Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures
Eddie Gibbs and Ryan Bolger
Baker Academic, 2005, 352 pp., $26
In Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures, Gibbs and Bolger say the only way the church is going to turn the tide of postmodernism is be proactive and critically engage it. This is the approach that makes the most sense biblically. Jesus chose to fully engage the people of His time. He took the time to ask the tough questions. He always asked the questions that would go way beyond the surface.
As pastors, we need to know what our students are involved in and ask the tough questions. For example, a few years ago I delivered a message series called “MySpace.” We took six weeks to look at the who, what, when, where, why, and how of MySpace. Some students were ashamed because of the material associated with their accounts; others were excited that I took time to enter their world. If we critically engage the postmodern world, we truly will see change. As youth pastors, we must lead the charge in an evangelical revolution to reach a lost generation. In our reading, we had several examples of how to engage postmodernism.
They looked at the importance of developing a postmodern theology. They help readers discover how each person through the truth of God’s Word, denominational ties, church tradition and experience develops the basis for his or her theology. They close with several methods of developing a sound theology that will communicate the truths of God and reach the postmodern mind.
Jesus came into the human culture in order to serve. John’s Gospel gives us the idea of incarnational ministry which can lead us into cross-cultural ministry. By becoming like Christ, we will be open to cross-cultural interaction and ministry. Christ moved out of His culture to talk to the Samaritan woman in
In order to fulfill God’s missionary purpose, we need to join Him where He is working. It should not be a sense of duty but a passion for those who are lost. We should have such a passion for God’s glory to be revealed that we willing to go to great lengths to share with others. We should have the purist of motives and work together to accomplish the task. We should integrate evangelism and social interaction into every event we plan. Our passion should be like a wild fire that spreads when fanned by the wind of the Holy Spirit.
The message of the gospel declares the victory that Jesus had over death, Satan and sin. They each were defeated by His first coming and will be destroyed at His final coming. Our mission as Christians is to share the gospel with the world. We make up God’s kingdom on earth, and we have been given the mission to enlarge the borders by bringing others to a saving knowledge of Him. Prayer is our weapon against Satan, through prayer, we can undo Satan’s work in the lives of believers. Prayer will help us to know where God is working, and we can join Him there in kingdom work.
The biblical meaning of kingdom is “the right to rule,” rather than referring to royally owned interstate. The kingdom of God refers to the exercise of His authority and His right to rule based on His might, power and glory. The mystery of the kingdom of God is that the Messiah would not just come once but twice. The kingdom has already arrived in Christ’s coming. It has been established in the heart of every believer. Jesus has given us the task of enlarging the kingdom through sharing the gospel and being on mission for Him. The second coming will be a time of judgment in which He will purge the earth of sin and evil.
The kingdom of God is achieving a progressive victory over satanic forces to rescue people of all nations from the power of sin in their lives. Christ’s first coming destroyed Satan’s power base, and Jesus won victory over sin, death and hell. Between His comings, we the church are working to undo Satan’s work on earth. The second coming of Christ will destroy Satan, and Christ will come in His full glory to judge the earth and establish His kingdom.
In order for God’s kingdom to continue to grow, we need to be in a state of constant prayer. Our prayers need to be specific and strategic. We need to pray for people to be delivered from idolatry and strongholds in their lives. Prayer is not some mystical magic, but is a source of communication with God. It allows us to be in tune with His kingdom purpose and become equipped for every good work. We also need to pray for those who never have heard the gospel. Our prayers will prepare the way for the gospel to be shared and received.
The establishment of God kingdom requires us to go to battle. We do not battle against flesh and blood but against the evil forces of this world. Satan was defeated by Christ’s death on the cross, but he still tries to wreak havoc on those who believe. Satan tries to prevent us from sharing the gospel. We must put on the full armor of God and stand strong because the King of kings and Lord of lords goes before us in this spiritual battle.
Jesus came to provide grace and mercy for mankind. He came to establish His kingdom in the hearts of men. He taught that His mercy and forgiveness was for all nations. Because He did not come with an iron fist, He was killed. The people misunderstood how the kingdom of God would be established. They knew when the Messiah came, He would establish His kingdom, and it would have no end. They assumed it would be by force, not by grace and mercy.
Jesus acted with a strategic purpose. He wanted to create a dynamic, multiplying movement capable of evangelizing the world. He chose to reveal the gospel first to the Jewish people. Many rejected Him, but there were some who embraced Him as Messiah. He used the disciples who were Jewish to help spread the gospel. Jesus had a heart for the Gentiles, as well. On several occasions during His earthly ministry, He reached out to Gentiles. From the woman at the well to the Roman Centurion, He proved that the salvation He brings through His death, burial and resurrection is for all people.
Jesus chose to focus on a few believers and empower them to take His message and purpose to all the earth. He wanted to reproduce His character in them so they might be witnesses not only with their words, but also with their lives. He also wanted them to reproduce the structure He had established. Through the disciples, the church was formed. The church was to be structured so believers would be filled with the character of Christ.
The Great Commission is listed five times in Scripture. It is Jesus’ last command to all believers. We must share the gospel with all nations. All authority has been given to Christ, and through the power of the Holy Spirit we have the ability to share the greatest news of all time. When the Holy Spirit indwells our lives, we have the power to be effective witnesses for Him. That means not only with our words, but our lifestyles, as well. We have a mission that has been given to us by God. We must stay focused and work toward a goal to share the good news with everyone until the whole world has heard the gospel. We should also be mission-minded. In order for the mission to be completed, people must go and tell. If we can’t go ourselves, we need to be willing to support the ones who do go.
The ultimate purpose of Christ’s ministry on earth was to seek and save those who are lost. Salvation cannot be attained apart from Christ. The idea of Universalism is an empty one. God’s forgiveness is available for all, but it is not automatic. Although Jesus’ death on the cross was the final sacrifice to atone for sin, we must consciously accept the gift of grace He extends to us.
Jesus commanded us to not only seek and save the lost, but also to teach and disciple believers. He wants us to teach them to observe His commands and trust and obey Him in every situation. In our churches today, I believe this part of the Great Commission is forgotten. If we don’t disciple new believers, they will not know the true pleasure of living a life devoted to Christ. It would be like helping deliver a baby, then leaving it in the crib to fend for itself. In order to change our world, we need to teach and disciple all nations so all people will be able to live a life devoted to Christ.
The central message we need to share with all nations is that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He is God’s one and only Son. Faith must not be based on what we see, feel or the culture in which we live. Our faith must be in the Person of Jesus Christ and His atoning work on the cross. Jesus is unique among all other religious leaders. He is alive and at work in the lives of believers, unlike Mohammad or Buddha whose bones are in their graves. In order for the uniqueness of Christ to be fully displayed, we must live lives that point others to Him. The world is looking for a genuine person in whom it can put its faith. We may be the only Jesus anyone sees. It is up to us grow the kingdom through a uniquely devoted life to the only One by whom we might be saved. That Person is Jesus.
The gospel message is intended to be a global message. We need to have a passion for the lost. We need to be broken for those around us who need Christ — not out of a sense of legalistic obligation, but out of love and genuine concern. People matter to God. We need to see them through the eyes of Christ. When we truly see people’s need for the life changing power of Christ, then and only then will we share the way He wants us to. As ministers, we are not in a profession, but in a passion led ministry.
