Titus 01.10-16 | 01. Emergent Explained

Titus 01.10-16 | Expo$e Fal$e Teacher$ (The Emergent Church) pt04

The Book of God’s Grace

Sun 09June13

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Titus 01.10-16 “10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers & deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain. 12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths & commandments of men who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled & unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind & their conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable & disobedient & worthless for any good deed.”
 

Lewis S. Chafer (1871-1952, first president of Dallas Theological Seminary)

All heresy is either the Bible plus, or the Bible minus.

01. Emergent Explained

The Emergent Church is a movement that claims to be Christian. The term “Emergent or Emerging” is used to describe a broad movement that essentially seeks to be culturally sensitive in reaching the postmodern, un-churched world w/the Christian message.

A lot of Emerging Churches will have very informal gatherings, call the preaching time “talks”, have candles, statues, burn incense, & have open mics.

Many seek to reach the lost by focusing on relationships & “developing a story” through the  “journey of life” that is often expressed through the “narrative of learning”.

 

Other buzz words/phrases: “reimagine”, “tribe”, “story of Jesus”, “deconstruction”, “Missional”. “Community”; “Spiritual Formation”; “Spiritual Disciplines”, “Contemplative”

The following is a list of traits that are some characteristics of the Emerging Church.

Important note, not all Emergent Churches follows this; in fact there is no official doctrine or creed of the Emerging Church. Defining it has been described as nailing Jell-O to a wall.

01. An awareness of & attempt to reach those in the changing postmodern culture.

02. An attempt to use technology, i.e., video, slide shows, internet.

03. A broader approach to worship using candles, icons, images, sounds, smells, etc.

04. An inclusive approach to various, sometimes contradictory belief systems.

05. An emphasis on experience & feelings over absolutes.

06. Concentration on relationship-building over proclamation of the gospel.

07. Shunning stale traditionalism in worship, church seating, music, etc.

08. A de-emphasis on absolutes & doctrinal creeds

09. A re-evaluation of the place of the Christian church in society.

10. A re-examination of the Bible & its teachings.

11. A re-evaluation of traditionally-held doctrines.

12. A re-evaluation of the place of Christianity in the world.

http://carm.org/what-emerging-church

Some Emergent Church leaders will emphasize doctrine more than others, but generally most are extremely loose w/their doctrine, so much so that they need to be labeled as false teachers & heretics (Acts 20.17-38; Romans 16.17-18; 2Corinthians 11.12-15; 2Timothy 03.13-17; Titus 01.10-16; 2Peter 02.01-02; 1John 02.18; 1John 04.01).

There are some people, who are involved in the Emergent Church movement who are sincere & have allowed themselves to get caught up in this. But many are just truly wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Matthew 07.15 “15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

Paul speaking to the leaders of the church in Ephesus:

Acts 20.28-30 “28 “Be on guard for yourselves & for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased w/His own blood. 29 “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 & from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.”