Emerging?

I don’t want anyone to get the idea that I’m “emerging.”  In my previous blog, I talked about the term “christfollower.”  I don’t want to replace “christian” with that.  I’m just saying I happen to like the term “christfollower.”  I think a lot is implied in that term, like a person’s commitment to be a disciple of Jesus, not just to believe in because of some eternal reward, but to attempt to model your life after his every day – to take his teachings to heart, and walk in his footsteps.  To be a “little Christ.”

It’s up to each and every one of us to be the reflection of the Light that lights the world.  We are like the moon, the lesser light, which shines in the night and reflects the glory of the sun. 

I think “christfollower” implies that very well.

As for the “emergent” movement, I still don’t really like it.  I watched some youtube videos of the church village roadshow or whatever, and it still seems off key to me – not the singing, but just the general mood of the whole deal.  Doug Pagitt unnerves me.  And I watched Tony Jones’ responses to prior critical videos, and he was singing that song on every one.  I get the humor behind it.  And what he’s saying.  But it’s still off-key to me. 

Really, the only thing the emergent folks encourage me to do is to watch my tone, and the way I talk about people.  Jones’ response videos are, to me, disrespectful of the argument.  It is far from “rising above it.”  If people have genuine criticisms and concerns, how is it respecting them just to sing an old-timey song? 

But all emergent-types do encourage me to be more honest, sincere, and authentic in my own life.  Which can’t be a bad thing.

So blessings on us all, then.