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Tension in the Emerging Church
Written by Drew Goodmanson

A lot of ink has spilled discussing the shape of the emerging North American church. We hear voices within the church speak of a need to re-tool the "modern church" to create a spiritual experience that reflects the current cultural context. It is clear that this creation requires changing the way we do church. The challenge that we must grapple with in the midst of this transition is discerning what the church should be willing to change. Today there is a tension in the emerging church between our biblical calling and the desire to be culturally relevant.

If you investigate many of the church leaders who desire change, much of these changes are fueled by the cultural shift brought by postmodernism and a reaction against the modern church. Modernity brought a period of hope in man and our abilities to solve all our ills. Within this period all areas of life from medicine to spirituality could be analyzed and quantified; providing drugs and programs to make mankind a better people. Unfortunately many churches bought into these ideas and created their own carefully designed programs to reach the lost and to take steps to become better people outside of relying on the Holy Spirit. The church must not react to culture by mimicking it but learn to speak through it while we stand on solid doctrinal ground. ...