The unsolicited email to follow is a good example of a pet Emerging Church argument, which really finds its root in an age-old question: Yea, hath God said?

—– Original Message —–
From: AM Reader
To: apprising@hughes.net
Sent: Friday, June 05, 2009 10:57 AM
Subject: Emerging Church Question — Apprising Ministries contact form

Dear Sir: As I have reflected upon what you and other anti-Emerging Church writers have said, the same question keeps coming to mind over and over. I am not being sarcastic or facetious when I ask this, it is a genuine question: “how do you know (empirically) that your interpretation of what “church” and the theology of such “church” is absolutely what God wants?”
Please do not tell me ‘scripture’ reveals this (as is often the argument), because it only comes down to a debate of hermeneutics and whether your particular interpretation and means of arriving at such are adequate and proper. I am asking for an empirical methodology or ‘voice from God’ that demonstrates that you, as a fallible human being, are perfect in your interpretational methodology and theology. Thank you for your time.

—– Original Message —–
From: Apprising Ministries
To: AM Reader
Sent: Friday, June 05, 2009 12:48 PM
Subject: Re: Emerging Church Question — Apprising Ministries contact form

Hello AM Reader,

Please know that I did not perceive you as being “sarcastic or facetious”. And in what follows I will also reply in the same spirit since an appeal to the Word of God, completely consistent with the rejection of Sola Scriptura by the Emerging rebellion against the final authority of the Bible, will not suffice for you.

How do you know (empirically) that the interpretation, by me and other “anti-Emerging Church writers” concerning what “church,” and the theology of such “church” would be, is absolutely not what God wants?

And how do you know that the empirical methodology or ‘voice from God,’ supposedly demonstrating these pro-Emerging Church theologians/adherents are correct in their interpretational methodology and theology, actually is the correct empirical methodology; or, truly is a “Voice from God”?

Food for thought, no?

Sincerely,

Pastor Ken Silva

See also:

EVANGELICALISM REJECTING SOLA SCRIPTURA IN LUST FOR NEO-GNOSTIC EXPERIENCE

JOHN MACARTHUR: EXISTENTIAL NEO-ORTHODOXY DENIES SOLA SCRIPTURA

NEO-ORTHODOX APPROACH TO THE BIBLE PERFECT FIT FOR EMERGENCE CHRISTIANITY

ROB BELL AND EMERGENCE CHRISTIANITY REJECT CARDINAL DOCTRINE OF SOLA SCRIPTURA

BOB DEWAAY: EMERGENT CHURCH ASKS “HAS GOD SAID?”

PHIL JOHNSON: JOYRIDING ON THE DOWNGRADE AT BREAKNECK SPEED

THE NEW CHRISTIANS WITH CHRISTIANITY WORTH BELIEVING—NO SOLA SCRIPTURA: YES, WOMEN PASTORS AND QUEER CHRISTIANS