Is Emerging Church Blogging talking about ourselves to ourselves?
Kellie (who has been most helpful in getting this blogathon running smoothly) asks:
‘Is blogging about emerging church just doing more of the same - talking about ourselves to ourselves? I think there’s more to it than that, but people challenge me with this question, so i’d be interested in your thoughts.’
Good question Kellie and one which I would probably answer a little differently depending on when you ask me. There have been times when I’ve seriously wondered if the Emerging Church blogging scene was just a talk fest - I know that this will get me in trouble with some hard core EC bloggers but there is ALOT of talking about stuff within the scene.
However, whilst this might be the case (and I’ve been as guilty of it as anyone) I also think that this is ok - to a point. You see the ‘emerging church’ (or whatever you want to call some of the models of Christian faith communities that seem to be appearing) is in a fairly embryonic stage in most places. As a result people are trying out ideas, testing theories, hypothesizing about methods and dipping their toes in the EC water. I think it is natural and healthy that along with this experimentation that there is a fair bit of talk about what is being discovered. I also think its healthy that there seems to be an increased focus and critique upon the EC from bloggers and others from outside the movement. It is in listening to and responding to the critiques that we grow and form.
So - whilst the talk fest mentality does frustrate me from time to time (I get a bit impatient and just want to ‘do it’) I see a place for it. I also am excited to see amidst the ‘talk’ some interesting and innovative practitioners who are not only talking but whom are actually putting their ideas to work and seeing how they stand up. I suspect and hope that this will be a continuing trend - if it isn’t then I will begin to worry because a movement needs to move beyond a set of ideas and ideals and actually put some runs on the board in order to sustain and justify itself.
I hope that answers your question Kellie. Interested in other’s thoughts….leave a comment.