The Submerging Church
There is a popular theological concept gaining momentum in Christian circles today. It’s called the emerging church. Emerging church theology suggests that the Church is an evolving entity, changing as it moves forward through time. Consequently, in this school of thought, the Church is not bound to be in the present or the future what it has been in the past.
Well, believe it or not, the emerging church concept is touched on in the Bible, in the New Testament itself. Consider these inspired words closely:
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” 1 Timothy 4:1-3
What we’re seeing in Paul’s words here is an emerging church—a doctrinal foundation that changes with time, with a resultant metamorphosis of belief and practice among believers. The people described here exchange truths they know for lies that they prefer to be true. Consequently, the very nature and practice and appearance of this version of Christianity changes across time: hence, an “emerging—an ever-changing—church.”
This change of the Church, the emergence of an ever evolving church, however, does not take place among a highly select group of believers. It does not take place among “them that believe and know the truth.” The truth, which had been revealed and was known in the Apostles’ days, does not change. (Think about it. The Bible is “the truth” [John 17:17]; and no books having been written after the death of the last living Apostle—John—were ever added to the Bible.) Moreover, the Church, which is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), being the outgrowth of the acknowledgment of the truth, is securely anchored in an unchangeable state of existence by the truth! Faith in the truth forever keeps the true Church afloat and unchanging on the turbulent sea of life.
The only church that is changing, in light of Paul’s inspired words, is the church that is more and more surrendering its hold on truth, accepting human traditions in the place of the teachings of the Word of God—the Bible. Consequently, “emerging church” is a misnomer—an inaccurate name. You see, “emerging” suggests rising. But this church, this movement, isn’t rising at all. It’s sinking. So, the proper name for this church, the accurate name for this movement, is the submerging church—and in effect, the subverting church.
In a world filled with churches that have changed and are still in flux, we find ourselves confronted with the call to re-examine our systems of belief by an objective and fearless investigation into what the Bible teaches—and not man-made traditions. As we do this, most people will find that they need to do exactly what God calls us to do in Jeremiah 6:16.
“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where [is] the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk [therein].”
Many will not return to truth—not all of it anyway. Will we?
(Photo: Joshua Eckstein, www.unsplash.com)