We’re Part of the Emergent Church? Says Who!?!

(Editor’s Note: The below article was edited for grammatical purposes. One hyperlink was also added.)

BWC Staff,

I would like to submit a few observations about Brent Bourgeois’s rant entitled “The Christian Bookstore.” Brent goes nuts after seeing a title called “Crushing the Democrats” ? Is Brent a truly regenerate convert to Christ? Of course you’re not going to see pro-Democratic ideologies at a Christian bookstore. The Democratic political platform openly and aggressively embraces legalized abortion. They push for the legalization of gay marriage and for furthering civil rights that gays and lesbians already have to a level of privilege that exceeds what all Americans already have. The Democratic platform is in favor of the legalization of marijuana and other currently illegal drugs. They also favor a reduction of the protections afforded the Christian church. And, by the way Brent, we didn’t have to worry about going to war under Bill Clinton, he didn’t have the backbone for making that kind of decision. He was too busy committing adultery in this country’s highest political office. Brent, if your sister was being raped repeatedly by a madman, the whole world knew it and the UN was completely impotent (as they have been since their inception) to stop it, would you ask for an 18th sanction against the rapist? Would you worry what history would think about you? Would you sit down and “debate” Romans 13 a while or would you stop the rapist? In the comfort of your home, far, far away from the carnage, you sit and pass judgement on men who must make real decisions. You pass judgement on “W” for invading a country and shutting down the torture chambers and rape rooms? You ignore the clear mandate of all of God’s Word for us to protect the innocent, to love mercy, do justly and walk humbly before our God? You decide you are the final authority of what someone who owns a Christian bookstore should sell? I think not. If you have a problem, open up your own store. If you favor the Democratic party, considering the sinful and wicked ideologies they embrace, then get on your knees and beg God’s forgiveness, submit yourself in humble obedience to God’s Word and let it renew your mind. And please remember that fits of self-righteous indignation do not bring glory to God.

To this entire group of writers and commentators, do you all ever hold one another accountable for the faulty, unbiblical, and rebellious nature of your thoughts and words? Quit writing about social justice, pray for God’s justice. Don’t worry so much about the political ramifications of fossil fuels or alternative fuels. Fellas, quit ranting and start interviewing real sources. If you want to know that hydrogen as a fuel alternative is a crock (and it is), talk to the Energy Department. If you want to understand real global politics call retired FBI and CIA agents, they know why we do what we do. If you want to clearly understand God’s Word and the God of The Word, then study John MacArthur, R.C. Sproul, John Piper, Philip Ryken, Al Mohler, D. A. Carson. and burn your emergent church manifestos. Submit yourselves to worshipping God in Spirit and in truth and you won’t need Starbucks in your church and your Ed Young Jr. wannabe pastor can go back to dressing like a man and preaching. You will find that you don’t need big screens, small groups love sessions, rock bands, or prosaic pastors like Joel Osteen to get you from week to week, avoiding doctrines such as the Radical Depravity of Man, God’s Unconditional Election, God’s Particular Redemption of Souls, Irresistible Grace, and Eternal Security of the Believer.

A final word: we believe in the Priesthood of the Believer. This simply means that by the illumination of the Holy Spirit each believer can rightly interpret scripture, but the interpretation of scripture is done within the context of the whole of scripture. Scripture interprets scripture, not social conscience, not personal opinion or political ideology and certainly not, then, members of the Burnside Writer’s Collective. Mr. Miller, if you are going to be speaking at any conference that informs the Church of Jesus Christ about what’s new, I hope that the rants of your website are not what you are suggesting.

Grace and peace to you all,
Soli Deo Gloria,

Thomas Kirk
Bartlesville, OK

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BWC,

First of all, I want to say that I enjoy your website and I respect that you are providing the world a more nuanced view of Christianity. I hope that my comments are not taken the wrong way, but as I was going through all of the pages on your website I was reminded of what Buggin’ Out said in the film Do the Right Thing in response to all of the pictures of famous Italian people on Sal’s wall. Sal’s pizzeria was, of course, in a racially diverse area and yet the only people represented in his pizzeria were folk like him. Buggin’ Out naturally took offense and said, “Yo Sal, how come their ain’t no brothas on the wall?” I mention all this to basically say to you fine folks “Yo Burnside Writer’s Collective, how come their ain’t no brothas (or sistas) on the wall?” The body of Christ is diverse in opinions, politics, race, and ethnicity. I like that you give reviews to music, but they read like a who’s who of hipster type music, which is notorious for lacking in color. I am not suggesting you guys cover issues or include work from non-white writers in some affirmative action style way, but I just hope that you all know and realize that there are black and brown folks who don’t want to be a part of “franchise” Christianity either. I don’t want to sound too critical, because I do think the site and content is awesome, but as a young, black, (not really) hip Christian, I never feel like people like me are represented in the mix. Anyway, continued success with your site.

TT
Philadelphia, PA

Posted on June 1, 2006 12:00 AM