I just finished a chapter I am writing for a book Zondervan is releasing next year about five views on theology in the emerging church. I am really glad it is being written, as when people say "emerging church" so many different things come to mind theologically. This book has five different people in church leadership with somewhat varying theological viewpoints - myself, Doug Pagitt, Mark Driscoll, Karen Ward and John Burke all give our personal viewpoints of theology and what we believe in our local church context. Robert Webber is the general editor of the book and writing a set up and conclusion for it. I can imagine that there will be some spectrum of diversity in this book - and that is the point. To show the diversity of beliefs. We then will do some sort of critique and response to each others chapters in the book.
However, it is odd writing a "counter-point" book (that's the name of the series), because the point of the book is to counter the other people's opinions. We are friends in this book, we know each other and some are even close friends. So, with that in mind, I ended up writing a paragraph in the chapter I wrote, which I think represents what I hope this book will demonstrate in terms of our interaction even though we may disagree on things.
Anyway - this is what I wrote (I don't know why it is underlined below, I tried to remove the underline but for some reason I can't):
You are reading viewpoints of different church leaders in emerging churches. You will see differences, as that is the point of this book as we discuss each others differences. So I assume we will discuss and even challenge one another in our responses. But this is not fisticuffs fighting. This is more like a fun pillow fight, you could say. I’m not sure grown men have pillow fights and I think Doug Pagitt with his long arms would wipe most of us out with a swing of his pillow, but I think you understand what I mean. I have seen and read ugly, bitter cut down ranting on blogs and in other books. This book will not have that. Something for the reader to know, is that we are all friends in this book. I have spent time with each person writing in this book. I have been to two of their homes, and stayed overnight a few times at one. I respect tremendously each person contributing in this book and writing opinions in this format is difficult, because it is only words, not facial expressions, no cup of coffee or a pint of Guinness is on the table as we chat theology here. So, it is hard to write and then do counter-points, as we do have different beliefs. But I approach this with great humility and wish this was more of a roundtable discussion. I am certain if I was to ask the other writers, they too would prefer that – as we are not in combat here, we are expressing our own theological journeys and ideas. That is important to know, as some people like to see fights and some people are so opinionated that their hearts come across as puffy and arrogant as we are talking about holy, mysterious things here and we should tread lightly and prayerfully.
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I guess I get very weary of reading blogs and some books, where Christians slam one another, people criticize and condemn one another and from the outside it must simply reinforce how silly Christians come across. I hope this book shows diversity, yet love and grace. We can disagree, but why do people go hyper-angry slamming and even paint inaccurate portraits of others that are usually are so far from the truth. I believe many will be ashamed one day looking back at how we condemned and publicly slammed fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I don't want to do the same here and be hypocritical by slamming those who slam others - so I best end this blog post now and focus on pillow love.
