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Rhett,

That is interesting. I am not the best versed on things emergent or criticisms of emergent. But the movement has always seemed to miss a chord with me (ah, the subjective). It has had a good deal of truth to it but was too easily pirated for the purposes of complaining and airing of woundedness. It also seems many see it as a vehicle to free people to connect with the culture in ways that traditional Christianity made uncomfortable. Because of its discussion format, I have found the excesses of these things create a movement that is more frustrating than helpful.

But I say helpful because there is a need for movement. Much of what we do as �church� has so little backing from Scripture and/or the movement of the Spirit that the church is equally more spiritually dangerous than helpful. Our lack of a center is evident in my own denomination as well as many of the other mainline denominations. Something needs to cut through that and return us to something vintage... something timeless... something of the core that is worth dying for... worth changing for... worth being revolutionary about in the face of every other god out there. We just seem so befuddled in politics and tradition that we have no ear for the wind that moves of its own volition. I long for a church that moves in response to that Spirit. (Note: this is anything but subjective though it refrains from putting so many of the ancillary things in cement.)

Enter Ray Anderson. I love what I have read so far (although I am less a disciple of his than you). If what he is saying gains legs, then it will change emergent as we know it (I know it). I hope so. It needs grounding in something other than philosophy and angst. There is need for me to be stripped down and praying in my context. Without the movement of the Spirit, the fruit of that Spirit, then I should get back to the business world. But I want fruit, I want passion, I want Christ spoken plainly in Spirit and Truth. These things are possible right?

In Christ,

Andrew

Rhett,

I tried to email you but it was blocked due to spam. So I figured that I would try to reach you via blog. You don't have to post this in the comment section if you don't want. It's not necessarily a comment on this post. It's more of a note. But whatever...

I was hoping that I could get your critique on a blog that I just finished about the repercussions of pardigm shifts. I know that you are well-immersed scholastically in the postmodern shift and I was hoping to hear your reaction. Any feedback would be most appreciated.

Also, I know that you are extremely busy. But I am still hoping that we might be able to get together and have a little dialogue. I would love to ask you some questions about emerging/postmodern life, culture and church. If you have any free time let me know, and maybe we can schedule something.

God Bless,

Austin

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