The subject line is Jake’s thesis at Theofragen:
Let me tell you a secret, which is kind of weird since this is a public blog. If you are in seminary you must become a part of the emergent conversation!
That’s not very postmodern, Jake, you might be thinking.
I know. But most of you who identify with postmodern sensibilities are already a part of the emergent conversation, so you’ll agree with me prima facie. And the rest of you are still clinging to the sticky residue of modernity, and you continue to think in absolutes, so I’m giving you one. Be Emergent!
His logic follows this in his post, which is something those modern-types may need. ;^)
Jake first point, that postmodernism is growing, is true
but the traditional institutional church will go on, and
sustain significant numbers who have nothing to do with
PM. He says the churches seminaries train for are becoming
extinct, but that is obviously not true, and supported by no
facts. His third point that seminary graduates will burn
out in the changing culture without a network of support
is true, but who says that semanaries discourage networks of
support.
I support this emergent movement because i believe it is
much more relational and authentically Christ-like than
traditional church as we’ve known it. But I think people like
Jake are making some exaggerated claims that are not backed up
by research. It seems many emergent folks get a little too
excited by their dreams of what the Church should be, without
looking eye to eye at reality. You can’t discern where the
Church is heading and how quickly. The emergent movement I believe is in
its early stages of development, far from exploding on the
scene, requiring Christians everywhere to jump on board.