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Emerging Church and Seventh-day Adventist Spirituality

Profile image of Peter RoennfeldtPeter Roennfeldt

2021, Spes Christiana

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26 pages

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Abstract

Postmodernism challenges the church. The complexity of late 20th and early 21st century American evangelicalism was the environment for fresh Emerging Church conversations. Interest in Americanized Church Growth was waning, and church attendance was continuing to decline in spite of charismatic renewal. There was increasing frustration with the evangelistic ineffectiveness of the mega-church seeker models in reaching postmoderns, together with the growing realization that there were alternatives to inherited Constantinian models of church. It is a complex conversation. Some, who are faithful to biblical authority, doctrine and the eternal gospel of Jesus Christ, have sought to keep the focus on being both a missional and missionary movement. This article does not simply list what is right or wrong with Emerging Church, nor confine discussion to certain practices. It examines how Adventists have assessed this movement, and, in reflecting the author's academic, professional and personal journey of ministry, it represents an Adventist response.

Key takeaways
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  1. The text explores the complex intersection of Emerging Church and Seventh-day Adventist spirituality in postmodernism.
  2. Adventism's response to the Emerging Church movement reflects a struggle with postmodern cultural shifts and traditional beliefs.
  3. Emerging Church proponents advocate for new expressions of spirituality while remaining rooted in biblical authority.
  4. Brian McLaren's influence as a leading voice in the Emerging Church emphasizes a shift from modern to postmodern Christianity.
  5. The article calls for Adventism to critically reassess its ecclesiology to effectively engage with contemporary cultural realities.

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