I met Tony Jones once.  That means nothing to just about everyone who is reading this.  But there I was at a youth minister’s conference in a class taught by Tony Jones – a church leader in his early 40’s.  Jones has been at the forefront of a fairly recent movement in Christendom called “emergent.”  Emergent church seems to center around the idea that in order to attract postmodern thinkers you should throw out all that pesky doctrine and allow everyone to come to their own conclusion about what is or isn’t truth.

In young ministers especially, this is what has become extremely attractive.  You get to be a rebel.  You are more able to draw in the marginalized in society.  You get to say that everyone else has it wrong, and the best part is you don’t have to offer any answer.  You simply call it a mystery, talk about how big God is, and leave everyone to draw their own conclusion. 

Rob Bell is COOL

I have read my share of books by those in the emergent movement. 
And this seems to be the process for becoming a cool minister:

Step 1: Frost the tips of your hair.
Step 2: Get the smallest plastic-framed glasses you can find.
Step 3: Question everything.
Step 4: Sell the idea that “We don’t have to have the answers.”

The reality is I don’t want to be the cool minister because there is too much at stake.  Scripture gives very explicit instruction to those in the position of instructing God’s people.  Paul, in addressing the Thessalonian church, points out whose favor we should seek.

“On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.” (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

While I believe it is very important to tailor the message to the audience to increase understanding and application, the message cannot be changed to make it more palatable to the masses. 

I am NOT COOL

Jesus was the epitome of this.  He gave parables that were relatable to his audience and delivered his message.  While he attracted the crowds, he focused on the truth.  Jesus definitely believed in truth.  He was truth; not just a truth, but THE TRUTH.   

If doctrine is indeed like bricks that build walls as many cool ministers claim, it’s a good thing that Jesus is the doorway through which all must enter (Matthew 7:13-14).  I am clinging to his truth.  If that makes me un-cool, oh well.  I’m unashamed.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NIV)
“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”

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