Young people today are flocking to a new phenomenon called the “emergent church.” It really isn’t new—it is the same old deception of Satan dressed in modern attire. The devil has been trying to get man to doubt the goodness of God since the Garden of Eden. God gave man everything that he needed and much more to enjoy, but there was one tree in the midst of the garden that was forbidden. Man, however, became convinced that God was denying him something good and decided to trust his own reasoning rather than God’s Word.

Today, young people are drawn to the “emerging church” because it allows them to believe in God and yet live as they choose. The leaders of this movement preach a religion that allows you to pick and choose what you believe about God and the Bible. Donald Miller in his book Blue Like Jazz states, “I wished I could have subscribed to aspects of Christianity but not the whole thing.” One reader of Miller’s book said, “I love Blue Like Jazz because it’s, like, a Christian book, but it doesn’t make you feel bad about yourself.” Another said, “I’ve already bought thirteen copies to give to my friends. I’m a Jesus girl, but I also like to go out and do tequila shots with my friends. This is a book I can give to those friends.”

In a Renegade’s Guide to God David Foster calls for a renegade type of Christianity that “resists being named, revolts at being shamed, and rebels against the tamed.” He boasts that we won’t be told what to do or commanded how to behave. In the book Emerging Church the author states that its membership is made up of “people who didn’t fit into regular church. They were too cynical, too rebellious, and too radical.” It seems that everybody wants to be cool and Christian at the same time. Read more »