Understanding the Church Movement and its Growth: The Theology of the Emerging Church

Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of the Theology of the emerging Church in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on the Theology of the emerging Church and its relation with Church movement and its growth Theology of the emerging Church. The research also analyzes many aspects of the Theology of the emerging Church and tries to gauge its effect on church movement and its growth Theology of the emerging Church. Finally the research describes various factors which are responsible for the Theology of the emerging Church and tries to describe the overall effect of The Theology of the emerging Church on Church movement and its growth Theology of the emerging Church.

Table of Contents

Introduction4

Historical Development of the Emergent Movement5

Evaluation of the doctrine of the Emergent Church (strengths and exegetical weaknesses of the emerging church)9

Modern Techniques of Swelling Church10

Footnotes14

Selected Bibliography17

Understanding the Church Movement and its Growth: The Theology of the Emerging Church

1. Introduction

The word "theology" used for the first time by Plato is composed of the Greek words Theos, God, and logos, discourse. In general, theology is defined as the science of God. But such a literal definition, which only repeats the meaning of words, does not seem sufficient. According to Martin Buber, the word "God" already has several meanings. Gerald O'Collins notes that Karl Rahner defines theology: theology is a conscious and methodological explanation of divine revelation accepted in faith and understood. From the definition of Rahner, theology can be understood as involving an act of faith to accept what God says to man, and answer these divine words in his language and his life. Peter Eicher gives the following definition: "As God spoke to man in history, theology is the act of seizing the logos that speaks to him through the story." By synthesizing these definitions, theology's task is to understand the revelation of God through human reason, the logical explanation and practice, life history, what is understood.

Therefore, the essential elements which constitute theology are God's revelation, faith and the human response to it in real life. Theology highlights these elements in a logical and objective, so that man can understand. If it lacks one of these three elements - for example, logic and objectivity -, theology cannot be considered a science. Moreover, if theology is content to be a metaphysical science, it will be a chimera of human speculative, because the discourse about God without divine revelation is only speculative discourse. Moreover, without faith, we cannot understand the transcendent God. A theology that is not useful to the people and the Church in times of persecution is a futile discussion and a language game. A theology that does not materialize in words and in life has no real substance. We can consider a theology that meets these requirements as a genuine theology.

2. Historical Development of the Emergent Movement

We will first examine what are the elements which constitute theology, that ...