A couple thoughts I have been turning over in my head. They have to do with the post-modern/emergent movement. They are not completed thoughts just beginnings...

In a rush to abandon the Church elitist the POMO/EMERG group have set themselves up as the cultural elitist. (This thought comes after reading Brian McLarens response to Chuck Colson's article posted in Christianity Today. Now I don't normally side with Chuck Colson on much but I would have a hard time siding with McLaren on anything. McLaren seems to be the walking billboard for the "Grace through Sin" theology of the POMO/EMERG's. He finds it okay to swear, drink alcohol, engage in worldly music, and many things that even the world associates with worldliness and not Christianity. I always think of the verses What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Romans 6:1-2) The Bible is too great for me to overcome. McLaren's arguments lacked any Biblical substance. He is a talented debater and gifted thinker... much to his detriment and protesting to the contrary. But some things just don't gibe. The Bible says... Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet [water] and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so [can] no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. (James 3:10-12) And to try to rationalize that swearing is "ok" because it's "real" and to say... that's not really what that verse means is to minimize and degrade the word of God.

McLaren continues to speak "down" to Chuck and to tell him that he isn't really getting the point... because he can't well, because he is OLD. I laugh at this reasoning. I am reminded of Rehoboam who against the advice of the elders listens to his peers and tells the children of Israel: And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father [also] chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. (1 Kings 12:14) I don't think Chuck is a hero but he has been around the block and for McLaren to say that he's happy that the church is in the hands of the young and basically tells Chuck he is glad that he is old (read into that... well at least you will be dead soon).

Another thing I am tired of hearing is "BE THE CHURCH" reminds me of trying to "BE the BALL" on Caddyshack. More on "Being" later.