A little corny, but...

Ok. Here is a new joke. I thought before I send it to Reader's Digest (and get rejected again for the hundredth time... one day... one day...) I would test it out on the audience of about 3 that actually go to this blog. So, mom, Kevan, and Kit Boone - this joke is for you.


So how big do you think Bigfoot's carbon footprint is?

Probably pretty big, right... Yeah.


So the delivery might be a little off on that joke. But it is my part in helping out with the environment. So I sojourn on.

Here we come, Reader's Digest.

The Emergent Church: An Illustration, if you please...

The Emergent Church Movement has been an increasingly interesting movement that is not without its detractors or its supporters. Unfortunately, the extreme detractors and extreme supporters who have the loudest views are the only ones whose message actually gets heard through print and media. Thus far into the Emergent Church Movement there has been a lot of controversy, misunderstandings, and arguments. But most of the negative things surrounding the Emergent Church Movement are from people who unfortunatley do not understand the heart and concept of the Emergent Church.


In fact, I was reading an article lately that brought up one of the reasons why a certain pastor was against the Emergent Church. After generalizing the Emergent Church based on the thoughts of a very few individuals, the author gave an all-encompassing illustration to clarify his position on the entire Emergent Church Movement. He stated that the Emergent Church Movement is like a porcupine - don't get too close or else you will get hurt.


When I first read this, I thought it was ridiculous. Actually, I still think it is ridiculous now, too. It is extremely unfair to put a blanket illustration over the top of a multi-faceted and still developing concept. But since this author is employing that tactic, I will do the same. But I will show you an illustration that actually makes sense for the current status of the Emergent Church Movement.


The Emergent Church is like a teenager. I really feel like this is a perfect description. Just like a teenager, the Emergent Church is still developing and growing. Like a teenager, they might make a few mistakes every now and then. They are still young enough that they do not quite know how to do everything exactly right yet. And, just like a teenager, the Emergent Church is not fully aware of who it is yet. It has not had enough time to develop and grow. But, also like a teenager, the Emergent Church is filled with potential and hope for the future.


Nobody would judge a teenager forever simply by the things that he or she does when they are in their teen years. No good parent gives up on their teen because they make a few mistakes during their growing teen years. That would be ridiculous. It wouldn't be fair, and it would just be ridiculous. Everyone knows that teenagers need their teen years to grow and develop into the person that they are going to be. They need encouragement and support to become all that they can be.


This is exactly the same with the Emergent Church. Why are so many pastors and leaders putting it down? Why are so many influential people telling others to stay completely away from it? They are treating it like the porcupine when they should be treating it like a teenager. If these same leaders took the amount of time that they spend decrying it into supporting it - then the Emergent Church would be developing and shaping into the church of the future.


Don't let leaders fool you. Don't let them scare you into missing out on something great. And, leaders, don't give up the Emergent Church. Instead, treat it like a teenager and help it, shape it. Come on, now, everybody.


Let's stop putting things down and start building things up.


The Emergent Church is not a porcupine that we should not get close to.


It is a teenager that we should help shape and grow in these developing years.