I keep running headlong into the word "new" in the titles, expressed or implied. Usually turns out that anything new and exciting has been in the tradition all along; it's the narrow version of evangelicalism that never had awareness of forms of spiritual expression, theological breadth, and pneumatological (how's that for a good scholastic sounding theological term?) freedom. But I also think Pagitt's book A Christianity Worth Believing goes to another level. His simplistic and historically challenged dichotomy of Greek/Hebrew thinking is appalling. It's hardly a new suggestion, but the brush is so broad as to neatly fit everything he doesn't like about the version of the faith he was first given into the Greek (read: bad guys) category, and therefor detrimental to a version worth believing.
I do resonate with his critique of the extreme emphasis of taking care of all the important stuuf in a momentary encounter, important as that has been to evangelicalism. But it can't be the only thing that matters. Still working through the latter portions of the book, so stay tuned.
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I get the impression that there quite a bit of marketing (conscious or unconscious) behind Jones/Pagitt. They are best received by a dissatisfied and uneducated audience. However, they have their helpful points, but you have to dig to find them.
ReplyDeleteI made the comment at our last meeting that I believe these writers often raise the right questions. I'm less comfortable with some of the alternatives proposed, but both these guys are bright and sincere and we can certainly learn something.
ReplyDeleteJust a mention of the blog of the Evangelical Congregational folks tracking of emergent things. http://futurewatchgroup.blogspot.com/
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