Candles & Coffee
September 29, 2003
This has been said before, but just because you add some candles and a coffee bar in your church, or rearrange your pews [or take them out...(gasp)] - that doesn’t make you “postmodern” or “emerging.” Something that some people need to understand.
I think that churches who are seeking to minister to people in a postmodern culture can be classified [boy, that sounds like some pretty modern lingo - the need to box things in, classify them...oh well] into 3 different groups:
1. Aesthetically PoMo: This church adds some candles, maybe throws up some art and adds a coffee bar in the back. Wow! We’re ministering to postmoderns! Yet, you’ll hear the exact same message preached…and it will be preached. They will think that this is still the best way to get the gospel across. You might see some PoMos being drawn to churches who will advertise these as “postmodern” services or “alternative” services…but they will not stay long when they realize that these churches are failing to connect with any part of them other than just their coffee-cravings.
[evangelical]
2. Methodologically PoMo: This church understands that postmoderns not only may need a different type of setting to worship in [though they may still use some of these aesthetic changes], but they may not relate to the clean-cut-PowerPoint-enhanced-3-point-style sermon. They realize that it’s possible that there may be others who have the ability to speak truth about God and life other than the Pastor - and they want them to have a chance to share. While there may be some who are more progressive (theologically) in this area, for the most part, the theology remains evangelical. Yet, they are much more creative in the ways they can get it across to pomos.
[neo-evangelical]
3. Theologically PoMo: This church understands that the typical methodologies used in evangelical churches are not resonating with postmoderns. However, it is not just the methodologies. Theologically PoMo churches are working with a New Theology for a New World - they believe that not only do we need to change the way we rethink sharing the gospel, we need to rethink the actual gospel we’ve been sharing. These churches would claim that too much of our theology today has laid in bed with modernity, and it’s time to break it up. Of course, conservative evangelicals will throw many words at these types of churches: liberal, heretical, wanderers from the truth. Of course, these churches will be reaching many people that would never consider entering a conservative evangelical church.
[...................?]
Note: [a Methodologically PoMo could also be Aesthetically PoMo; a Theologically PoMo church could also be Methodologically and Aesthetically PoMo]
Thoughts?
Tags: alt.worship, Alternative-Worship, Emergent, Emerging-Churches
Posted in Emergent
Adam Walker Cleaveland: 
September 29th, 2003 at 1:48 pm
Great post, Adam - and excellent new deco!
The pink just wasn’t you! ;o)
September 30th, 2003 at 12:50 am
Adam — good stuff!
I’m not so sure about all you shared concerning a “new theology” though. I agree that many of our doctrines have been tainted or even spoiled by modernity — but our theological answsers do not lie in the future (e.g. the whole “progressive revelation” ideology is a modernist construct), but lie rather in the past (i.e. the road to our future runs through the past). The best theologians are not moderns, but they’re not postmodern deconstructionists either — they’re the early church Fathers.
In terms of all the pomo stylistic stuff — that’s all it is, and it cannot ultimately satisfy the soul. I’m regularly astounded by start-up churches that claim to be postmodern but still operate under the old paradigm. I guess things of “substance” take time to soak in.
September 30th, 2003 at 2:19 am
My first read of your blog and this is the first post I hit. Am, I glad I came over to read. Great post!
September 30th, 2003 at 2:32 pm
Excellent! This is that way that I have felt for sometime and you expressed it in a great way. Like you said, pomo is not about labels and cateogories, and everyone’s opinion or expression is worth something. So even though some of us may lean towards 2 or 3, we shouldn’t criticize others too much. Especially since not everyone in gen x or gen y is pomo. Just some thougts. Group 1 and 2 do frustrate me though, to be honest!
September 30th, 2003 at 3:23 pm
adam…sup man?!
one thing i enjoyed particularly about this post is that it doesn’t come right out and prefer one over the other. i think one monumental thing we need to realize is that all these modes have validity right now…now over time, i would discuss the idea that one will eventually be more valid or more effective due to the continuing change in culture, but right now, they all have a place. there are people that need a modern message packaged with candles and coffee and there are those that would be repulsed and sickened by the very same presentation, on the other hand there are many who try something pomodo because they desire to be “trendy” and “new” but they can’t swallow the new message…and new message is exactly what will be in order, in my opinion. we always say that new theology is bad theology, but theology is only the study of God, new studies of God while always including historical and classical writings and “findings”, must be encouraged and sought. seems to me that with the current theology we have…we are one-eye-blind…we have closed one of our eyes to fully focus in on one wholey holy thing like a scope or cross-hairs on a rifle, when in reality, two-eyes-open are better than one….our brain is made to combine two images, initially seen upside down, into one “right-side” up view of the world. we need both eyes…two-eyes-open, not one-eye-blind.
thanks adam for your insight
gregg
September 30th, 2003 at 10:32 pm
Chris, I was going to post a response to your concern about “new theology” - but I think I’ll just let Gregg speak for me. Thanks for posting Gregg - and for your thoughts.
October 2nd, 2003 at 10:55 am
hey adam!
wow! I am seconding chris…my first read and I get blown away!
thanks for the email too!
I believe we need many glasses to hold the flow of all that God is pouring out right now…and these glassses or vessels, waiting for the new wine, will need to be created in many shapes, colors, and sizes. There cannot be just one form ’cause we now have a multi layered multi flavored multi choice culture. And thanks too for not saying it has anything at all to do with AGE!
I too am looking back as well as forward to construct my theology …actually Jesus is revealing and doing it …i am just along for the ride…
It seems like the western church too long believed that the only cool, valid stuff happened after the reformation and happened in the west and roman world…
thanks again for your great thoughts and articulate descriptions.
can’t wait to read more! and I am honored to be in the conversation! Lilly
October 2nd, 2003 at 2:45 pm
Hey Cleave,
Great work. Enjoying reading and talking to you about this stuff. I love you bro.
Anyway, could you outline a few of the main points of the “new” theologies that are popping up? Like Gregg said, I don’t think new ways to study God are bad, but I also have to admit, not a single thing that I’ve heard in the postmodern discussion is new. It is old ideas with a twist of the current flavor or style… So when you refer to ‘new’ theologies, are talking about organization of the church, more interactive services, more equality of leadership, such as erasing the idea of clergy and laypersons, etc? or are we talking about real theology? About real differences in the way we see God or interact with Him??? Just a few thoughts. Keep up the good work.
sp in seattle
April 20th, 2004 at 8:19 pm
Having trouble processing everything. Heard about pomo for years, but only became aware of it in the last 6 months. Been ravenously reading everything on both side trying to sort it all out. Can’t get past the uncertainty and impermanence of it all. Your post was insightful.
May 8th, 2005 at 12:49 am
Dude! we think same thoughts :)
thanks for pointing me to this… you were WAY ahead of me!