The Integralists and the Emergents build a tower

I have posted before about integralism and its inclusiveness as I understand it, and how it appears to be where the emerging church is heading towards without even realising it (See post De-constructing with a view to re-construct).

TheVoiz web-site is a good example of this and has often used the same expressions and images that Ken Wilber has used to bring a more cohesive body of unity and understanding to a postmodern philosophy. And although Aaron at theVoiz says that he does not speak on behalf of the emerging church - in fact, I have never heard anyone say that they do speak on behalf of the emerging church as the emerging church doesn’t have any clear distinctives as yet - his site however, is just one of many that gives us a good indication of where this organic new Christianity is heading. I use the term organic because it is a word that expresses the ongoing evolution of thought within a postmodern construct. He has this to say:    [important up-date see end of post!!!]

Disclaimer: I never claim to speak on behalf of all the emerging church. And though I am talking about Integralism here, this does not mean that integralism is a characteristic of the emerging church. In fact, I think integral approaches to Christianity shares some similarities with the emerging church but is also very different and may perhaps even be just one of the destinations for the church emerging into a post-post modern era.

If you are new to understanding the postmodern world and you don’t quite get what all the talk is about… well, congratulations you have understood it perfectly. That is the point, you come away with only questions without really getting an affirmative or negative answer. I see it much like the tower of babel. Think about it, after mankind wanted to build a tower to God, (Think kingdom here) mans efforts were destroyed by God and he confused their tongue which then separated people into groups. The reverse is happening!
Postmodernism in all its cleverness, has accepted that a confusion exists but goes on to challenge the appearance of any form of coherence of any language itself whatever form it may take - there are many. This in turn creates a problem - the problem of knowing - nothing can be known for sure, even the understanding of what postmodernism really is, cannot be known for sure and is debated, argued pulled inside out every which way imaginable and has filled pages of books written about this dilemma with no real answer given at the end of it. The reason - because each question cannot be understood or known in any absolute way. Postmodernism is a real problem if you want to have definite answers to definite questions. It says a lot without saying anything at all because language and words have been challenged out of all definition.

Can you see a massive problem here? If you can’t understand words or language clearly then what of the Logos… The Word being Christ. uh oh!!!

Is He my word, is He your word, is He Joe Bloe’s word? What word/Word is He? Can postmodernists answer this question? No, they cannot really answer…not in any definitive way. It makes me wonder if they can even ask the question in any coherent way. Oh, but they can tell you about experience which is quite an individual thing. You see, they have fallen for a post-structuralist way of thinking, which is a critique of the different ways we use language to give meanings by opening them up to question in a way which does not allow meaning to find any settled rootedness in reality. If language and words and their meanings are not based in any reality, then experience must be closer to our reality. Experience then, becomes closer to the truth, and the way in which we practise faith becomes more valuable than what our faith is actually in. The saying ‘The journey is the destination’ is the new mantra (See Too large with finery for the narrow path). But what about when scripture says this:

Rom 10:16-17 But not all obeyed the gospel, for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” Isa. 53:1
Then faith is of hearing, and hearing through the Word of God

That is, by preaching; for the word hearing is used in the same sense as in the preceding verse; and designs the report of the Gospel, or the preaching of the word, which is the means God makes use of, to convey faith into the hearts of his people; for preachers are ministers, or instruments, by whom others believe. Gill

McLaren has been noted as saying that he is not sure that we have the gospel right today and has put into question of whether or not we have ever had a correct gospel preached over the last 2000 years throughout the Churches history! This begs the question ‘who is saved‘ if the gospel has not been correctly preached? If you are not sure of what the gospel actually is, then you cannot be sure of His Word and you are wielding a blunt sword I’m afraid - which, is not very effective.

Christ is His Word and His Word is sharper than any two edged sword, sharp enough to divide muscle from sinew and truth from lies. Once any movement discredits that definitions actually exist and says that definitions cannot be understood because language is too complex and people have different stories and constructs, then you have nothing left except confusion and empty words filled with hot air. In fact, logically speaking they are saying nothing, absolutely nothing at all!

What’s that?…. Did you hear something?
Does anybody else see the irony here? Mankind builds a tower with one voice, God was not so pleased - he confused their language. Man-kinds language is still confused - Mankind is trying to build a tower once again however dis-jointed it may be! What will that tower look like?

Gen 11:1-7 And the whole earth was of one lip and of one speech. And it happened, as they pulled up stakes from the east, they found a level valley in the land of Shinar. And they lived there. And each one said to his neighbor, Come, let us make brick, and burning burn them. And they had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. And they said, Come, let us build a city and a tower with its head in the heavens, and make a name for ourselves, that we not be scattered on the face of all the earth. And Jehovah came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of Adam had built. And Jehovah said, Behold, the people is one, and the lip one to all of them, and this they are beginning to do, and now all which they have purposed to do will not be restrained from them. Come, let Us go down and confuse their language so that they cannot understand one another’s speech.

Confused are you………. nothing really changes does it!
And for Hot News just in theVoiz has caught the attention of Mr Ken Wilber himself and wants to consider interviewing Aaron from theVoiz. Aaron responded this way:

[...]…I noticed that Christianity is represented through the Integral Spiritual Center through the Catholic tradition (I identify in part as Catholic) but there is no evangelical representation. Perhaps, my work in building an understanding might bring evangelicalism to the table. I also believe that organizations and instititutions, religious or non, need to take a different leadership and organizational approach in the 21 century.

Integralism has perked my interest in this area as well. Anyway that I can contribute for the Integral Spiritual Center, I would. Just let me know your needs.

I wonder what will unfold from this? I wait with bated breath!

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