what is the emerging church?

If you are confused about the emerging church or the group that calls themselves "Emergent," I found a good article from Christianity Today that can help. Here is how the article begins:

"It is said that emerging Christians confess their faith like mainliners—meaning they say things publicly they don't really believe. They drink like Southern Baptists—meaning, to adapt some words from Mark Twain, they are teetotalers when it is judicious. They talk like Catholics—meaning they cuss and use naughty words. They evangelize and theologize like the Reformed—meaning they rarely evangelize, yet theologize all the time. They worship like charismatics—meaning with their whole bodies, some parts tattooed. They vote like Episcopalians—meaning they eat, drink, and sleep on their left side. And, they deny the truth—meaning they've got a latte-soaked copy of Derrida in their smoke- and beer-stained backpacks.

Along with unfair stereotypes of other traditions, such are the urban legends surrounding the emerging church—one of the most controversial and misunderstood movements today. As a theologian, I have studied the movement and interacted with its key leaders for years..."

Read the rest of the article by Scot McKnight here and you will get a good primer on the emerging church.

I tend to agree with Scot's take on the emergent church. I agree with what he likes about the movement and what he dislikes about it. As an evangelical seminary theology professor, he has a very informed, balanced and theologically articulate view of the emergent conversation.