Comments on Heart for the Lost: The gods should be angry

Didymus,

I think the Emergent Churches prob...

2008-01-21T21:56:00.000-07:00

Didymus,

I think the Emergent Churches problem is they obscure known "truth" and act like Latter Day Revisionists with History. As far as the biggest problem in Utah I think that is the fact that they are a horrible witness for the Gospel and for Jesus Christ. Their theology not to mention their behavior is not indicative of a Christ Follower. Their postmodern mindset is a presuppostion that is not progressive but it is regressive, and frankly has been dealt with over the course of Christian History repeatedly.

Most of these guys like Rob Bell and MaClaren are self professing theologians and truly cannot back up their information with anything that is objective. They misuse scripture very often, and more so have tried to reinvent how we do "church". This has entailed a bringing in of psychological sermons that really fall short of the truth of God. They mix sin and their self proclaimed righteousness, and yes they try to include (at varying degrees) Mormons and other religions as Christian.

They fight against all that Christ stood and died for, they attack the very thing that brought our savior to the cross. And I think they are a threat everywhere, here in Utah they seek to demean the Gospel. Their churches are filled with leaders who are growth driven regardless of the cost.

The reality is, souls are at stake. Their is a truth war going on and the Emergents have taken the side against the Christ of the Bible.

Didymus, do you mean that you are a heretic because you deny the saving work of Jesus Christ. If so then remember that He will be just to send you to Hell in your sins. Most postmoderns I know have created a god to suit themselves, one that they can rationalize with so that they can continue on in their lifestyle of sin. They use excuses about translations and text(although they themselves have never done the research). All for what to make themselves a god they can live with.

Sorry that is not the God of the Bible. So wherever you are on the scale Thomas, REPENT and TRUST in Christ alone to save you.

I want to make sure I am understanding you correct...

2008-01-21T16:54:00.000-07:00

I want to make sure I am understanding you correctly – are you saying that you think the emergent church’s biggest impact here in Utah is that it is basically introducing Mormonism into mainstream Christianity, that it is in a sense merging it with Christianity?

>Finally Didymus, where are you, I must tell you that I am vastly confused by the separation of your two blogs in theological concepts. Are you Mormon? Atheist? Agnostic? Open Theist?

Actually, probably, here in this space, on this site… I’d probably be a Heretic. But I don’t mind, honestly. “Didymus, the Heretic”, kinda has a nice ring to it. :^)

Didymus aka Thomas,

Mormons and Emergents a...

2008-01-21T15:05:00.000-07:00

Didymus aka Thomas,

Mormons and Emergents actually have a lot in common. As stated before what Rob Bell and many Emergents deny the Mormons also do the same. In fact they use the same irrational arguments to prove their points. Most of the evidence from both their camps is based upon subjective feelings and presuppositions that they bring to the table.

The Emergent Church is making an impact in Salt Lake and the rest of the country because their goal (I believe unknowingly) is to bring about heresy into the Christian Church. They begin this by blurring the lines between 2000 years of Christianity and a 180 year old cult. They use terms to try and dissuade actual seeking of the truth and instead would like to compromise the truths for something that it believes is more relevant. Why do I say it is huge, because as of right now there are at least a dozen Emergent "like" Churches and I know of 3 others moving that direction. They are based upon ill defined pragmatism and they lack true accountability to the scriptures.

I see no reason to name the big para church ministry on my blog as that would not be edifying to the body, however if you would like to discuss that issue further you may email me at andy@heartforthelost.com and I would be happy to indulge in that conversation.

Finally Didymus, where are you, I must tell you that I am vastly confused by the separation of your two blogs in theological concepts. Are you Mormon? Atheist? Agnostic? Open Theist?

Mormons, who love Rob Bell, are still Mormons, so ...

2008-01-21T14:11:00.000-07:00

Mormons, who love Rob Bell, are still Mormons, so I’m not sure how emergent they’ll ever really be. (…now that I think of it, that might actually be an improvement. I’d much prefer a Rob Bell lovin’ Mormon to a good solid conservative homespun Mormon.)

You say that the “Emergent Church is HUGE in Salt Lake”; but in what ways do you see it really making an impact? (Besides just saying, “it has a negative impact”.)

>What do you like about what is coming out of the Emergent Village? Why?

I like what I see coming out of Emergent Village mostly because they probably best fit my point of view. I like their capacity to question the sacred cows of Christendom, and look at things from a different angle.

… and I go to Southeast Christian Church.

I’m curious, what is the “big horrible parachurch ministry” that likes Emergent Theology?

Welcome Didymus,

I am always open to discus...

2008-01-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

Welcome Didymus,

I am always open to discussion on this topic. The Emergent Church is HUGE in Salt Lake, see my prior post about Mormons loving Rob Bell. There are tons of Emergent Churches out here and even the ones who are not Emergent yet, have incorporated some of that bad theology. Rob Bell's NOOMA videos have been played in over a dozen churches that I know of. The problem didymus is that Rob Bell is a heretic, he is obscure about it and it is hard to pinpoint him because he is slippery in what he says. However we did a review on his book and he denies:

The Virgin Birth
The authority of the Bible
The doctrines in the Bible
Salvation by Grace alone
Salvation through Christ alone

Sounds like.... MORMONS! So the Churches want to be more relevant so they try to become like those they are trying to reach? You cannot pin Rob on saying anything directly as I said before he is obscure.

So I would say that it is bigger than you think, even a big horrible parachurch ministry here likes Emergent Theology.

What Church do you attend Didymus?
What do you like about what is coming out of the Emergent Village?
Why?

Looking forward to discussing this more, also see my post on BullWhip Guy a response to Bullhorn guy.

I was surfin’ around and found your blog via faceb...

2008-01-20T00:23:00.000-07:00

I was surfin’ around and found your blog via facebook. I noticed that you really don’t like the emergent church. I’m curious, in your opinion, how much impact is the emergent church having out here in SLC, really? I admit that I personally like a lot of what I hear coming out of Emergent Village and all, but I honestly don’t see much emergent going on out here in Utah. I know of a few people in two churches (one of them being the one I attend) that have watched Rob Bell’s NOOMA videos, but we’re talking very few people. In other words, how much of a threat is it, really, here in Utah?