All Emerging Church Conversationalists Are Equal... ~ BitterSweetLife

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

All Emerging Church Conversationalists Are Equal...

...But Some Are More Equal Than Others

There's a pattern in the ebb and flow of emerging church conversation that I find unsettling: While the "provocative" and "probingly ambiguous" statements of some authors/speakers are applauded and defended, the rhetoric of others is unapologetically held up for criticism. Eventually, people start to notice.



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6 comments:

Sørina Higgins said...

Sorry, this has nothing to do with your post. Or, on secondish thought, perhaps it has a lot. You usen't to have the phrase "Christian Spirituality" in your blog title, had you? Isn't it a rather washed-out phrase just now? Or perhaps you are trying to reclaim it.

?

~ Admonit

Anonymous said...

"the rhetoric of others is unapologetically held up for criticism"

One sided criticism as far as I can see since comments posted in defense of Tony are apprently removed immediately upon posting. Bah....

Anonymous said...

ok, my bad for jumping to conclusions, I think he is just moderating the comments. Bah on me now. :)

David Rudd said...

i've noticed this as well. while driscoll has certainly demonstrated a proclivity toward provocative and polarizing rhetoric, he doesn't seem to bristle at the slightest criticism...

i don't mean this to sound patronizing or condescending, but i wonder if tony needs to grow thicker skin if he is going to be the figurehead of the emergent village group?

AJ said...

You usen't to have the phrase "Christian Spirituality" in your blog title, had you? Isn't it a rather washed-out phrase just now?

Open effrontery! What nerve!

Actually, I chose "Christian Spirituality" to replace "A Spiritual Journey" - which I decided was a phrase lacking backbone. It would be kind of sad to merely swap one form of washed-up-ness for another, though... I haven't come up with another subtitle that will communicate (vaguely) what this blog is about: imaginative, Christ-centered theology as it collides with various aspects of (bittersweet) life. I'm open to suggestions though.

AJ said...

while driscoll has certainly demonstrated a proclivity toward provocative and polarizing rhetoric, he doesn't seem to bristle at the slightest criticism...

I think that the willingness to endure criticism, expect it, and defuse it when possible, is crucial for people involved in the current conversation. When you talk about a topic as explosive as theology, disagreements, misunderstandings and misstatements are inevitable. Might as well be ready, and not get all defensive - especially if your rhetoric is deliberately "provocative" in nature.

 

Culture. Photos. Life's nagging questions. - BitterSweetLife