Staying On Track

Nehemiah 6:1-13 contains a great lesson for those who are involved in the continuum of the emerging church.

And "continuum" is the right word for it. The Emerging Church -- or better yet, the questions that the emerging church is asking and wrestling with -- cuts across all kinds of denominational lines, as well as house churches, simple churches, and on and on. That's what makes it so hard to explain the Emerging Church; perhaps we should focus on the Emerging Questions that are most commonly being asked, instead.

The lesson in Nehemiah chapter 6 is simply this: if God has called us -- as individuals, house groups, communities of faith, church plants, etc. -- to a certain work, we need to be careful that we don't get sidetracked by detractors.

While a good critique can be helpful, trying to chase down, dialogue with, or bring correction to some of the anti-emerging websites too often turns into "chasing after the wind" (Ecclesiastes 1:14). And the end result is that you spend all your time (in fruitless frustration) arguing with people whose minds are firmly closed and you have no time, energy, or spirit left to do those things that God is calling you to do.

As Kenny Rogers sang once (I can't believe I'm actually quoting Kenny Rogers):

"You gotta know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run"
"The Gambler" by Kenny Rogers

Sounds like good advice to me. Thanks, Nehemiah, and thanks, Kenny!

(audio FX: running footsteps fading into the distance...)