It's important to realize that not all emerging church peeps are created equal. We must not fall into the trap that the fundamentalists have fallen into of lumping all of "them" into one group.

No, they are not all created equal, but the question is: Why would those who truly are Christians even want to associate themselves with the bunch who openly mock God?

Seems to me there's something about bad company corrupting good morals. Or, if you don't want to get dirty, quit visiting the pigpen and hanging out with the hogs.

Just because the terminology or movement is abused by some, doesn't mean it should be dropped. I'm a Presbyterian, which has been horribly abused by many. But I'm not about to drop it.

"Presbyterian" has a long history of usage, as opposed to the term "emergent." I really don't see any merit in clinging to that particular word, especially in light of all the negative baggage it's taken on over the past few years.

Personally, "emerging" reminds me of a biology class discussing pupating larvae :)

Still, the concern still remains: why not take steps to distance yourself from those who mock your beliefs - unless, of course, one thinks that beliefs are not subject to scrutiny and are irrelevant in the big picture, anyhow.

That's what I don't get about the "we're emergent, but we're not THAT type of emergent" camp.

Yes, I know. None of us non-emergents really get them. That's why I refuse to play apologetics games with emergents. Their answer to everything is, "Nope, you don't get it."

Well, what I do know is that the Bible is a book of propositional truths about God and man that must--this is non-negotiable--be believe as propositional truths, and that emergents consistently deny that. Sure, they're all different, but they're also all the same. That's the "one lump" they all belong in.

Now, no doubt there are believers among them. I also believe there are Christian Catholics. But that doesn't change the fact that Catholicism is dead.

Emergent really represents nothing more than rebellion against authority. It exists to deconstruct orthodox Christianity and build its own religion in which everyone can choose their own truth.

The emergent church is no church at all, and, as someone else recently wrote, the "new kind of Christian" is no kind of Christian at all.

Sorry, but I don't have any conciliatory words for a movement that refuses to affirm the most foundational truths of the Christian faith.

You go girl! I mean boy.

Very inspiring David.

I may not be the best looking boy in the world, but I'd make an even uglier girl.