[εις επαινον δοξης αυτου] 9/01/2006 01:18:28 PM

I’ll preface with this: I’ll add to your question about what will emerge “within fundamentalism.” For one, I hope that fundamentalists are paying attention. I don’t think they are. The emerging church is evidence that something is happening within the larger framework of society. I was at a football game yesterday and there were people holding up huge banners just outside the stadium that told the crowd they were going to hell. It was interesting to see how people responded to them. Historically speaking, I don’t think one would have to go that far back to find a time when a tactic like that wouldn’t have been near as offensive. What I mean to say is something is happening within the psyche of American (global?) thought that needs to be on the radar of fundamentalists.
Also, I hope that the movement causes us to examine our epistemological basis and solidify it. We should be very clear on how we feel about the perspicuity and authority of scripture. The very fact that emergent ideas are so appealing to so many fundamentalist young people is evidence that we can’t explicate our position on these ideas. On a side note, a stronger understanding on the exegetical basis for our ethics would work considerably to unify the church in matters of practice. Furthermore, it would remove the impediments unreasoned conservatism places in the path of evangelism and discipleship (unwitting legalistic tendencies).
How about you? Others?

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Posted by Matthew LaPine to εις επαινον δοξης αυτου at 9/01/2006 01:18:28 PM