In the past decade or so, the emerging movement, lead by the likes of Dan Kimball, Brian McLaren, and Scot McKnight, has gained incredible influence over the evangelical world. Their critiques of traditional evangelicals are tantalizing; their suggestions for reform have encompassed the passions of many.
And yet, I fear that the emerging movement has many things that it must address for it to be biblically faithful and truly Christ exalting. Not least of this is their understanding of the gospel. Lee Irons does a very helpful critique of the Brian McLaren's understanding of salvation found in his recent book Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope.
Here is his conclusion:
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather stick with the “old, old story” of personal guilt, God’s holy wrath, Christ’s atonement (obedience unto death), and the hope of the resurrection. Yes, Christians ought to be deeply involved in doing good deeds that are helpful to our neighbors — all kinds of good works, from adopting unwanted babies, to seeking racial reconciliation in our communities, and even to recycling if need be. But we do so in order to bring glory to Christ and to adorn the gospel, not to save the earth. We leave that job to Christ at the end of the age.
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