Central Oregon Emergent Cohort

I had lunch with a friend from another church in town today in the Costco dining area. We were catching up on all that has been going on in our lives and communities. We talked about some of the most recent conversations I have had with those who agree and disagree with where I’m coming from… and where emergents are coming from.

As we were talking the lady and her husband, who were sitting next to us, spoke up saying that they were really interested in what we were talking about… that being faith, theology, the bible, etc. They went on to say that they were from a different church here in Bend. We introduced ourselves as being part of a couple different local churches in town. It was interesting that they automatically jumped to some of the controversy that has been circulating about our churches. In their words, “We have heard that you all have been rethinking some things…”

Well I was so impressed with how my friend explained all that is going on there as people are adjusting to the leadership changes, how they are trying to figure out how to study the bible and follow Jesus, and how they are seeking to be non-denominational. He explained that he has friends who are catholic, baptist, presbyterian, emergent, and so many more… but he doesn’t have to agree with all that they believe and he does agree with some things. I think he was respectfully avoiding certain hot-button things.

The two folks sitting next to us were very happy that this church wasn’t turning Emergent or becoming an emerging church. I was amazed that these two words were so scary and poisonous to them. Little did they know that if they were really afraid of Emergent ideas coming to Bend, the guy they were sitting next to (that would be me) was probably the one to be afraid of.

We all left very glad to have talked to each other. I perhaps wish that I would have been a bit more forward about defending emergent or at least helped to dispel some of their misconceptions. It was interesting that they admitted that Christianity itself has been changing and growing since the beginning as God reveals himself to humanity… even that so many people have a hard time grasping this. And yet, it was only one step further to say these people who are growing and moving forward are the emergents. Hm…