Robert Webber, ed.
219 pages
I must confess that I read this book several months ago and am just now getting around to writing the review for it, but I will say that it was a very interesting book. The premise of the book is to be a conversation between 5 emerging leaders and theologians who are writing on their perspectives of the Trinity, Atonement and Scripture. Those 5 leaders are: Mark Driscoll, Doug Pagitt, John Burke, Karen Ward, and Dan Kimball.
After entering into the conversation it was quite easy to discern that not everyone was on the same page, in fact you could say that Driscoll is a part of a completely different conversation and came across rather obtuse instead of as a willing participant in the conversation. Despite the disagreements that the other 4 had, you could tell that there was a sense of respect despite their differences… but this was not the case with Driscoll. Now, don’t get me wrong I like Mark Driscoll and I listen to his sermons and lectures quite frequently while reading his blog posts and books as well—although I don’t completely agree with everything he’s saying and sometimes flat out disagree with him—but I do respect him.
I very much enjoyed the different perspectives that all of them brought to the table, and I very much fancied the words of Dan Kimball and John Burke. Karen Ward brought a twist to the table by opening the dialogue to members of her community and including their insights into the mix (a wonderful stroke of genius I might add). Although there were some things that I found fascinating, there were others that I wished were further fleshed out in her thinking. Quite possibly the most confusing to read, and most “concerning” was Doug Pagitt. Giving him the benefit of the doubt is easy because of how he approached the book—it’s a conversation and here are the things I’m wrestling with at the moment.
This was a great book, and a great introduction into some great theological discussion that is and has been taking place in the emerging church for some time now. I’d recommend picking it up and getting a taste of the conversation—especially before judging it as a heretical sect of evildoers.
Related posts:
- driscoll & zacharias weigh in on the emerging church.
- emerging definitions
- driscoll on the emerging church.
- Confessions of a Reformission Rev. (a review)
- conversant with don carson
I read this book a few months ago also. I agree with your analysis. To me, the most imporant thing about this book is that it demonstrates that there is no “Emerging Church”. There are as many theological ideas swimming in the emerging stream as their are in the evangelical stream.
-Alan
Thanks Alan, that’s a great addition and an observation that is continually coming to the surface for me. I’m very much enjoying the diversity of perspective that is growing within the emerging stream, and look forward more and more to where it will lead!