Stupidity and the Emerging Church
23 11 2005OK, I’m not saying that the “emerging church” is stupid. But I see a lot of things that are happening in the name of emerging, that are just stupid. The biggest is the word “missional.” This drives me insane. I hate when people make up words that don’t make sense. What does missional mean? It has something to do with missions? It’s the way we should act about missions? even worse than that is the way people use the word. I wan’t to write a song to the tune of Do the Hustle and replace it with the words Get Missional.
Why is it that to be perceived as clever and pioneering that people have to make up new words. Derrida has a lot to say about it. He says that words like these are oppressive in that they exclude the people who are not a part of using them regularly. Maybe that’s why this word is spreading like wild fire. If you don’t use it then you aren’t cool and clever.
Either way, I think this is a sympton of what we all seek. I don’t know anybody that isn’t in a constant search for something cool to be a part of. I have been looking at lots of emergent leaders churches. They are no different than many other churches. They preach, teach, eat and sin together (isn’t that cool?). Some of these churches are the least pioneering bodies of the kingdom, yet they are cool because they use made up words.
All of this means that I will regularly make up words here so that those who read will feel cool and like they are a part of an exclusive network of peopdom (see I made up a word for people in the kingdom). Please check back regularly for “insider” words that you will not want to be caught in cool circles without.
“peapdom” - I like the ring it has… I’m going to be more about using new words like this. That’s what you were trying to get me to do right?
Does Relevant Magazine now spell magazine sans “e”?
Only here will you see the insider spelling. Yes, this too is using words in new ways
Paul,
Greetings from England and it’s good to find another youth ministry blog.
I’m worried you’re being a little bit harsh in this post though! Worldwide the ‘missional’ ‘emerging’ Church is reaching a lot of people in a way that our mainstream churches are not. They are still part of THE Church and a part of what God is doing (that’s cooler than any name!). Most mainstream churches are based on attraction and maintenance ….. this re-look at what mission will mean as the core value and practice has been really important for re-ingaging with community.
Sometimes too we need new words to be able to discuss and reflect on things. I’m not sure Issac Newton would have been able to explore and understand Gravity so well and present it to the world if he’d stuck with the perfectly good word “falling”
Wishing you every blessing in your ministry and I look forward to seeing how the blog develops.