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Traditional
vs Postmodern / Emerging (is there a difference)
by
scott bridwell
The
following is taken from my Blog (www.scottbridwell.com)
and was posted on 10/18 and 10/19 of
2004............
Recently
I visited a more traditional church. While there I was
asked what was the difference between this church and
the one I lead. Well, the answer to that depends. For
example, I don't use a pulpit...our worship leader has a
goatee and a guitar...the songs we sing are
different...some people wear shorts to our church...we
like candles.
However,
in some ways I hope we are not different. The people I
met the "traditional church" loved their
church...they loved the people...the mission...the
history of ministry. I honestly believe they were searching
to know and experience God so that they could share it
within the context of their community.
The
differences that I'm about to point out are at best a
surface issue and I know it is oversimplified...I intend
it to be. So don't get all "Your Making it to
simple" on me.
Traditional
Church - Suits and Ties, preacher has evangelist
hairstyle, or a bad part. Three Hymns, play the doxology
before offering, always give an invitation.
Contemporary
Church - Khakis and Hawaiian shirts, still has bad hair,
Music is 7 / 11 (same 7 versus sung 11 times)...Messages
are felt need and their probably won't be an invitation.
Lots of programs.
Postmodern
/ Emerging Church - Hair...known for goatee's. The
worship is guitars and candles. They like the stain
glass and video. Hate the programs.
The
common theme with these, besides bad hair (which must
therefore be a key ingredient to a strong church) is
that each is defined by things like appearance and style
of music. On one hand that's good, it shows a
willingness of "the church" to adapt to
culture, a by product of an observant community. On the
other hand, I think we "the church" should be
known for things much deeper, much more significant.
Within
each of the different styles are churches and people who
Love God, Love people, Love to serve and minister. Each
has a community that growing deeper in their walk, that
is influencing their society, that is making a
difference for the kingdom. I find it disturbing, for me
at least, when people put a church in a box and
determine it effectiveness based on the style of church
it is. It angers me when someone defines The Bridge as
"GenX", "Contemporary", or
"Postmodern / Emerging". Why, because I serve
as a witness to God at work in almost every type of
church I've been involved with.
The
point is that to often churches are defined more by the
surface issues like style of music, etc.
A
friend recently commented..."Postmodern culture is
a lot of things, but there are certain shifts in ways of
thinking over the years that have produced a lot more
than just song/worship styles. The fact that we think of
religion and belief the way we do today is largely the
product of modernistic thinking, and it has created a
culture, a worldview that many of us take for granted
and we don't even realize how much it affects us until
we really scrutinize what we believe and why."
What
I think I'm hearing in his comment is that Postmodern
culture is responsible for many of us who
"scrutinize what we believe and why." First, I
think to scrutinize what we believe and why is a good
thing. However, I do not think it is the product of
Postmodern Culture.
All
through our history God's people have questioned what
they believe and why...Abram, David, Jeremiah, the
reformation, the persecuted church, the Jesus Movement,
and us. I would probably go so far as to argue that each
generation and culture has a "remnant" (for
lack of a better term) that rethinks their faith. A
group that is trying to rip off the rags of religion and
stand naked before God. Some movements are
recognized...some are not...postmodern culture /
emerging church is in my opinion one of those movements.
We merely stand on the shoulders of those who came
before us.
So
what is the emerging church? I hope it is God's remnant
returning to him. I hope we are part of a movement that
goes beyond the surface issues of style and to the
deeper issues of what we believe, why and then does it.
Update:
For what it's worth...After more discussion my friend
are on the same page.
___________________________
Pastor
of The Bridge Church (www.thebridgenw.com) in Vancouver,
WA...It's a small church and I'm bi-vocational so I'm
probably not a very good pastor.
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