This article, "Underneath the Cosmetics," was linked in my monthly Catalyst newsletter from Injoy. I really like how Brian more or less defines what the emergent church or the more missional looking church is trying to accomplish. I think that he hits four good areas. Here is a small section of the article:
"As churches seek reinvigoration, many are finding inspiration from emerging/missional approaches (the plural is important). But many focus on the forms and miss the foundational issues. The deeper opportunity is more than rethinking how church should "look" or be "done." It's the chance to ask what the church is for.
Most of us have our "theologically correct" answer. But deeper than our conscious answers are our unspoken, unexamined, perhaps even unconscious beliefs—four of which are especially powerful these days:
The church exists to …
1. Provide a civil religion for the state
2. Preserve and promote certain social values
3. Provide a living for religious professionals
4. Promote the satisfaction of its members."
I think what he brings out in this short article says a lot about what is truly the emerging/missional approach as compared to how can we look like one.
