Pagitt, Solomon’s Porch and Emergent Ecclesiology

August 22, 2007

From Scot McKnight’s Jesus Creed Blog, we find this sympathetic assessment of the Emergent Doug Pagitt and his church, Solomon’s Porch.

I’m up here in Seattle, and Doug Pagitt’s heart-felt record of his church’s, Solomon’s Porch, work, called Reimagining Spiritual Formation, which for many Emergent folk is “old hat,” was a wondrous read and gave me many things to think about.

But I begin with this one and it is a Question: What should 50somethings say about 20somethings who are doing all they can to “incarnate” the gospel in their own terms in unique situations and all for the glory of God and the good of the Kingdom? And who are doing it on top of what those 50somethings did themselves? And who think that 50somethings (like me!) didn’t always get it right?

Well, I say, the first thing they (read: we) should do is listen and listen hard enough until they (we) really hear what they are saying. So, my first comment is this: I’m listening and I’m processing and I’m grateful that there are young pastors and Christians who are willing to act on their God-given principles and do something that they think is more centered on the essence of the Kingdom.

They remind me of what we tried in my generation (using guitars, for instance, and hanging out in the church and having Bible studies with Christians from different churches and just generally getting in the way of the older folk) and I am SO grateful for the essential stance: we need to change and we’ll be the ones who give it a whirl.

I’ve got all kinds of ideas swirling in my head, but the first one is simply this: I want to hear what they are doing and if Solomon’s Porch is anywhere near expressing heart-felt concerns of the Emergent movement — however unique and all that and not typical — then I want to take it all in first. I want to let that vision settle in some. — Scot McKnight

Shaping Young Minds

Scot McKnight, although maybe not fully ‘Emergent’, is very sympathetic to the Emergent cause. Although McKnight may have a few concerns of his own with regards to the Emergent ‘conversation’, he seems to in large part embrace the Emergent movement.

This embrace is reason for concern and should draw our attention to the influence McKnight has.

Bio: Scot McKnight

Scot McKnight is a widely-recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. He is the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois). A popular and witty speaker, Dr. McKnight has given interviews on radios across the nation, has appeared on television, and is regularly asked to speak in local churches and educational events. Dr. McKnight obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (1986).

As a professor, he carries great influence with the younger generation. As a ‘popular’ speaker, he is being invited into some of America’s fastest growing churches. McKnight has an even broader influence on the Christian culture as a conference speaker.

The Emergent web is growing so fast, it is no exaggeration to say it has infected every aspects of American and European popular Christian culture (the Church, our Christian schools, colleges, and universities, Para-Church organizations, Christian literature, media, the arts, etc.)

It is the tenancy of Emergents to have disdain for absolute biblical truth and a departure from an orthodox position on the essentials of the Christian faith that give reason for concern.

Related Links:

Scot McKnight’s assessment of D.A. Carson’s book, “Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church”

Posted in D.A. Carson, Doug Pagitt, Ecclesiology, Emergent, Emergent Church, Scot McKnight, Solomon's Porch