As the researching and writing of my ThM thesis continues, I will be posting some "thought bubbles" for the purpose of critique and clarification. Questions, comments, and corrections are welcome.A History of Research is one chapter currently under construction. I have decided to gather and analyze a collection of EC definitions in an attempt to distill common themes and emphases. A few tentative commonalities have risen to the surface already:
- missional contextualization/indigenous expression
- relationship/community
- postmodernism
The first two, I think, are good and necessary features of church. The third, postmodernism, while applicable at present, may unnecessarily limit EC. It is, after all, quite likely that postmodernism, like all eras, will fade from view. Of course, some echoes will remain and the various cultures touched by postmodernism will be forever changed. But I do wonder if the EC has given itself an as yet unknown
"sell by" date. This is unfortunate, for the first two themes are important and a much needed corrective to an all too often "if we build it they will come," individualistic church culture. EC's vision is too important to limit to postmodern cultures; therefore, those who reject this limitation ought to be encouraged in their development.
NOTE: This is a rumination ("1. The act of pondering; meditation. 2. The act or process of chewing cud." American Heritage Dictionary) in search of synergy ("1. The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.")Tag(s):
missional ecclesiologySee CC License“Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” http://www.esv.org/
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