Retraction (?) on the Emergent Church

So.....I've continued doing some reading on the Emergent Church and found out some interesting things. Apparently, one of my favorite writers, N.T. Wright, is considered broadly part of this movement. Also, after reading about one of the "spokesmen" of the movement, Brian McLaren, I must say that some of what he says I agree with. So, apparently I should not have painted with such large brush strokes in my last post on the subject :)

From what I can tell, McLaren himself might not be wild about what is being done with his ideas. It appears to be a case where someone's friends do more harm then good. Let me explain: I know several people (especially young people) who are latching onto something that resembles the "emergent church" to me. They are poo-pooing the naughtiness of modernism with its inherent rationalism (something I also do being a good Dooyeweerdian: e.g. my comments on systematic theology), and as a result are distancing themselves from "cold intellectualism." Yet, in the process of all of this they refuse to use their "intellects" at all. I watch with horror as this breeds an arrogant spirit and is used as an excuse to throw out traditions which do not fit with their "cool, deep" version of Christianity. Basically, what is happening is an appropriation of a good idea (i.e. the rejection of modernistic rationalism) into a shallow cliche used to cover up intellectual laziness. Many of them will dismiss a pastor, teacher, etc. who is too "rational" and "non-aesthetic" (granted, there are plenty of pastors out there who are as poetic as a chainsaw, but that doesn't mean we ignore their contributions).

The reason I describe it as intellectual laziness is because many of these people don't want to spend the time doing hard intellectual work (e.g. "Why should I have to learn N.T. Greek? All a pastor needs to know is the "mystery" and excitement of experiencing God."). A reaction against "rationalism" is a convenient excuse for a lack of effort.

Now, it's clear that people like Wright (the erudite N.T. scholar) and McLaren are not mindless blobs, but my worry is that young people who are in their "rebellious years" will use the Emergent Church movement as a cover for their own strange agendas (hey, just because the Eastern Orthodox have a point about worshipping in a beautiful place doesn't mean we should trash the Puritan's worries over religious idolatry).