Heard a friend describe his church as a “post-modern, emerging-type church, with lots of symbolism, candles, & coffee.” Got me thinking, which got me looking, which got me questioning…

What is the “Emerging Church?” What makes a church “Emergent?” Is there such a thing as a post-modern “style” of church? If so, is this “style” going to go/already heading towards extinction?

Found THIS ARTICLE by Scot McKnight– great & insightful primer on the “emerging, emergent, post-modern” – deals with the mystique, mythology, misconceptions, & other mis’ses…

excerpt…

Five Streams of the Emerging Church
Key elements of the most controversial and misunderstood movement in the church today.

Scot McKnight | posted 1/19/2007 08:46AM

It is said that emerging Christians confess their faith like mainliners—meaning they say things publicly they don’t really believe. They drink like Southern Baptists—meaning, to adapt some words from Mark Twain, they are teetotalers when it is judicious. They talk like Catholics—meaning they cuss and use naughty words. They evangelize and theologize like the Reformed—meaning they rarely evangelize, yet theologize all the time. They worship like charismatics—meaning with their whole bodies, some parts tattooed. They vote like Episcopalians—meaning they eat, drink, and sleep on their left side. And, they deny the truth—meaning they’ve got a latte-soaked copy of Derrida in their smoke- and beer-stained backpacks.

Along with unfair stereotypes of other traditions, such are the urban legends surrounding the emerging church—one of the most controversial and misunderstood movements today. As a theologian, I have studied the movement and interacted with its key leaders for years—even more, I happily consider myself part of this movement or “conversation.” As an evangelical, I’ve had my concerns, but overall I think what emerging Christians bring to the table is vital for the overall health of the church…