tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32298156.post2155478176507395229..comments2008-08-29T14:08:41.293-07:00Sharktacoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14211582724058718297noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32298156.post-67865813666524162162008-08-29T14:08:00.000-07:002008-08-29T14:08:00.000-07:00Kind of a hostile post. "Carnality. Apostasy. Wolves..."<BR/><BR/>My guess is you are lumping all emergent's into one big monolithic group. I would and do disagree with many emergent's on their theology and do think some of them are missing the Gospel for liberalism. What I share in common with them however is a conviction that Evangelicalism needs to change and embrace the fullness of the Gospel and break away from its worldly ties to idolatries of love of money, love of power, and love of violence. I think it is good that we can try to figure out how to be faithful to the full Gospel together, rather than casting stones. What I find most troublesome about your post is that it has very little evidence of grace in it. To put it in your own terms: <I>a theology absent of grace is the very defintion of apostasy</I>. It is a "clanging cybol" as Paul says, or as John bluntly puts it "a lie". When Jesus spoke of "wolves in sheep's clothing, and when Paul damned the heresy of the Galatians they were both addressing a love of doctrine with an absence of a love for people. There is no sin that the New Testament condemns more. <BR/><BR/>There is a wide spectrum of emergent types, I would tend to fall into the more theologically traditional camp. For example I would say Scripture is inspired, and if you look at the article I do say (rather clearly and repeatedly) that there is no disconnect between the God of the Old Testament and the New. Although I think most conservative theologians would agree that the NT is a fuller revelation than the OT. <BR/><BR/>I disagree with you about Wesley. At the very core of Wesley is a focus on an intimate relationship with God leading to a life of transformation and caring for the least - personal and social holiness. Wesley was a "socialist do-gooder".<BR/><BR/>Regarding my Hell paper, yes I believe in the existence of Hell. However I believe more in God. It is my hope that as demonstrated in the cross and resurrection, God can find a way to "put a camel through the eye of a needle" and overcome the very real problem of our sin and stupidness. That is where I place my faith, not in denying the problem, but in placing my faith in God in Christ to overcome it.Derekhttp://sharktacos.com/God/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32298156.post-25096175622951021672008-08-28T14:39:00.000-07:002008-08-28T14:39:00.000-07:00Surely you jest. The Emeregent movement IS repackaged liberalism--i.ie, carnality and apostasy. To link this with Wesley or Wesleyanism is absurd. Wesley would thunder against this antinomianism, this denial of the Scriptures as inspired, this group pf socialist do-gooders--wolves is sheep's clothing.<BR/><BR/>And in your article on Hell, very little Scripture and NO plain statement on whether you believe in it. The Bible CLEARLY TEACHES Eternal punishment-Matt 24:46, and there is NO DISCONNECT between the God of the Old testament and what we see in the New. In both God is HOLY, to be feared and loved, and in both He judges and promises to judge. Read what Christ said to the Church at Thyratira and revise your gnostic errors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32298156.post-89104005119405170352008-07-22T09:43:00.000-07:002008-07-22T09:43:00.000-07:00Great post! Thanks a lot.<BR/><BR/>Peace, <BR/><BR/>JamesJames Diggswww.emergentnazarenes.comnoreply@blogger.com