| A trend is sweeping the world that promises to change the way Christianity will be presented in the twenty-first century. While the seeker-friendly era attempted to bring a generation of "baby-boomers" to Jesus, promoters of "the emerging church" say new methods are required to reach the "postmodern" generation that is hungry for spiritual experiences. "The emerging church" endeavors to attract unbelievers to Christ by providing these experiences. Many pastors and church leaders are weaving together elements from different religious traditions, especially Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. Emergent church leaders say that in order to go ahead, we must go back in time and reintroduce mystical techniques that include the introduction of candles, incense, icons, statues, prayer stations and the sacraments. While proponents believe "the emerging church" is the key to a revival, others are concerned and claim that it may be part of the last days apostasy described in the Bible. In The Emerging Church: Revival or Return to Darkness? (DVD - 60 minutes) Roger Oakland documents the extrabibical nature of "the emerging church" and shows that it may well be a bridge to the Roman Catholic Church. |
