We’re writing a study/discussion guide at my church, for Jim Belcher’s book Deep Church–an examination of the “emerging church” controversy. I was writing my contribution, and since my blog has been lying fallow for a couple weeks, I thought I’d post it.
The author is trying to present both sides fairly on each area of the controversy, and lay out a balanced, faithful approach to each issue. Someone summarized the book as:
- There are problems in the English-speaking church.
- There are fair criticisms of the church.
- There are faithful solutions to those questions.
If you’re interested in some reviews, check out: (1) A thorough summary & review by Kevin DeYoung (notice the comments left by Jim Belcher). (2) A review from a hard-nosed conservative, Frank Turk, explaining what’s so good about this book, even though it’s too nice sometimes. (This one includes an mp3 of a interview featuring both Turk and Belcher on a radio show.) (3) A negative review from 9Marks. (4) A response from Belcher, and a response from Frank.
I was assigned to make the summary & discussion questions for the chapter on epistemology–”Deep Truth”. Here goes!
By the way, if you have any suggestions for more discussion questions, I’d love to hear ‘em.
Chapter 4: Deep Truth
Summary
The discussion has centered on “epistemology” & “postmodernism”–having to do with the nature of knowledge & certainty, and how we know what we know. But people often work from different definitions of “postmodernism”, or they emphasize & focus on different aspects. Talking past each other has made it hard to reach a common Biblical balanced perspective.
To traditionalists, “postmodernism” equals the individualistic relativism that flowed out of modernism. But emergers have focused on postmodernism’s valid critique of modernism–the quest for invincible certainty through rational argument built on unshakable foundations, with all the stereotypes of fundamentalism: Triumphalism, arrogance, closed-off-ness, and dismissing questions. Some emergers have been too quick to embrace postmodernism’s alternative: Truth is discovered (or constructed) by each community, without accountability from the outside. But they have not always explained how to avoid relativism.
The deep church stands in humble “proper confidence”–not an unassailable certainty we achieve by our individual, perfect, unbiased study, but confidence in the Spirit’s work to bring us into the truth of the biblical story. God’s revelation gives us confidence that we substantially know the reality he shows us outside ourselves. Our knowledge is real without claiming perfect sight that never needs to learn from others. The deep church’s deepest concern is not guarding the fences that mark the outer boundaries of orthodoxy. We know & proclaim the Well of life at the center: Christ, drawing thirsty sinners to him through the Gospel.
Main points:
- We seek to avoid the stereotypes of both relativism and fundamentalism.
- We are humbly confident in God’s work to reveal himself, always learning, always gracious.
- Our central focus & confidence is in the Well of life: Christ, drawing thirsty sinners to him through the Gospel.
Discussion:
- How are you used to hearing the word “postmodernism” used? Have you seen it as a good or bad thing?
- If the Bible says things like “so that you may know” or “the certain knowledge”, how can someone object to the idea of invincible certainty? Has the quest for certainty ever been a bad thing, or manifested in bad ways?
- Where do we get our confidence? Where can we be most confident, and why?
- How do we balance humble grace and confident proclamation?
- Update: How should we connect Bible study & theology with community? Should our Bible study be done in community? Solely in community? Primarily in community? What about local community vs the broader community of historic Christianity?
Tags: centuri0n, Emerging-Church, Gospel, Orthodox, postmodernism
Entries (RSS)
SWEET! A modern Schaeffer.
Have you completed the study guide for Deep Church?
Is it available anywhere?
We’re starting a study in our church and would be glad for some help.
Dean Smith drsmith@geneva.edu
My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find the majority
of your post’s to be exactly what I’m looking for.
Would you offer guest writers to write content
in your case? I wouldn’t mind publishing a post or elaborating on a number of the subjects you write
concerning here. Again, awesome blog!
I’m gone to say to my little brother, that he should also go to see this weblog on regular basis to take updated from most recent news update.
I pay a visit day-to-day some websites and sites
to read posts, except this website provides feature based articles.
no no radiancy hair removal reviews
Study guide – Deep Church, Deep Truth | Through A Glass, Dimly
advance auto promo code 50 off 100
Study guide – Deep Church, Deep Truth | Through A Glass, Dimly
acfe.com
Study guide – Deep Church, Deep Truth | Through A Glass, Dimly
Sehr viele Patienten haben den Wunsch, über den Tod zu sprechen und das eigene Leben zu Ende
zu denken.
shutterfly coupon codes june 2013
Study guide — Deep Church, Deep Truth | Through A Glass, Dimly
Hi, on occasion I see a 500 site error when I view your page. Just a heads up, best wishes
i love three styles:
There are problems in the English-speaking church.
There are fair criticisms of the church.
There are faithful solutions to those questions.
i love three styles: it really helpful with me …
This post makes a lot of sense indeed and I appreciate the work
This post makes a lot of sense indeed and I appreciate the work
mua xe oto Honda 2017 tra gop lai suat thap tai dai ly Honda oto Long Bien
Very interesting and informative post. Thanks.
your post so helpful with me …
adelphi college essay
Study guide
Thanks for finally writing about > Study guide — Deep Church, Deep Truth |
Through A Glass, Dimly < Loved it!
It iss iin reality a nice and hedlpful piece
of information. I am happy that you just shared this useful info with us.
Please keep uus up to date like this. Thhank you forr sharing.
It’s not my ffirst time to ggo tto see this web site, i
am browsing this website dailly and take nice data from here all the time.
Have you ever considered publishing an e-book or guest authoring on other blogs?
I have a blog centered oon the same ideas
you discuss aand would really like to have you share ome stories/information. I know my visitors
would enjoy your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to send me an email.
road exam
Study guide
excellent post, very informative. I ponder why the
other experts of this sector do not understand this. You should continue your writing.
I’m confident, you have a great readers’ base already!
If so, you must discover how to play poker each online and offline.
This ought to favour the higher skilled players because the more
you play the much better opportunity of outclassing the opposition and luck
becomes much less of a factor. Playing this sport is sort of like a occupation because the much more hrs you
place in, the more cash you can expect to earn.
Great Works
good
good works
recruiting Employees Entrepreneurs
Study guide — Deep Church, Deep Truth | Through A Glass, Dimly
Home Renovation Projects
Study guide — Deep Church, Deep Truth | Through A Glass, Dimly
Lace Wigs
Study guide — Deep Church, Deep Truth | Through A Glass, Dimly
few Kitchen design
Study guide — Deep Church, Deep Truth | Through A Glass, Dimly
Color Scheme Outside
Study guide — Deep Church, Deep Truth | Through A Glass, Dimly
What’s up, its nice paragraph about media print, we all understand media is
a enormous source of facts.
Like my websit gaming online indonesia
Thanks for any other wonderful post. The place else may anybody get that kind of
info in such an ideal approach of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and I am on the search for such info.
Like my websit