The New Conversation: Pondering Postmodernism

Larry Ashcraft deconstructs the emergent church

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ostmodernism is not a fad. It exists and lives in the church. The world as we knew it is vastly different in the way it operates, thinks and reacts. And what about the Emerging Church? I am not in agreement with those who would say this is the newest sect in Christianity.

I see it as a response of postmodern believers to a mindset of Christianity formed by modern culture. I believe that the emerging church identifies with Salvation Army ethos. The problem it might have is in the execution of that ethos.

The Emerging Church is such an important movement that Fuller Theological Seminary has started a graduate track on it.

The term “emergent” took hold about the year 2000 when some church leaders in the started identifying this cultural shift to postmodernism and began a re-imagining of the Church as a response. It is a term that describes the church as it finds itself intersecting with the culture of a new millennium. Brian McLaren uses the metaphor of it being like a plant in the wetlands, with roots deep in the mud of the past, shooting through the murky waters of the present and flowering as it looks for the light of the sun in the future.

Emergents are not just 20 somethings. They come from the full spectrum of culture, vocation, gender, age and denominational traditions. They are also found in our soldiery, cadets and officers.

In this paper I will share with you some of the heartbeat of the emergents I have encountered, as they share their journey through blogs. This is, in my opinion, the 21st century equivalent of Mars Hill. If you want to know the heart of your officers, soldiers, kids and staff I visit blogdom. The exchange is passionate and often disturbing. It is very raw in its emotion. How do we start this conversation?

I recently read George Barna’s book Revolution. According to Barna’s research, outside of the mega church movement, local congregations are now declining dramatically in attendance and influence in the United States. Even though 70% of Christians received their spiritual nourishment, direction and fellowship through local congregations, numbers were declining.

Barna notes that over 80% of born-again Christians say they fail to feel a connection with God in local church services. He posits that by the year 2025 only about 30-35% of Christians will be connected to and active in local congregations. His prediction is that several micro and macro movements will take the place of the traditional corps or church worship communities. Some would argue that this is in direct opposition to the Hebrews 10:25 command to “not give up meeting together.” I believe this statement taken in its historical context has nothing to do with a worship gathering.

Born again Christians tend to be more spiritually sensitive, give more time and money than many church goers and desire spiritual growth. Increasingly they will look outside the traditional church to fulfill their desire for spiritual nourishment and growth. They will meet, not in a Sunday holiness meeting or in a worship setting. but in an office, gym or coffee shop.

I am not saying that we ought to abandon our current system. I do think, however, that there is some cause for reflection here. If Barna is correct, and his track record has been pretty good, what we have been hearing and feeling as we interact with younger believers and many from our generation for whom the organized church and orthodoxy are seen as having little to do with following Jesus.

A common misconception is that the emerging church is about worship styles. It is not just a worship band, a projector, soft lighting, candles, symbols of the church and coffee house style of worship, though these things appeal to me increasingly. As one emergent blogger put it on my friend’s blog, “The terrible thing is that if churches cut out music there wouldn’t be anything left to church. That is pretty scary and should be telling us something about the ‘why’s and ‘how’s of church. Jesus didn’t come to earth to lead a series of over played worship songs, a brass band or the songsters.” For the emergents it is about lifestyle change , the type of movement that the Booths started 140 years ago.

Pete Ward who wrote God at the Mall may have summed it up in the term “liquid church.” Ward asserts liquid church would replace congregation with communication. This networked church would connect individuals, groups, and organizations in series of flows. Connection would gather around hubs and would be made up of connecting nodes. A hub might be a retreat center, a sports team, a music group, a record company, a Christian shop, and so on. Connection to individuals and groups would involve sharing the life of God in a variety of ways. An example might be networking to work for social justice.

These groups would also come together through technology like blogs. Listen to this comment from an emergent Salvationist which was posted on a blog as a discussion raged about what church is: “I think a better definition of church is important here. Church, as defined by the New Testament, is anywhere two or more are gathered. Personally, I’m challenged much more, and experience much more intimate worship, when I’m in a smaller group. Large corporate worship, for me, has more of a ‘meeting’ feel to it. I often find myself wondering what in the world I’m doing there and often thinking that I would ‘feel a lot closer to God right now if I would walk out of this worship service and go find a homeless guy who needed a sandwich and a friend.’ I rarely experience God in a large corporate setting, but almost always experience him when I’m involved in social justice, or gathered with a few friends and a guitar, or chatting over a scripture passage with a friend in a coffee shop. It’s called ‘liquid church’. I show up on Sundays simply because I know others will question my faith if I don’t.

The desire for church to be more than a worship gathering comes from a unique source. The world we live in is highly spiritual. Billy Graham said this is the most “spiritual generation” he has seen. Barna says that over 90% of Americans believe in God. Donald Miller in his book Blue Like Jazz refers to our faith as “Christian Spirituality.” The spirituality of the emerging church is built on a theology of transcendence and not immanence. The Matrix films and the huge success of Harry Potter point to this fact. Russ Rook puts it this way, “The world is looking for the mystical and all we have in the church to give them is Tim LaHaye.”

Kevin Stoops reminded me the other day, as I met in a cell group, about how the language has changed in the Church. Our fathers preached about the “saving knowledge of Jesus.” We tend to talk more about relationship with Jesus. Emergents speak about “experiencing Jesus.” The emerging church is concerned not so much with the historical Jesus we can explain through apologetics or a well ordered service. They are looking for the mysterious Jesus and the experience that comes from knowing this spiritual figure. For them it is not about having the answer given to them with three points and a poem. It is about journeying with them as they ask the question. They wrestle with a topic of spiritual significance in debate.

In this era of Disney World and virtual reality the emergents are anxious for experience in worship. They want to find Jesus in every way. They want to know what God tastes like, smells like, sings like. They want to move around to prayer stations and view works of art, while the sermon is being preached.

I think this drive for experience also fuels their intrigue with and return to the ancient practices and spiritual disciplines of people like the Desert Fathers. Emergents are also touched by art, liturgy and the sacraments because it is an experiential way to meet God.. As Salvationists we believe we live in a sacramental universe. Everything and every experience can be a sacramental moment.

Emergents hold other traditions in high regard. They hold other faiths in high regard. They do not practice their fathers’ theology. Some outside the movement would say emergent theology borders on inclusivism or universalism, because of liberal stances on social issues.

With that being said, in the theology of the emerging Church the centrality of Jesus is held high. In fact, if there is a discussion on behavior or practice in the church it is often decided not on the epistle teachings but rather on the life of Jesus as portrayed in the Gospels. Emergents want to continually ask the question, “What would Jesus do?”

This respect and regard for other traditions leads us to another interesting aspect of the emerging church. This group is highly missional. I think this is where the Army is uniquely positioned to engage this group. There is a belief of God being the God of the poor and oppressed, which fits with our ethos. The emergents are about incarnating the Gospel. Any ministry that moves into a neighborhood to effect change attracts this crew. In his book A Generous Orthodoxy, Brian McLaren writes: “Missional Christian faith asserts that Jesus did not come to make some people saved and others condemned. Jesus did not come to help some people be right while leaving everyone else to be wrong. Jesus did not come to create another exclusive religion… Missional Christian faith asserts that Jesus came to preach the good news of the kingdom of God to everyone, especially the poor. He came to save the world. The idea that the Christian message is universally good news for Christians and non-Christians alike is to some, unheard of, strange and perhaps heretical.” I think McLaren sounds very much like the Booths.

Maybe this is why the incarnational style of ministry attracts emergents. They are about incarnating the gospel. They may not be about reincarnating the Army as we know it. I think that if we take the idea that one ministry model fits all with the emergents we may lose them. I believe emergents would assert that if we adhere to the admonition of seeking first the Kingdom of God, that God will take care of building the Army. I was in a gathering not too long ago when a good friend of mine in leadership stated unequivocally, “I know what a good corps should look like and so do you.” I was thinking to myself, as I sat there with many of my colleagues, officer and non-officer, knowing my recent experience in postmodern/emerging culture, “No, I don’t. What exactly is it?”

These revolutionaries see mission as key to everything they do. They want to get dirty doing it. They don’t necessarily want to institutionalize it, name it or administrate it. They want to live in it! I think this is why we see a proliferation of ministries like Project 117, War College, Ignite, 614’s, Revolution Hawaii and Firecrest rising separately and almost simultaneously around the Army world. God is definitely raising up these ministries in preparation for what may be our greatest days but what could also be our most unmanageable and messiest days since the days of our messy founding.

Major Richard Munn challenged Salvation Army cadets and students to become the next Joe the Turk or Railton, who would risk anything and do the unimaginable, but not necessarily the manageable for the mission God has given The Salvation Army. Emergents will do anything for the mission of God to the poor and oppressed. Brian McLaren relates what one of his mentors told him: “In a pluralistic world, a religion is value based on the benefits it brings to its non-adherents.”

Community-based house churches may be one of the most viable and cost effective models we can use. They are examples of the incarnation of the gospel at work. Christians need to live as Christians in the neighborhood in a non-condemning way that chooses to love neighbors. They incarnate Christ and God takes care of the Army.

A word of caution. In this brave new world we may not be able to measure success in the same ways. There may not be a statistical line for drop in crime rate or cleaned up junkies. It may not translate into Sunday attendance and junior soldiers, but will translate into changed lives and neighborhoods.

While some would say that this would call for methods that are out of the box I suggest this is “in the box Salvationism”. We have a heritage of adapting to culture. We are uniquely positioned as Salvationists to engage these Christians who want to be engaged in mission. It may be, however, that what we see and believe to be a corps, will not be what attracts and keeps these spiritual sojourners. It can and will be distinctly Army in spirit. The Kroc ministry is something which I believe will be a church to many members who may never become soldiers, but will see the center as their place of worship and spiritual nourishment.

Emergents will look for those relationships where they can speak truth into lives and have it spoken back to them. They want relationship with no agenda other than honesty and love. This may also be something that will challenge our officer-centric culture, because as leaders become more vulnerable, owning their weaknesses, leadership will need to become more collaborative.

Soldier and officer emergents probably will not be impressed by position or rank. They will respect what they perceive as spiritual authority, not necessarily ecclesiastical or hierarchical systems. They will also want to know what they say is valued. They will want to be equal partners in leadership, not just people who will fall in line. They are anxious to lead missional pursuits, plant alternative congregations and in general be immersed in ministry. They will want to customize their service to fit what they perceive to be their particular giftings. Many will look outside of officership to do that.

These emergents also value racial and gender equality in ministry. They will love our stated core value of women and people of color being equal in ministry. They will hold us accountable to it.

Listen to another highly educated, emergent Salvationist who commented on a blog: “I’m not sure that everyone can be on ‘equal footing’. I’m not sure how that would really work. Someone has to be the ultimate decision-maker. I would very much enjoy seeing lay leaders in a position to offer input on policy and/or programming [that would go beyond the recommendation level.] Unfortunately, I’ve seen this try to happen, and the same situation arises…the officer ‘in charge’ sees him/herself as the all knowing, all powerful - and is just doing this for looks. I’m sure I sound bitter and jilted….which I guess I am.”

Regarding evangelism, Burke and others suggest that the best metaphor for evangelism is that of a gardener not a warrior. This flies in the face of our military structure. I am used to “storming the forts of darkness.” I have actually tried to “gird on the armor and rush to the field.” For about 15 years of my officership I saw this metaphor of the warrior as the real life blood of the Army in evangelism. I remember the pride I would have while entering seeker statistics in the register. It became often another notch in my belt instead of celebrating a soul returning to God. My attitude was sinful. Emergents often perceive that is the attitude of the church in our practice of evangelism.

Is this military metaphor still needed? I think it is. I would say that where the emergents would latch onto this warrior metaphor is as we take on issues of poverty and the systems of evil that would continue to oppress.

These emergents will, in the words of Isaiah 1:17, “seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” They will even come alongside those whose lifestyles may cause us to be a bit uncomfortable. They will do this not only to ensure that evil is not done to others but, not allowed to tighten its grip on them through repressive systems and what they consider unloving, judgmental Christians.

I know someone who I would classify as an emerging Christian. He attends college. He believes the world needs to love Muslims. He believes we need to win their hearts so Muslims might see that Christians love people and don’t sit in judgment. He is honestly is searching for the truth about Jesus and what Jesus wants the church to be. He attends a large worship gathering. He prays almost daily. He reads his Bible often. He occasionally uses some salty language while blogging. He has not always made good choices at college, but has been honest about it, has quickly requested forgiveness from family, friends and God. He lives in a suite with seven other students. One roommate is gay.

In a conversation about the situation over Christmas break, this young man assured me that homosexuality was not transmitted through the air and could not be caught. “I won’t be going to see that film ‘Brokeback Mountain’ anytime soon” he said with a wry grin. “So what are you going to do?” I asked. “What are you going to say? How are you going to act?” To which the young emergent said, “I’ll see if he wants to hang out.”

“All the guys who say they are Christians on campus don’t give him the time of day. I am just hoping he might see a different kind of person in me. I might invite him to church. Even though I have questions about the lifestyle, I want to be his friend.”

This young man is certainly not the model Salvationist in the eyes of most. Yet,our son helped this fellow traveler get a new appreciation for evangelism emergent style. Maybe in this millennium as warriors will fight injustice, gardeners will reap the harvest. I firmly believe there is a new wind blowing in the church. It may be a new reformation. It is an attempt, I believe, to return to the early church values, practices and lifestyle. It is, as I see it, Salvationist at heart, if not completely in practice.

To quote Brian McLaren: “You see, if we have a new world, we will need a new church. We won’t need a new religion per se, but a new framework for our theology. Not a new Spirit, but a new spirituality. Not a new Christ, but a new Christian.”

That is the message of the emerging church. We can engage it or ignore it. It will be the worldview of new generations of people who will look at us and ask the question General Shaw Clifton asked us a few years ago, “Who are these Salvationists?” Hopefully, they will see people who they will identify with in mission and join us to advance the Kingdom of God. A few years ago General John Larsson, while speaking to a group of leaders, said something like this: “The wind of the Spirit is blowing. Are we going to rush and shut the windows so the papers stop blowing around? Or are we going to allow the wind to blow through?” I believe there is a new wind blowing. What are we going to do?

Writer: Larry Ashcraft has been a Salvation Army officer over 25 years. He serves as the General Secretary for The North East Ohio Division in the USA Eastern Territory. Larry and his wife Janet founded of the Eastern Territory’s Project 1:17 School of Youth Ministry and Mission in 2001 and recently turned over the leadership of the school. Larry and his wife have two sons and a daughter-in-law who are their pride and joy. Larry enjoys sports, reading and good political debate. Larry and Janet’s joint passion is to see the emerging generation engaged and discipled for the mission of God, through The Salvation Army.

9 Comments to The New Conversation: Pondering Postmodernism

1. Interesting read. I’m glad to see officers thinking about how all of this is going to fit together with the Army, and (gasp!) willing to re-evaluate the way things work now. I have so much hope and JOY when I look to the future of the Army. As long as we submit totally to the will of God, Satan will continue to find his schemes confounded by our efforts.
Jonathan Taube on February 13th, 2007

2. I find the paradox of a disciplined, quasi-military, centralized movement interacting with an experiential, decentralized and questioning generation most fascinating. I see the relationship as mutually beneficial, and not mutually exclusive.

   It may well be that for the foreseeable future one strategy is the reconstruction of the corps around small groups - or, squads. I like that term - it connotes flexibility and action, as well as small group camaraderie.

   Larry, you and Janet are important ambassadors for many young adults. May God continue to bless and and empower you both.

   RJM
Richard Munn on February 20th, 2007

3. Some of your statements seem a bit to broad to be considered indicative of the whole North American Church. There are quite a variety of expressions of Church. At what point is something emerging?

   Many of these ideas about emerging Church seem like ideas that are coming out of a rich Church history and perhaps we are reconnecting, which may be what you are attempting to say.

   We wondered if the emerging church is leading culture or following culture? Is the emerging Church merely trying to be really relevant, and what is lost if that is the case? Who are they appealing to and why?

   Overall a good job.

   Ray Aldred
Ray Aldred's class on February 21st, 2007

4. Some of your statements seem a bit to broad to be considered indicative of the whole North American Church. There are quite a variety of expressions of Church. At what point is something emerging?

   Many of these ideas about emerging Church seem like ideas that are coming out of a rich Church history and perhaps we are reconnecting, which may be what you are attempting to say.

   We wondered if the emerging church is leading culture or following culture? Is the emerging Church merely trying to be really relevant, and what is lost if that is the case? Who are they appealing to and why?

   Overall a good job.

   Ray Aldred
Ray Aldred's class on February 21st, 2007

5. Some of your statements seem a bit to broad to be considered indicative of the whole North American Church. There are quite a variety of expressions of Church. At what point is something emerging?

   Many of these ideas about emerging Church seem like ideas that are coming out of a rich Church history and perhaps we are reconnecting, which may be what you are attempting to say.

   We wondered if the emerging church is leading culture or following culture? Is the emerging Church merely trying to be really relevant, and what is lost if that is the case? Who are they appealing to and why?

   Overall a good job.

   Ray Aldred
Ray Aldred's class on February 21st, 2007

6. i still struggle with the assumption that emerging generations will readily adopt a militaristic set of terminology, under the assumption that it may represent passion and commitment. in a time of such cynicism regarding war, especially in the US, i think many of these terms seek to preserve the Salvation Army’s own heritage rather than adopt to a truly changing culture.

   another thought - don’t forget the passion that many post-modern Christians (and those of other generations as well) have to preserve and restore the environment. that is one area that think the Army is still lacking - our impact on the environment and the ensuing impact on our testimony to the world.

   great article!
jonathan on February 22nd, 2007

7. I think many of the ideas expressed here are healthy; especially the example of your college friend and his roomate. However, I don’t think this is an exclusively ‘emergent’ way of thinking, nor should it be. The expectation should be that every Christian would be willing to do the same for a human who is in need. Overall, this a really interesting look at the cross-over of modern and post-modern ideas in expressions of Christianity.

   Concerns with Emergent movements and churches lie in their willingness to alter theology that is truly central to Christology and, therefore, Christianity; eg. The Virgin Birth. This could perhaps be linked to Ray Aldred’s comment on whether the church leading culture, or being led by culture. Some things must NEVER be compromised, whether the culture demands it or not. We are called to be ‘in the world, but not of it’. The Emergents are certainly ‘in the world’; are they becoming ‘of’ it? We shall see.
Simon on May 22nd, 2007

8. After reading this excellent assessment of our times I really feel understood. Until reading this I was torn as to the source of my struggle in training school. Was I simply being arrogant, a know-it-all, a rebel of conformity or was there something more? I realize that I may have come across as being those things, but in my heart I just wanted more. If Salvation is our middle name than I fully expected to be trained in evangelism in theory and practice.

   I was constantly reminded to value community, I knew that it is not the same as Assimilation. Emergent community celebrates diversity and I was a certainly a square peg, being thrust into a round hole.

   I was called to be a minister, not an administrator. Trained 90% for ministry and 10% administration. That is not the reality of the field. I have been unhappy in my appointment the entire five years on my tenure. Not because of title, rank, position or prestige, but because every day is a reminder that I don’t fit in. My hearts desire was to be immersed in ministry, not in paperwork. To match my service in the army with my passion and giftings. Now I know that my feelings are validated and that I am not just an arrogant non-conformist. I do love our roots and strongly believe that as an emergent my heart reflects what was more than what is.
   The great news is that I finally got dirty just two weeks ago. Our men’s group, which meet in the park so they call all smoke, invited me to come to an “AA Meeting”. That’s where I got dirty and that is where I found my church. These broken people were more honest and sincere than any church people I had ever met. After hearing their openness and pain I was compelled to share God’s heart with them. One man started to cry and stayed after the meeting to talk with me. He told me 4 stories of tragedy and each one ended with “I really need God”. When he finished I replied, “Well, you’re gonna get Him! Now tell God what you told me.” Then I heard the most sincere confession of my life. He didn’t recite “the prayer”, nor did I ask him to. But God heard his cry and immediately washed him clean and entered his life. He let out a loud shout, “wow, what was that?” My friend answered, “that was Jesus! You are now part of the family of God!”

   I came home that night wreaking with the smell of smoke and completely filled with joy! I finally found my home in a smoke filled room full of sinners who knew they need the Lord.
Robyn Bridgeo on August 27th, 2007

9. I believe there is a mission to post-modern society, but am doubtful this is it. Would the Booths have written this article, or sound more like Michael Farris and the folks running therebolution.com? Anyway, thanks for publishing this — it’s good to know where the Army stands as I try to guide my teenagers through a youth culture I found personally to be a complete spiritual wasteland.
Catherine Wajda on September 12th, 2007

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