journey' and 'relationship' with the reality of Christ's life, death, resurrection, and purpose. Deyoung, in the final chapter, reminds us of the 7 churches in the book of Revelation. Each had something positive about them, but all can learn something from the others. He concludes: 'Call it linear, dogmatic, or hopelessly otherworldy, but it's what Christians have held onto for millennia as their only comfort in life and in death. And by God's grace such an articulation of the Christian message will emerge and reemerge, unapologetically and unhesitatingly, as front and center in all our churches' (253).

Even though the title may not reflect it, this book is a good addition to the emerging conversation, and hopefully it will be well received. Although I may not agree with all of what is said in the book, and I may see a bit of bias in its presentation, the goal has been met and the point is well put: Balance the experience, the journey, of Christianity with the reality of Christ's purpose, which is salvation from sin, death, and the grave.

Peace to All, and may this not be the only book review on the Roundtable!

Joseph