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A Reformed Baptist Pastor Talks About the Writings of the Emergent Church

Posted Jan 26, 05:35 AM | 1 comments | by Editor | Link

David Lock, a pastor of a small town Baptist church in South Africa, who comes from a strong Reformed tradition, recently published an article in Baptist Today (second quarter 2008), entitled “Why I Am Attracted to Writings from the Emergent Church.”

In it, Lock writes, “I feel that Christians who go by the name ‘Emergent’ (hereafter referred as EC) such as Rob Bell, Brian McLaren and Donald Miller, look at both the Word of God and the world from a post-modern perspective, giving us a vision of a different, but I believe, improved picture of what the kingdom of God might be. ... They are trying to build a new, fuller, better, understanding of what it means to be a Christian without the old picture. As a result, sometimes they appear confusing and even wrong, but I have found that they have diagnosed many weaknesses in the way we understand our faith, and they are starting to discover better answers. They don’t always get it right, but as I have read their work, listened to their talks and observed their lives, I have discovered that my understanding of what it means to be a Christian has grown.”

Lock goes on to talk about how the Emergent Church has challenged him in his thinking about:

• discipleship,


• church growth, and


• theology:

“I have been attracted to the EC leaders because of the way they articulate the struggle of a pastor to be relevant to society while remaining true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his own calling. I have been excited to see theologians interact with issues that are of major concern to outsiders and demonstrate how the gospel relates to these issues. I love the way these leaders show, in word and deed, that Jesus came to bring good news to the world and to redeem it.

“I have been challenged to think about what the gospel says about issues like the environment, poverty and social injustice. The spirit of repentance and humility as they own up to the mistakes and faults of Christians has been an example to me. I feel they have helped me to become more Biblical as I grapple with issues I have neglected for too long.

“I am aware that these leaders are at their most controversial when they speak about theology. I have found myself unable to go to all the places they have challenged me to go to. None the less, I don’t feel the need to write them off because I disagree with some of their thinking … There is so much material that I am inspired by, and helped with, that I feel I have benefited from reading their writings without having to accept everything they say.”

Lock concludes, “I believe that we ignore the EC leaders at our peril. It just may be that God has raised them up for such a time as this. To help us move into a new and challenging world with confidence that the gospel will not be lost, but will actually be understood in ways which we did not believe possible, but which has enabled a new generation of people to experience life, hope and salvation as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Read the whole thing and post your thoughts/reactions in the comments.

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