DeVine on the Emerging Church and Southern Baptists

Dr. Mark DeVine, one of my great friends and my professor at Midwestern, has posted an article he’s publishing soon in the Missouri Pathway.

Dr. DeVine is one of the leading voices in this conversation or debate (choose your word, but it’s a matter of perspective I think). He’s being asked to speak on the subject because, I believe, he’s taken a close, balanced, and discerning look at the whole topic.

I always appreciate and admire his perspective on things and am simply glad for having known him while I was at Midwestern.

If you haven’t subscribed to his site feed, do so here … and then post a comment on his site encouraging him to continue his good work.

September 24, 2007 · Filed Under Emerging Church

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Acts 29, Missouri and The Emerging Church: Making Important Distinctions

There’s a growing conversation in the Missouri Baptist Convention about the Emerging Church and a church planting network called Acts 29 …

Let’s just start here with this news article as a primer …

Then go to my friend Dr. Mark DeVine’s site to download his response [PDF] on the previous article … about presenting this article [PDF] to a four-person Missouri Baptist Convention committee.

Dr. DeVine makes some sharp and excellent points in his op-ed piece … this is one of the reasons why two years ago I approached him to help him start his website — Theology Prof — and will continue to do so as long as he needs my assistance.

Dr. DeVine is bringing a healthy dose of both biblical discernment and grace to this conversation.

… and I sincerely hope my Southern Baptist brothers and sisters listen to what he has to say.

April 29, 2007 · Filed Under Emerging Church

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5 Questions on the Emerging Church with Dr. Mark DeVine

Ariel had the excellent thought of doing a short Q&A with Midwestern Seminary theology prof Dr. Mark DeVine, who happens to be one of my dearest friends from my blessed days at MBTS.

Here are the five questions on the emering church.

If you want a balanced, conversative opinion on the emerging church “discussion” or conversation … please take the time to read through the good Doc’s Theology Prof blog.

I’ve told Dr. DeVine this in person and also by email and I want to say it publicly now … he’s making invaluable contribution to this hot, or better yet, FIERY topic.

I would never seek to speak for him … but I think what he’s attempting to do in this whole debate is to contribute a well-informed, thoughtful and discerning, balanced and reasonable look at the emerging church.

If, and I hope you are, having conversations about this topic in your church … I’d like to give one thought to take into those discussions about the emerging church: One size doesn’t fit all.

In other words, don’t lump all so-called “emerging types” together. Putting them all into one simple box is a disservice to those who love Jesus and want to make a difference in the world.

So before you do … go get a primar on this topic from a solid, Bible-believing, Jesus-loving, Ph.D., former missionary, Southern boy … who has a side-spllitting sense of humor …

Dr. Mark Devine, my friend, I am praying for you! Thank you for helping us wade through this discussion with grace and truth.

April 20, 2007 · Filed Under Emerging Church

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Who and What Is the Emerging Church from a Seminary Professor

My friend and seminary professor Dr. Mark DeVine has an excellent article which will soon be published in the Midwestern Journal of Theology on the emerging church.

Download the full article here (PDF).
See the post here.

From my conversations outside the seminary context, most people don’t have a clue about what or who the emerging church is. And often those who think they do, lump ALL “emerging” churches into one category … liberal. That’s not accurate. It’s a terrible generalization that throws out the good in the hard-to-define “movement.”

The Good Doc is seeking to help clarify all this in his article … and trust me, he’s a conversative, one of the funniest people I’ve ever met, and someone I’m fond of and help whenever I can (blogging).

(If you didn’t get this, I’ll say it in real simple terms so you don’t miss it: He’s love Jesus, affirms every jot and tittle of the Word, and does it all with a Southern drawwwwwwwwlllll.)

Rock on Doc!

March 22, 2007 · Filed Under Biblical Training, Emerging Church, Seminary