This does however leave something to be said about the second half of the question. To what is this movement hoping to emerge? I know that this is the larger of the two questions, and I know that the responding post must be an oversimplification of the question… but I’m eager to hear what an oversimplified answer might be. Often times, the tightened up, shortened quote about a movement describes the whole thing quite well. Just as a picture often has a thousand things to say.

In regard to Andy’s comment, I partly agree. It is an arrogant post, it is oversimplified, and it is full of academic presuppositions. However, in order to stand in the face of something so large as the church, one must be arrogant to some degree. It is oversimplified, but as JR said, for this venue, it must be. And it definitely contains academic presuppositions, but because JR is writing from a postmodern point of view, his response must be full of academic presuppositions. (How could we possibly have a discussion about postmodernity without addressing our academic presuppositions?)

Maybe Andy’s comment said quite a bit about the emerging church. It is full of academic presuppositions, it is somewhat arrogant, and it is in some manner overly simple. JR? Andy? Your thoughts?

Love reading this dialogue. Neat that Andy happened upon it from Ireland. I had the author of a book I reviewed post a comment on my blog. I guess that’s what this is all about.

When I say “see ya soon” I guess that’s literal this time.

Rick

Born and raised in Ohio. Played football in high school and soccer in college. I was originally a pre-law major, but switched to youth ministry when I finally wised up are realized where all the real money was. I had an amazing experience with Christian community in college and after. It’s one of the main reasons that I will be moving back home in a month or so – to continue sharing life with the people who mean the most to me. I was baptized an Episcopalian as an infant, came to Christ through some FCA (Fellowship of Christan Athletes) folks in high school, and have had experiences with smaller, traditional protestant churches, the Catholic church, seeker-sensitive type mega-churches, the Presbyterian church, a Mennonite congregation, and most recently, a house church community.

A lot of my family is back in Ohio, but one of the main reasons I came to Fuller was to spend a few years with my dad, step-mom, brother, and sister. This has been a fantastic season of life with them and I will miss them dearly.

I am not married and I envision giving the rest of my life to the creation and cultivation of missional church communities in one way or another.

Good to start to get to know you Andy.

Tell me more about yourself J.R. ………………..

Let’s leave it to Josh to decide how helpful or not helpful my response was to his question.

In the mean time, if you have some more specific critiques or responses to what I actually said, I’d love to dialog. However, you have me at a loss since you never responded to my initial question to your first comment on my previous post – Who are you, where are you coming from? I think getting to know you a little bit more (as much as that’s ever really possible in a venue like this) might help me to articulate better responses.

J.R., I am not attacking you, I was just eagerly anticipating your follow-up to your last article and what you have written seems to be just a half-baked reply. Sorry. I hope this doesn’t upset you.

Well, is it? What if we’ve got it all wrong? Did Jesus come to start a religion or a movement? From where I’m sitting I see most American Churches……..building bigger churches. Maybe we need to become like that little mustard seed. Growing smaller and smaller as we take over the world.

Rick