A question that has been coming up some as we lay out, develop, and pray about the Destination God vision is whether or not we will be aligned with the Emergent Church Movement. There is a simple answer to that…
Yes and no. You see, the vision we have already laid out in the article “Why Destination God” is of a mission to the emerging generations here in our communities. I believe productive ministry to those types of people will take on forms other than those currently successful in the modern guest/seeker sensitive church. Not that those churches are in any way wrong. They have served a whole generation of folks very well.
But, the ministry I see coming will be different in tone from that. And that tone is what I think we will have in common with the Emergent Church Movement. It is in substance that we will likely part ways.
I have, on several occasions, while speaking with people who are involved or interested in postmodern evangelism, mentioned that it would be very necessary to safeguard such a church or ministry from falling prey to the very culture they are attempting to reach. That it would be very easy for the emerging church to drift away from orthodox doctrine into a liberal, Eastern, mystical, or New Age theology. Unfortunately, you can see that already being the case.
Destination God will be different. If we are to reach this generation, we must do it with fundamental doctrine. There are absolutes, and we must teach them absolutely. Methods, such as those outlined in “Why Destination God”, can change. In fact, they often are required to change in order to be effective. But, the message cannot change.
Will I read the writings of those in the Emergent Community? Yes, even the writings of those who have developed questionable theology. Will we incorporate some of what they do (recognize I said “do”, not “teach” or “believe”), into Destination God? Yes, I do not think it wise to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Good ideas are good ideas, sometimes irrespective of whose idea it is. A holy prophet of God did not invent the computer. But I can use that instrument, regardless of whose idea it originally was, to communicate an unchanging truth.
And Destination God will do just that. We will use whatever methodology we can (within reason) to reach the audience we feel God is aiming us at. But, we will do so while proclaiming the truth of who Jesus is, what He came to do, and His being the only way to reach God.