Book Review: An Emergent Manifesto of Hope

April 9, 2007 Posted by Roger OvertoncloseAuthor: Roger Overton Name: Roger Overton
Email: rogeroverton@hotmail.com
Site: http://ateamblog.com
About: Roger Overton is currently pursuing a Masters degree at Talbot School of Theology. He has addressed various churches, schools and youth camps throughout the United States. Roger was co-editor of The New Media Frontier (Crossway, 2008) and God and Governing (Wipf & Stock, 2009). Roger can be emailed at rogeroverton@hotmail.com.See Authors Posts (569)

1. Growing
   Pains by Mark Scandrette: Friendships and communities are the
   foundation for what is being done in the emerging church and are vitally
   important for the “Kingdom
   of God” being lived
   out. *Mr. Scandrette speaks of the questions being asked within these
   communities (such as “What is the message of Jesus?”) but does not attempt
   to explain how these questions are answered.
2. Meeting
   Jesus at the Bar by Heather Kirk-Davidoff: According to Mrs.
   Kirk-Davidoff, the best way to evangelize is through relationships. It’s
   not about “recruiting” people to Christianity, but conversing with others
   about life. *While she tries to deny “recruitment” mentality, her
   motivation for evangelism is still the same.
3. What
   Would Huckleberry Do? By Nanette Sawyer: Ms. Sawyer contends that we
   should not be concerned with categories or boundaries but with loving
   people. Traditional interpretations don’t work and are broken by
   paradoxes, but love guides all things. *The result of this perspective is
   a biblically uninformed view of love. A love not directed by biblical
   boundaries can become less than loving and lead away from the God of the
   Bible.
4. The
   Postmodern Parent by Carla Barnhill: Parents are not to be
   “instructors” but are to share life with their children. Children should
   be valued members of the community because of imago dei. Spiritual maturity isn’t really about being
   well-behaved but being socially acclimated and experienced. *This seems to
   promote the “parents as friends” model that offers few boundaries and
   direction from experienced authorities (parents). Parents should guide by
   example, but must also instruct and discipline.
5. The
   Art of Emergence by Troy Bronsik:
   Emergent is an exploration of faith (or story) and practice. It is like
   art in that it creatively explores fresh expressions on the canvas of the
   world. *The reader is left wondering what motivates the creative
   expressions of Emergent.
6. An
   Ever-Renewed Adventure of Faith by Sherry and Geoff Maddock: According
   to the Maddocks, salvation isn’t so much about “saving souls” as it is
   about manifesting God’s love and justice in the world. We must expand our
   notion of salvation to include local communal living and caring for the
   poor. *While Jesus did “reconcile all things to Himself,” He also redeemed
   the elect, and the approach of this perspective neglects the elect.
7. Jailhouse
   Faith by Thomas Malcom Olson: This chapter makes the point that
   jailhouse conversion and rehabilitation are examples of Christian
   community at work through stories from a prison ministry. *This chapter
   bears great testimony to the power of God to change lives, but it’s
   unclear what this has to do with the emerging church specifically.
8. The
   Existing Church/Emerging Church Matrix by Tim Conder: Traditional and
   emerging churches often clash resulting in little to no productivity. We
   can begin to work together by focusing on three things: 1) common cultural
   criticism 2) openness to historical traditions/theologies 3) Allowing for
   diverse theological discussion. *Mr. Condor points out some good ways
   forward. “Traditional” and emerging churches should realize more often
   that we’re on the same page in criticizing modernity and some times
   post-modernity. But biblical boundaries for theological discussion must be
   emphasized.
9. The
   American Catholic Merger-Church by Brian Mitchell: The Roman Catholic
   practice of merging smaller parishes has unforeseen consequences for
   ministry. There is an urgent need to address questions of leadership and
   membership. *This chapter may be good and accurate, but I have no idea
   what it’s doing in this book.
10. Presbymergent
    by Adam Walker Cleaveland: Reflections are offered from Mr. Walker’s
    struggle to be PC(USA) and Emergent. He sees himself as a “loyal radical.”
    *It’s unclear whether he can be both well, especially considering how
    clashes occur as noted in Tim Condor’s chapter.
11. Following
    Jesus into Culture by Ryan Bolger: Dr. Bolger offers five aspects of godlike
    movements that the Emergent
    Church seeks to live
    out: communal, reconciliation, hospitality, freedom, and spirituality.
    *Most of the insights offered here are good and helpful. However, the
    goodness, truth, and beauty of God are absent. Without Him in the picture,
    there’s nothing necessarily Christian about the movement being described.
12. Church
    Emerging by Brian McLaren: It’s time to stop debating “postmodern
    epistemology” and shift to postcolonialism. We must make right the errors
    of the past through progressive faith and “proper confidence.” *Mr.
    McLaren makes some interesting points but never defines what his “proper
    confidence” looks like as opposed to the extremes he criticizes. Some of
    his controversial points are unsupported and he continues (as he has in
    the past) to say things about his critics and then refuses to defend what
    he says.
13. The
    End of Reinvention by Will Samson: How we join in God’s work is
    determined by our prior understanding of who God is and what He’s doing.
    The desire for certainty, doctrines such as Sola Scriptura, and creedal
    division have led us to misunderstand God and His work. Instead of seeking
    to be right, we should seek to understand God within our current context
    and community experience. *Though the chapter asks some good questions,
    the diagnosis of the problem offered here is misguided and results in a
    socially relativistic solution.
14. Converting
    Christianity by Barry Taylor: Traditional religion cannot sustain
    Christian faith into the future. We must seek an open faith lived out in
    real world contexts. *The chapter is vague (the “religion” it rails
    against is never defined) and borders on relativism. What is clear is that
    the Christianity it advocates lacks biblical boundaries.
15. Leadership
    in a Flattened World by Sally Morgenthaler: The mechanical CEO style
    of leadership has been damaging the church. A crucial part of flattening
    leadership is to promote more women into leadership. *We can agree about
    the problems with CEO style leadership, but the solution commanded by the
    Bible is to seek a plurality of male elders who serve their community.
16. The
    Sweet Problem on Inclusiveness by Samir Selmanovic: Western Christians
    have made an idol of Christianity. We must humble ourselves and accept
    that there are truths we can learn from other religions. *Christianity is
    the whipping boy never defined. Instead of looking to the Bible to explain
    the Gospel and its relation to the world, Mr. Selmanovic argues for
    unbiblical inclusivism.
17. Orthoparadoxy
    by Dwight J. Friesen: Christians should seek to practice
    orthoparadoxy- the right holding of tensions, paradoxes, and
    contradictions. Good conversations and relationships are more important
    than converting or debating. *There seems to be little value for knowledge
    and seeking truth in this perspective. It ends up affirming orthopraxy at
    the expense of orthodoxy.
18. Humble
    Theology by Dan Kimball: It should be okay to explore theology with
    humility. We must believe and discuss theology with humility, realizing
    that our methodology flows from it. *An excellent chapter with important
    correctives for those on both sides of the theological spectrum.
19. Leading
    From the Margins by Tim Keel: The world is changing and requires
    leaders who understand it. They must be able to shape environments where
    people can grow in diverse ways. *A good but brief chapter with an
    excellent emphasis on balancing the “left” and “right” brain in forms of
    leadership.
20. Digging
    Up the Past by Chris Erdman: We must realize that our future is
    connected with our past. Karl Barth provides some historical context for
    doing theology freely in urgent times. *Mr. Erdman offers a good
    perspective on the importance of history and helpful application of
    Barth’s methodology.
21. A
    Pound of Social Justice by Rodolpho Carrasco: God is very serious
    about social justice, so if we are concerned about doing God’s work, we
    must invest in long-lasting relationships in our local communities with a
    giving heart. *Mr. Carrasco offers the ministry of Harambee as an example
    of how this can be done well and the result is an excellent picture of how
    biblical social justice can happen today.
22. Emergent
    Kissing by Karen E. Sloan: Too often the church only offers superficial
    reflection on sexuality. We need to create environments where people are
    able to discuss sexual sin and think critically about it. *This is a good
    chapter that challenges the church to deal openly and aggressively with
    sexual sin.
23. Our
    Report Card in the Year 2057 by Deborah and Ken Loyd: We have
    opportunities to help women, the poor, and the oppressed. The church is
    called to recognize, seek out, and act in ways that bring justice to these
    people. *The emphasis on helping the poor and oppressed is an important
    reminder for the church today. Though some claims here lack support
    (particularly controversial ones regarding women), the general call for
    Christians to advance God’s Kingdom in these areas is necessary for the
    church to hear.
24. Practicing
    Pentecost by Anthony Smith: Racial division still infects the North
    American church because it’s still clinging to the teachings of modernity.
    We must repent and seek reconciliation. *The description of the problem is
    not well argued- it’s not clear what acts of racial injustice are being
    criticized. It is clear, though, that racial division is something that
    must be crushed by the advancement of God’s Kingdom.
25. Restoring
    Honor in the Land by Randy Woodley: Native Americans are still
    suffering the consequences from having their land stolen and identities
    broken. The Emergent
    Church has shares
    some core values with Native Americans and they may be able to help each
    toward a better future. *The plight of the Native Americans is often
    ignored or forgotten. There are at least some good suggestions offered
    here for moving forward that should be heeded by the church universal, not
    just the Emergent
    Church.

One thing that should become clear to readers of this book
is that the Emergent
Church is not, nor is it
seeking to be, a monolithic movement. Voices in this book range in their views
of theology and the role of the Bible in their ministries- some calling the
church to fulfill its biblical mandates and some others straying from biblical
teaching.

An Emergent Manifesto
of Hope is valuable in that it presents a variety of Emergent practices and
theologies in the words of its promoters. Those who are looking to participate
or to better understand the movement will benefit from reading the volume.

Related posts:

1. Defining the Emerging/Emergent-Church/Movement/Conversation
2. Book Review: The Emerging Church by Dan Kimball
3. Book Review: The Out of Bounds Church? By Steve Taylor
4. “Is the Emergent Church a Threat to the Gospel?” or “Why I’m Concerned”
5. Book Review: Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R.C. Sproul
6. Book Review: A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren

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