Stuff your labels!

I've ignored the who "should be still call it emerging/emergent" debate as tbh It's largely irrelevant to me... it's much more about ideas, friendships and networks than it is about labels... I still nod happily when reading Tom Sine's observations of emerging in "The New Conspirators" ... but I really don't care what it's called...  So I found myself cheering when I read this from my friend and (if I flatter myself) peer Steve Taylor...

some of my friends are walking away from the label emerging. And the www, which helped carry the conversation, is now carrying the demise. And lots of people love it and will work very hard to spread the news. And frankly, this will make some conversations even more antagonistic. When I go to speak, someone will put up their hand and so "Oh, but I hear emerging is dying."

And I will look at them and part of me will want to cry. How could my efforts to be part of God's work, born for such a time as this, now be called dead.

And part of me will want to hit over the head all the people who have stirred and misrepresented and fought over labels and words and used the web to spread disinformation and increase their blog ratings.

And part of me will smile. What will they call the next thing, I wonder?

And I will respond to the question by suggesting we turn to Acts 2 and Luke 10. I will suggest we stop worrying about what we call these "new forms of church." Instead we think about what it means for us to be obedient to the mission of God, because we are born "for such a time as this."

Technorati Tags: Blogging: Church: Mission: Missional

Comments

[Geoff]

Couldn't agree more! It's not the label that defines any movement (or whatever you call it!) but your actions. We should simply spend more time living missional lives in our own enviroments rather than "debating" over labels. Oops, I used a label...

Thanks for your post, great to hear I'm not alone in thinking the whole debate over emerging being overused/dead is just a tad on the silly side. It seems to me there are far better things to do with our time!

[julie]

it makes me feel quite relieved (trying hard not to be smug) that i never was involved in that whole debate in the first place - have always been happy just to get along quietly and keep on making friends and helping people get together and do stuff that's lovely - and much more fun too ! peace, julie

[steve]

happy to be both friend and peer Mark. But friends really need more beers together!!

steve

[Mark]

One day Steve, one day :)

[juli]

it is interesting, watching you, jonny, andrew, etc. as you continue this conversation of where we are.

and i wonder...what will my generation do with it?

i just hope we're paying attention.