It is said that emerging Christians confess their faith like mainlinersmeaning they say things publicly they don't really believe. They drink like Southern Baptistsmeaning, to adapt some words from Mark Twain, they are teetotalers when it is judicious. They talk like Catholicsmeaning they cuss and use naughty words. They evangelize and theologize like the Reformedmeaning they rarely evangelize, yet theologize all the time. They worship like charismaticsmeaning with their whole bodies, some parts tattooed. They vote like Episcopaliansmeaning they eat, drink, and sleep on their left side. And, they deny the truthmeaning 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 churchone of the most controversial and misunderstood movements today. As a theologian, I have studied the movement and interacted with its key leaders for yearseven 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.
In this article, I want to undermine the urban legends and provide a more accurate description of the emerging movement. Though the movement has an international dimension, I will focus on the North American scene.
To define a movement, we must, as a courtesy, let it say what it is. Eddie Gibbs and Ryan Bolger, in their book, Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures (Baker Academic, 2005) define emerging in this way:
Emerging churches are communities that practice ...