Much has been written by practitioners advocating the emerging church phenomenon, but confusion about the nature and beliefs of those who identify with the emerging church still exists. Now that the movement has aged a bit, the time has come for a more rigorous, scholarly analysis. Here four influential authors, each an expert in his field, discuss important cultural, theological, philosophical, and biblical underpinnings and implications of the emerging church movement. Their sympathetic yet critical assessment helps readers better understand the roots of the movement and the impact that it has had and is having on wider traditions. The book includes a 60-minute companion DVD that provides a background introduction to the emerging church and video clips of alternative worship services. The DVD also contains interviews with emerging church leaders and observers, including Brian McLaren and Rowan Williams.
Church in the Present Tense
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Editorial Reviews
From the Back Cover
Provocative Perspectives on Emerging Conversations
"This is the most complete, detailed, critically sympathetic, and totally remarkable overview I have yet seen of where Emergence Christianity presently is and appears to be going. McKnight's two essays alone are worth the price of admission."--Phyllis Tickle, author, The Great Emergence
"At root, the emerging church movement is a set of conversations about living more faithfully into the way of Jesus and the implications of this for the life and witness of Christian communities. This book offers a series of reflections from some of the best-known voices on a range of important questions. These essays extend the conversation in significant ways and make it clear that the questions stirred up are worth pursuing."--John R. Franke, Biblical Seminary; theologian in residence, First Presbyterian Church of Allentown
"Over its short history, the emerging church has both challenged and inspired the practice of church in our time. Church in the Present Tense brings together in one volume some of its finest thinkers to reflect on the theological and practical contributions of this movement. In concise and helpful essays, they lead us through the impact of 'emerging' on our views of God, salvation, Scripture, the end times, and the practice of worship. Whatever you might think of the movement, you cannot ignore its impact, and this volume won't let you!"--David Fitch, Northern Seminary; author, The End of Evangelicalism?
"Rather than retreading old ground, Church in the Present Tense looks at the still-evolving emerging church movement from new angles, and readers will be rewarded with new insights. We are in very good hands with Scot, Pete, Kevin, and Jason--they appreciate the movement, but they aren't playing Pollyanna. They're tough, smart, articulate interlocutors. I think this book will be seen as among the best interactions with the emerging church movement."--Tony Jones, theologian in residence, Solomon's Porch, Minneapolis; author, The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier
"This is the most complete, detailed, critically sympathetic, and totally remarkable overview I have yet seen of where Emergence Christianity presently is and appears to be going. McKnight's two essays alone are worth the price of admission."--Phyllis Tickle, author, The Great Emergence
"At root, the emerging church movement is a set of conversations about living more faithfully into the way of Jesus and the implications of this for the life and witness of Christian communities. This book offers a series of reflections from some of the best-known voices on a range of important questions. These essays extend the conversation in significant ways and make it clear that the questions stirred up are worth pursuing."--John R. Franke, Biblical Seminary; theologian in residence, First Presbyterian Church of Allentown
"Over its short history, the emerging church has both challenged and inspired the practice of church in our time. Church in the Present Tense brings together in one volume some of its finest thinkers to reflect on the theological and practical contributions of this movement. In concise and helpful essays, they lead us through the impact of 'emerging' on our views of God, salvation, Scripture, the end times, and the practice of worship. Whatever you might think of the movement, you cannot ignore its impact, and this volume won't let you!"--David Fitch, Northern Seminary; author, The End of Evangelicalism?
"Rather than retreading old ground, Church in the Present Tense looks at the still-evolving emerging church movement from new angles, and readers will be rewarded with new insights. We are in very good hands with Scot, Pete, Kevin, and Jason--they appreciate the movement, but they aren't playing Pollyanna. They're tough, smart, articulate interlocutors. I think this book will be seen as among the best interactions with the emerging church movement."--Tony Jones, theologian in residence, Solomon's Porch, Minneapolis; author, The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier
About the Author
Scot McKnight (PhD, University of Nottingham) is professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary in Lombard, Illinois, and the author of more than twenty books, including A Community Called Atonement. Peter Rollins (PhD, Queen's University, Belfast) is founder of Ikon, an emerging collective in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He is the author of several books, including How (Not) to Speak of God: Marks of the Emerging Church. Kevin Corcoran (PhD, Purdue University) is professor of philosophy at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and author of Rethinking Human Nature. Jason Clark (PhD candidate, King's College, London) coordinates the Emergent UK online resource network, is founding/senior pastor of Vineyard Church Sutton in Sutton, England, and is adjunct professor at George Fox Evangelical Seminary.
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am recently began reading Church in the Present Tense. I began with the last chapter by Scot McKnight on the theology of Atonement and then read his chapter on the emerging view of scripture, and finally went back to the first chapter on Philosophical Realism by Corcoran. All three chapters were delightful and refreshing. The book (as far as I have read) is very good. It deals with various aspects of what is broadly called postmodernism and how these aspects may influence our society, culture, and consequently the Church.
The Church in both the sense of theological content and methods of communications. Scot McKnight writes two chapters in the final section of the book. Since I have not read the whole book, I will only comment on the final chapter.
What it boils down to is this: the Evangelical church of the last 50 years (more or less) has focused on a clear, logical exposition of what is called the "plan of salvation." This includes concepts such as atonement and propitiation for sins. The thinking has been that new converts need to understand cognitively how salvation works in order to believe and receive it logically.
The postmodern churches and fellowships that are popping up among 20-something young adults (otherwise often referred to as "emerging" churches - but not always) tend to play down the emphasis on such legal or forensic concepts as atonement and propitiation (in other words, the legal substitutionary death of Christ on our behalf in order to grant forgiveness) in favor of telling a story of Jesus as the liberator or Jesus the messiah bringing social justice and reconciliation to the earth.
Before you react, give McKnight a good reading. He is very balanced, and he clearly affirms that he does believe in the substitutionary death of Christ. However, he balances the scale with a careful critique of the Evangelical tendency to replace "the Gospel of the Kingdom" with the "Plan of Salvation" and equate the two ... nevertheless, McKnight demonstrates that no where in the New Testament do we see Paul or Peter actually preaching a sermon based on the so-called Plan of Salvation. Instead, they told the story of the Messiah and the good news of his kingdom and most often connected that story with Israel's history.
Sorry to belabor the point, but this is very important if we are going to be attempting to lead 20-something millennials to faith in Christ. We need to rethink and re-theologize our message for this current culture (I know many will disagree with me).
Based on the 3 chapters I have read, this is an excellent and balanced introduction to many of these philosophical and theological issues that will continue to grow around us in the coming years.
The Church in both the sense of theological content and methods of communications. Scot McKnight writes two chapters in the final section of the book. Since I have not read the whole book, I will only comment on the final chapter.
What it boils down to is this: the Evangelical church of the last 50 years (more or less) has focused on a clear, logical exposition of what is called the "plan of salvation." This includes concepts such as atonement and propitiation for sins. The thinking has been that new converts need to understand cognitively how salvation works in order to believe and receive it logically.
The postmodern churches and fellowships that are popping up among 20-something young adults (otherwise often referred to as "emerging" churches - but not always) tend to play down the emphasis on such legal or forensic concepts as atonement and propitiation (in other words, the legal substitutionary death of Christ on our behalf in order to grant forgiveness) in favor of telling a story of Jesus as the liberator or Jesus the messiah bringing social justice and reconciliation to the earth.
Before you react, give McKnight a good reading. He is very balanced, and he clearly affirms that he does believe in the substitutionary death of Christ. However, he balances the scale with a careful critique of the Evangelical tendency to replace "the Gospel of the Kingdom" with the "Plan of Salvation" and equate the two ... nevertheless, McKnight demonstrates that no where in the New Testament do we see Paul or Peter actually preaching a sermon based on the so-called Plan of Salvation. Instead, they told the story of the Messiah and the good news of his kingdom and most often connected that story with Israel's history.
Sorry to belabor the point, but this is very important if we are going to be attempting to lead 20-something millennials to faith in Christ. We need to rethink and re-theologize our message for this current culture (I know many will disagree with me).
Based on the 3 chapters I have read, this is an excellent and balanced introduction to many of these philosophical and theological issues that will continue to grow around us in the coming years.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This collection of essays on the Emerging Church is a fascinating look at the philosophical underpinnings of a controversial and popular movement.
Some of the topics covered:
Kevin Corcoran discusses emergents and philosophical realism, and what side of the fence they fall on. Peter Rollins has a couple of essays, and shares some interesting thoughts on the conflicting nature of accepting an identity in Christ while still retaining an identity that makes up a person. Jason Clark talks about consumerism and its effect on Christianity, focusing on the construction of one's religious identity by picking and choosing the aspects of spiritualism that one likes.
Other topics include emerging eschatology, liturgy in the emerging church, the difference in rhetoric and action, and Scot McKnight discusses the role of scripture in the Emerging Church.
This is a well-thought out work that covers many topics I've never heard discussed before. It comes with a DVD featuring interviews and speeches by the authors.
Some of the topics covered:
Kevin Corcoran discusses emergents and philosophical realism, and what side of the fence they fall on. Peter Rollins has a couple of essays, and shares some interesting thoughts on the conflicting nature of accepting an identity in Christ while still retaining an identity that makes up a person. Jason Clark talks about consumerism and its effect on Christianity, focusing on the construction of one's religious identity by picking and choosing the aspects of spiritualism that one likes.
Other topics include emerging eschatology, liturgy in the emerging church, the difference in rhetoric and action, and Scot McKnight discusses the role of scripture in the Emerging Church.
This is a well-thought out work that covers many topics I've never heard discussed before. It comes with a DVD featuring interviews and speeches by the authors.
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
My rating refers only to the Kindle version...
I do want to read "Church in the Present Tense." I begin a course of study in September and Dr. Jason Clark is one of the instructors. I would like to read some of his writing. The Kindle version, however, lacks an index with chapter/essay links. This requires scrolling through essays to find the one you want and in addition, you cannot really see the organization of essays from a topical perspective. I only read a small portion of the book in order to make sure I could return it for credit. When you buy the Kindle version, you must also sacrifice the 60 min DVD that accompanies the print version.
No chapter headings...How absurd!
Ron Baker
I do want to read "Church in the Present Tense." I begin a course of study in September and Dr. Jason Clark is one of the instructors. I would like to read some of his writing. The Kindle version, however, lacks an index with chapter/essay links. This requires scrolling through essays to find the one you want and in addition, you cannot really see the organization of essays from a topical perspective. I only read a small portion of the book in order to make sure I could return it for credit. When you buy the Kindle version, you must also sacrifice the 60 min DVD that accompanies the print version.
No chapter headings...How absurd!
Ron Baker
