“The Way Ahead”

“The Way Ahead” 

            Where now is our authority? According to Phyllis Tickle’s

Great Emergence, there is no consensus even though the scriptures present an active, effectuating agent in every part of time and space but the Spirit teaches a believer in revelation and infusion must be honoured as a principal form or source of direction. God Himself cannot be confined to a very old book (p.146) Yet reflecting on this is where the emerging ideas exist. Tickle argues that there is something in between.

            Orthonomy is a kind of ‘correct harmoniousness’ or beauty which is a tool for discerning the truth and therefore the intent and authority. An example is that an emergent will be quick to say the Virgin birth is so beautiful that it has to be true whether it happened or not.

            Theonomy is what is used in contrast to name the priniciple that only God can be the soruce of perfection in action and thought. But how does one best pierce through to His meaning, the bible itself being the only source of authority. (p. 150) Tickle notes that neither of these ideas are sufficient. Yet when asking an emergent Christian where authority lies—in Scripture and the community. The duty, the challenge, the joy and excitement of the Church and for the Christians who are a part of this, is in the discovering what it means to believe that the kingdom of God is within one and in understanding that one is thereby a pulsating, vibrating bit in a much grander network.  The emergent church is- a conversation as it just can not ‘be’

            The theology of the great emergence comes from the revisiting of foundational assumptions of  Christian faith. This ‘revisiting’ will then lead to a theology of society’s reconfigured understanding of the self, the soul, the humanness of being made in the image of God.. Tickle states, “Regardless of what its theology eventually matures into, there is no question that the Great Emergence is the configuration of Christianity which is in ascendency (p.162)

           

           

REFLECTION:

Tickle presents the emerging Christianity as something relating to what is found significant and existing presented in balance with God. This seems simple enough but what if we were striving to go deeper into our feelings, would we dismiss the stories inspired by God or do we look elsewhere in our experiences? Just what do you think is the Great Emergence? How is Christianity changing for you and is this significant for your faith development?

PRAYER

Holy God, we praise you for you are the same no matter what we experience and know—we have faith in you. Help us to understand the role of ‘church’ for us and call us to serve you in this new way of being loved and loving others as Christ taught. Hear these things we ask and we ask that you would answer our prayers in faith and with hope. Amen.

Phyllis Tickle The Great Emergence: How Christianity is Changing and Why. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books,2008. Chapter 7.

This concludes this series on the Great Emergence. Watch for a new series next week!