Review: Those that are not familiar with the Emergent movement within the church have not been paying much attention to the book shelves lately. Authors like Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, and Dan Kimball have made the movement a topic of much conversation, and controversy, in the last few years. In a nutshell, the emergent movement argues that the modern church needs remodeled in order to be relevant in the postmodern world we live in. Those within the movement favor a more missional approach to “doing” church. I’ve enjoyed reading some of the books of those authors within the movement and have a genuine affinity for some of them; however, my criticism has always been that, far too often, advocates of the movement seem to throw the baby out with the bath water. In the movement’s zeal to make the church ng relevant, it often goes overboard and abandons the very things that have made the church great. In favoring “right living,” emergents often forget the importance of “right thinking.” I’ve often asked why we can’t have both and have criticized the emergent movement for trying to “escape” the church as we know it.

I realize I have done a poor job of explaining the movement and all the things it has come to stand for, but I will save that for another post. For now, I will simply review the book.

Based on their age and demographics, Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck are two guys that would seem to be ripe for picking by the emergent movement. DeYoung is the pastor if a church across the street from Michigan State University that Kluck happens to attend. This is perhaps the biggest strength of the book. It provides a reaction to the Emergent Movement from both the pulpit and the pew. DeYoung provides an intense scriptural rebuttal while Kluck’s response to the movement seems to come more from the gut. The combination of arguments works splendidly. The authors manage to put words to many of the critiques I have had of the movement and manage to do so in a loving and humble way. Kluck’s chapter on why he doesn’t want a cool pastor and DeYoung’s examination of the seven churches in the Book of Revelations are must reads.

I recommend this book to anyone who considers themselves a fan, or member, of the movement. I sincerely hope it serves as an inspiration for those within the Emergent Movement to reign it in a little and return to traditional orthodoxy. I also recommend this book to anyone who may be looking for ways to refute some of the more outlandish claims of the movement.

Highly Recommended