I'm a MUTT

I recently bought a book entitled. "Why we are not emergent...by two guys who should be." written by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck (both in their 30's). I saw the title and it peaked my interest because it has seemed as though there are two categories of churches out there... "Traditional" and "Emergent". Some would deny this, but what I have read and heard, there are underlying philosophies that drive both types of churches. I would admit that I have been limited on my understanding of the emergent church and have drawn my own conclusions and have been judgemental. I thought this book would help me as I have tried to put in words what I have sensed from the movement. It has been like nailing jello to the wall for me. After reading the book I came away with mixed thoughts on how these guys painted the picture of the "Emerging church". They took some really absurd comments from some of the men that have been at the forefront of the emergent. Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, Leonard sweet, Ermin McManus and others who were all quoted in the book and critiqued. They have some beliefs and philosophies that I don't particularly subscribe to. Then it hit me... I have made some pretty stupid comments before... you have made some pretty "boneheaded" comments.... we all have had beliefs and opinions that may have not been biblical.

I came away from the book realizing that I am a "MUTT". If you know anything about dogs... a dog that has several breeds is considered a mutt. I realized that I am a bit "emergent" and a bit "traditional". There are those that pride themselves in being "Pure bred" and in the process try to reject a majority of what the other is. I have been judgemental of those who have a genuine desire to be genuine with people (emergent) and I have been judgemental of people who desire to never forget where they came from (traditional). I have seen the emergent attempt to "create" the right atmosphere (God's job) and I have seen the quirky mannerisms of people still trapped in the 50's, 60's & 70's who live like Christianity began in that era. I know a woman who was so steeped in tradition that she went dumpster diving trying to retrieve the old pulpit that my former pastor trashed after he constructed a new one.... that's tradition gone bad!

Over the past year I have tried to "nail the Jello to the wall" trying to place a moniker on me and the church I am a part of. I have seen shades of of what some would classify as "Emergent" and shades of what some would call "Tradition". What stands in the center creating these shades is Christ. I am not out to create a "type" of church or to re-invent something that Christ did right the first time (even if I call it "Getting back to what he meant"). I have seen some "Emergents" do things with "maverick spirits" who were more riddled with rebellion than James Dean... but I have also seen some who were doing it with a pure love for Jesus who were doing it with sincerity that made more of an impact in one day than some traditionalist would do in a year... if at all. I have seen some "traditionalists" who were so stiff necked that if Jesus walked by they would never know it... but Ohhhh they got the lingo down... ohhh they had their "Holy Huddles"..... but then I have seen some who would rather die than to water down the gospel and did what they did not to spite anyone and was still attractive toward those who were looking for a relationship with Christ... while some emergents were having coffee, they were praying people into the Kingdom.

What could you call Jon Goats? maybe a "mutt". There are other "mutts" out there that don't need the novelty of one of these titles to justify who they are. Simply being Christian is good enough. I have never read a book that was so "against" something that ended up helping me realize that it's not all bad.

Connect with the culture yet maintain standards. Speak with relevance yet live biblically. Be transparent. Realize your not perfect but don't use it as a licence.

I once took a personality test....you know the ones that tell you if your more like a lion or a golden retriever, etc. After taking the test I remember thinking, "yup that makes sense... that's me!" Without telling myself I want to be a golden retriever! I want to be a golden retriever! I want to be a golden retriever!" I realized that title simply assessed who I am, that title helped me understand who I was. I don't ever want to find myself telling myself, "I want to be emergent! I want to be emergent, I want to be emergent!" OR " I want to be traditional, I want to be traditional, I want to be traditional". It's at that point that I am no longer genuine.