Book Review.
Tickle,
Phyllis. Emergence Christianity. What is it, where is it going, and why it
matters. Baker Books. 2012.
Comment. Henry
The term
‘Emergence’ when considered in the context of Christianity means change. Phyllis has addressed this topic
thoroughly. Her work comes highly
endorsed by those who are part of Emergence.
The
understanding of ‘Emergence Christianity’ is helpful and essential in
discerning “how best to serve the kingdom of God in whatever form God is
presenting it.” (13)
Western or
latinized culture has been impacted every five hundred years by upheavals, e.g.
The Great Reformation of the sixteenth century.
This event had religious, political and economic impacts. Emergence is the term used to describe such
an event impacting Christianity in our century.
John Wimber is an example of a shaper of Emergence Christianity.
Brian
McClaren’s book “A Generous Orthodoxy”’ and Bishop Graham’s book “Mission-Shaped
Church”, address this topic.
“Probably
the largest reformation of all times in Church history is in full swing. It is the combination of a threefold
initiative of God: moving from church to Kingdom as our legal base; moving from
pastoral, teacher-based and evangelistic to apostolic and prophetic
foundations; and departing from a market –based behavior to a kingdom-shaped
economy.” Wolfgang Simon (2009)
“Emergence
Christianity is a human conversation among human conversants. It has all the limitations of that condition
and will make all the mistakes and missteps patent to it. None of that will matter, I suspect, because
what has happened in our lifetime seems more than just another semi-millennial
shift. It seems instead to be more akin
to the Great Transformation of two thousand years ago.” (209)
