sf1025 - Another Gospel - Exposing The Emerging Church Movement (Galatians 1 6-10)
Galatians 1:6-10
Introduction
Recent studies reveal some startling and unsettling trends in relation to the health and growth of Christianity in the United States. One study reveals that 94% of evangelical churches in America are losing ground, especially when compared to the population growth. Among the growing number of unchurched and unreached people in America are the late teen and twenty somethings. Statistics reveal that 61% of this age group that were once regular church attenders have left the church.
Therefore, one of the pressing questions before the church in the 21st Century is how we can effectively reach this generation with the gospel. The challenge of contextualizing the gospel is not new. In fact we see the early church proclaiming the gospel in a wide variety of cultural and political contexts (Jews in Jerusalem; Greeks in Athens; Romans in Rome, etc). The book of Acts and the epistles provide excellent resource material on how the church met this challenge. Three key areas are thoroughly covered, the message, the means, and the method of reaching any generation with the gospel.
Unfortunately in our day we have a tendency to look to other sources for authoritative answers. We have leaned heavily on secular sociology and philosophy in the development of outreach strategies. The result has been the emergence of “another gospel,” in the form of the Emergent Church Movement (ECM).
What is the Emergent Church Movement?
The ECM can best be defined by a common philosophy and purpose, influenced heavily by the postmodern culture of the west; the ECM questions the validity and/or know-ability of objective truth. ECM churches and groups are committed to deconstruct and radically redirect the forms, theology, and mission of the church.
Who are the key leaders?
The key leaders come from a variety of theological and denominational backgrounds and include: Doug Pagitt, Brian Mclaren, Rob Bell, Donald Miller, and Leonard Sweet.
Why should we be concerned?
In an article on the subject Craig Branch (Apologetics Resource Center) states that “many theologians believe the Emerging Church Movement is the fastest growing group in Christianity.” And while we agree that much of what the modern church teaches and does is in error, the ECM’s answers are not based on sound Biblical interpretation and practice.
We will focus on three primary errors that should cause us to distance ourselves from this movement.
1A. Another Gospel – Three Critical Errors
1B. The question of truth.
The error – no objective truth
ECM thinkers are heavily influence by postmodern thought that calls into question the very existence of objective truth. Basically the argument is, since man is finite and sinful he cannot be certain of knowing anything absolutely. This argument leads to a false humility that says anyone who thinks they can know absolute truth is prideful. In addition ECM adherents seek to reduce theology (the knowledge of God) to purely experiential encounters with Jesus that can neither be proven nor denied. They base almost all of their “theology” on the gospel narratives.
The answer – “I am the truth”
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
The major problem with the ECM position on truth it that it contradicts the Scripture specifically the teaching of Jesus. Not only does Jesus declare that we can know the truth, He identifies himself as the truth. Ironically, ECM adherents emphasize an experiential knowledge of Christ, yet they deny any means of defining the validity of a genuine “Christ” encounter.
1 John 2:3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
While no man has all truth, we have sufficient truth to trust Christ.
Deuteronomy 29:29 "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
2B. The reliability of the Scriptures
The error - subjective revelation
The Bible is a human document; the “inspiration” of the Bible is realized only as it is experienced in an individual’s life.
The answer - Plenary verbal inspiration
The historic conservative view of inspiration is best summarized in 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
“Given by inspiration of God” - Supernatural Inspiration
Ø The Bible is a living Book
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Ø Duel authorship with an emphasis on God.
Supernatural Inspiration does not eliminate the use of human writers. However, each writer is so superintended by God as to produce exactly what God wanted.
2 Peter 1:21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
“Scripture” - Verbal Inspiration
Ø This means that the very words are inspired.
“All” - Total (Plenary) Inspiration
“What we need is humble theology—theology which submits itself to the truth of God's Word. 'Liberal' theology—theology which does not view Scripture as finally trustworthy and authoritative—is not humble before the Word. Churches which are tentative and decry dogmatism may sound humble, but it is not truly humble to do anything other than to submit to God's Word.” (Mark Dever)
3B. The essence of the Gospel
The error – the atonement denied
The ECM leaders either deny or make secondary the substitutionary and propitiatory nature of the atonement. They view the cross as being primarily a message about self-sacrifice and social action.
Brian McLaren, “We must continually be aware that the ‘old, old story’ may not be the ‘true, true story.’”
Steve Chalke, “If the traditional view of penal substitutionary atonement is true, then God is guilty of ‘cosmic child abuse.’”
Therefore, the emergent’s believe that orthopraxy (right living) is more important than orthodoxy (right belief). As a result the gospel is reduced to nothing more than human benevolence with a “spiritual” dimension.
The answer – the penal substitutionary atonement
Ø God poured out His wrath for the sins of His people on Christ on the cross
Matthew 1:21 "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Ø God imputed Christ’s righteousness to our account
2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2A. Contending for the Faith
1B. The gospel of Christ is eternally settled! (Galatians 1:8-9)
The matter of the purity of the gospel is one of eternal weight. To deny the gospel is to place oneself under the curse of God.
Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
2B. The gospel of Christ is eternally relevant!
All men are lost without Christ
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
All men must repent and believe
Luke 15:5 "And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
Acts 3:19 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord
Acts 20:21 "testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
3B. The result of the gospel of Christ is determined by God’s sovereign purposes.
Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
John 6:37 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
John 18:9 that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none."
Therefore God has no need for our manipulation or engineering to bring men to faith in Christ.
Application
The presence of the ECM provides for us a wonderful platform to proclaim the truth of the gospel. Despite man’s misgivings about the veracity of human truth, every man longs for certain, eternal truth (Ecclesiastes 3:11). So let us boldly proclaim “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
Questions:
1. Why is it important for us to be aware of the teaching of the ECM?
2. In what way does postmodern thought affect our every day life?
3. How can I head off this false world view?
Galatians 1:6-10
Introduction
What is the Emergent Church Movement?
The ECM can best be defined by a common philosophy and purpose, influenced heavily by the postmodern culture of the west; the ECM questions the validity and/or know-ability of objective truth. ECM churches and groups are committed to deconstruct and radically redirect the forms, theology, and mission of the church.
Who are the key leaders?
The key leaders come from a variety of theological and denominational backgrounds and include: Doug Pagitt, Brian Mclaren, Rob Bell, Donald Miller, and Leonard Sweet.
1A. Another Gospel – Three Critical Errors
1B. The question of __________________________.
The error – no objective truth
ECM thinkers are heavily influence by postmodern thought that calls into question the very existence of objective truth. Basically the argument is, since man is finite and sinful he cannot be certain of knowing anything absolutely.
The answer – “I am the truth”
John 14:6; 8:32; 1 John 2:3; Deuteronomy 29:29; 1 John 5:13
2B. The reliability of the _____________________________
The error - subjective revelation
The Bible is a human document; the “inspiration” of the Bible is realized only as it is experienced in an individual’s life.
The answer - Plenary verbal inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
“Given by inspiration of God” - Supernatural Inspiration
Ø The Bible is a living Book (Hebrews 4:12)
Ø Duel authorship with an emphasis on God. (2 Peter 1:21)
“Scripture” - Verbal Inspiration
“All” - Total (Plenary) Inspiration
3B. The essence of the ___________________________
The error – the atonement denied
The ECM leaders either deny or make secondary the substitutionary and propitiatory nature of the atonement. They view the cross as being primarily a message about self-sacrifice and social action.
Brian McLaren, “We must continually be aware that the ‘old, old story’ may not be the ‘true, true story.’”
Steve Chalke, “If the traditional view of penal substitutionary atonement is true, then God is guilty of ‘cosmic child abuse.’”
The answer – the penal substitutionary atonement
Ø God poured out His wrath for the sins of His people on Christ on the cross
Matthew 1:21; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10; Isaiah 53:6
Ø God imputed Christ’s righteousness to our account (2 Corinthians 5:21)
2A. Contending for the Faith
1B. The gospel of Christ is eternally _________________________! (Galatians 1:8-9)
Acts 4:12; Jude 1:3
2B. The gospel of Christ is eternally _______________________________!
All men are lost without Christ (Romans 3:23)
All men must repent and believe (Luke 15:5; Acts 3:19; 20:21)
3B. The result of the gospel of Christ is determined by God’s sovereign purposes. (Isaiah 55:11; John 6:37; 18:9)
Application
The presence of the ECM provides for us a wonderful platform to proclaim the truth of the gospel. Despite man’s misgivings about the veracity of human truth, every man longs for certain, eternal truth (Ecclesiastes 3:11). So let us boldly proclaim “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”