In the Blogosphere
By Trevin Wax on Aug 15, 2008 in In the Blogosphere | 
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Robbie Sagers reflects on his recent visit to the Church Basement Road Show “revival” meeting with Emerging Church leaders.
Michael Spencer is dead-on. Some of our enthusiasm for “engaging Hollywood” is just a mask to cover up how much we love to be entertained.
Check out this preview for Mark Driscoll’s new book, Death by Love.
Is there Ageism in the Southern Baptist Convention?
This church in Tennessee is hosting a conference centered on renewing traditional churches.
Top Post this Week at Kingdom People: Steven Curtis Chapman on Larry King Live (Video)
Coming up next week: Look for a list of the top five most important Christian theologians; I’ll also be reviewing a new book advocating simplicity in spirituality.
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Thanks for the mention Trevin. This link is to the free download “Praying Your Church To Life”. Chuck
Chuck | Aug 15, 2008 | Reply
I went to the church basement roadshow in nashville and Sagers is completely unaccurate in his account of what happened. It really frustrates me to hear him be so critical of what they didn’t do at the roadshow. It wasn’t a church service, it was a book promotion tour. All the things Sagers was critical of were the things that are more appropriate for a church setting. But that isn’t what this was.
Plus, the 10 dollar donation at the door and the bucket they passed around were one and the same. The bucket was the donation because the 10 dollars was a suggestive donation and that is when you gave, at the end of the roadshow.
The best part of the roadshow was that you got to hear these guys hearts concerning missions and God. All I ever hear from them is theology and talk about culture but that night I listened to how they feel about their role in this world and in loving it. Scandrettes story about the Emperor was a beautiful story of love, why didn’t Sagers comment positively on that? He told how the roadshow went in perfect detail but only had negative or neutral things to say about it. Would it have been different if the roadshow had Al Mohler and was promoted by the SBC?
Barry | Aug 17, 2008 | Reply
Barry,
Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate your taking the time to read my review of the “Church Basement Roadshow,” and for your feedback. If I was inaccurate in anything I said, I am certainly open to correction.
At no time was I ever confused about whether the “Church Basement Roadshow” was a worship service or a book promotion! I am sorry if I was unclear on this point. It was promoted as a “revival” of sorts, and I do think that presenting a clear explanation of what needs to be “revived” is appropriate for such an event.
I do think the three men at the Roadshow were clear about what needed to be revived, and how; I was merely attempting to offer a critique on their views on this. Do you not think that the emergent church is open to critique?
At the particular event that I attended, Barry, the KFC buckets for donations were at the front door and passed around at the end. Encouragement to donate money was given at the beginning and at the end of the show. Perhaps something different occurred at the event you attended.
And you are right, in a sense–Scandrette’s story about the Emperor was moving in its own way. My point was that no clear resolution of the story seemed to be present. And do you not think that Scandrette missed an opportunity to tell the Emperor, in the hospital room after a failed suicide attempt, about the One who is love, rather than a simple and generic, “You are loved”?
Loved by whom? Loved in what way?
As you probably know, Barry, just as much can be communicated by what is not said as by what is said–and this is especially true in theology. That was what I attempted to point out in mentioning that there was nary a mention about the divinity of Christ, the Spirit, repentance of sin, God as Trinity, etc.
If a Jehovah’s Witness says to you, “Jesus Christ is the firstborn of all creation,” he is quoting Scripture. Thus, he speaks truth.
Or does he?
I hope you are able to discern the spirit in which I wrote this piece. As I acknowledge in the write-up, so much of what Jones, Pagitt, Scandrette, and other adherents of the emergent church say is true, and biblical. I think that is one reason why the movement has gained some traction with some disaffected evangelicals.
But, ultimately, though some within the emergent church ask some good questions, their answers often fall short of mere Christianity. Some aspects of the emergent church are heretical, and some within the movement can be classified as false teachers.
And, since you mentioned Dr. Mohler, I must say that it would be quite a scene to see the president of Southern Seminary dress up as a fictional revival preacher of a century ago to promote one of his books. Something tells me that that won’t be happening any time soon!
But if it does, I promise that I will attend that “roadshow,” as well. It would be something to behold, would it not?
Thank you again, Barry, for taking the time to read the piece. May the Lord bless and encourage you in Christ today.
Sincerely,
Robbie
Robbie Sagers | Aug 17, 2008 | Reply