Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.[1]
A “Heretic” Opens The Door To Universalism
You knew it was only a matter of time before the doctrine of universalism came emerging from leaders within the neo-liberal cult of the Emergent Church. Spencer Burke of the quite prominent Emergent blog TheOoze has written a new book with an apparently apt title The Heretic’s Guide to Heaven (HGH) which opens the door to universalism. This is not just my impression either because I was first made aware of this by my ol’ pal Dr. Andrew Jackson of SmartChristian.com who writes “Scot McKnight starts a book review series on Spencer Burke’s (creator the TheOoze) new book that provides a new twist to universalismcalled The Heretic’s Guide to Heaven.” [2]
Those of us who have been reporting on this Emergent rebellion against the absolute Truth and authority of the inerrant and infallible Word of the one true and living God of the Bible in His Holy Scripture with its heavy involvement in the new age/eastern mysticism of Contemplative Spirituality (CS) have been telling you all along that this is exactly where so-called “Christian” mysticism will always lead. Now it would seem we have influential Emergent Spencer Burke himself peeking out from the “closet” of universalism.
It is my firm conviction that this is also where Emergent Guru Brian McLaren is headed, following closely behind his inclusivist friend Doug Pagitt, only as far as I’m concerned McLaren just doesn’t have the intestinal fortitude or the scholastic integrity to just come right out and admit it. For the interested reader I have covered the subject of universalism in Everyone’s Going To Be Saved Eventually…Aren’t They?
And lest you think that Burke hasn’t much real influence outside Emergent circles you’d best think again. A while back he and David Trotter conducted an Interview with Sally Morgenthaler for TheOoze. Morgenthaler “is a worship consultant, speaker, and writer.” This interview was also carried by Pastors.com “a division of Purpose Driven Ministries” which is obviously associated with religious icon Rick Warren.
So you should be able to see that with the spread of this deadly infection of CS within the new evangelical Ecumenical Church of Deceit, daughter of the apostate Church of Rome, Emergent seducing spirits like Burke no longer must hide in the shadows at the edge of the Church. Rather they are now being ushered right on into the Body of Christ by spiritually obtuse Christian leaders like Warren himself just the same way his predecessor Billy Graham once used his own influence to open the door to the Church for liberal heretic Robert Schuller.
Some Heretical Background
Here is a bit of what Burke’s bio on The Ooze tells us about this “heretic” and his mission:
Spencer is a man of metaphors. “KINDLING” describes his approach to speaking and consulting. He sparks new thought and conversation in his… “CAVEPAINTING” is an ancient tool used to express the stories of the soul. Spencer has always been fascinated with individual and collective spiritual stories… In the 1990s, he created TheOOZE.com, a safe online community for a diverse faith-based population to connect through articles, message boards and social networking… Spencer is author of Making Sense of Church, in which he contrasted his twenty-two years as a pastor in a traditional church with eight years of exploring emerging, non-traditional metaphors.
Spencer has been described as a “HERETIC”. After achieving more than he dreamed as a teaching pastor at a mega-church, Spencer refocused on his original desires to love, serve, and live a grace-filled life. Spencer lives out his faith with what the Los Angeles Times called “a church with no name”… Spencers (sic) next book entitled A Heretics Guide to Eternity will be released July 2006 by Jossy-Bass. SpencerBurke.com is his latest adventure, where he is looking for new ways to evolve.
The above use of “heretic” would appear to be something Burke almost sees as a positive, almost for “shock value,” though he does deny this because in true Emergent pouty postmodern fashion we simply stomp our feet, ignore what standard textbooks and dictionaries have to say, and then just redefine words any which way we wish.
When we pick up our discussion next time we turn our attention to Emergent theologian Scot McKnight, who having spoken personally with Burke, is in somewhat a better position than anyone else to understand what Burke is talking about in HGH. McKnight has just begun what will be a series entitled Heretic’s Guide To Eternity where he will be posting an ongoing review Burke’s book of “heresy.”
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I would consider myself an orthodox Christian (very conservative). Being so conservative, I also struggle with much of the loose language found emergent church writings. It feels better to have firm definitions that are wrapped in sable language. I also believe that language left unchanged for too long may loose its power to communicate the ideas it represents. (With the exception of scripture which is special 1 Tim: 3:16) After reading most of Mclaren, Bell, Webber, and Miller I have been challenged to reevaluate many of my own absolutes (most of which still remain absolute). I think the church needs to continually be challenged in such ways. I feel that I have benefited spiritually by engaging the ideas and restatements of the emergent movement.
One thing that that does bother me is the language used by some traditional folks to separate us from them (by this Im referring to traditional Christians from emergent Christians) (not that emergent cannot be traditional). If Christ is our head then we are connected as a body and need each other. If the people that we disagree with are not in Christ, how much more should our language be loving (even if stern). I think us traditional folks can connect with emergent believers (or non-believers) with more humility and love. Thanks be to God that Jesus, who is absolutely correct doctrinally, can approach the rest of us heretics (because none of us has it all right) with love and grace. May we strive to disagree amongst each other the way he disagrees with us.
Philippians 2:1-4 NIV
"1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Click here to reply to this post
Re: Spencer Burkes Emergent Road To Universalism
Posted On: 08/01/06 10:31:30 PM
Age 50, MN
Yes to the author of this article -- emergent seems to be evolving into what we hear in every coffee shop, on every univeristy campus, and in those late night philosophy circles: vague answers and slippery linguistics. But, in other circles we hear questions from weary Christians: Does emergent have anything refreshing to offer a church that appears to have become basically ineffective? Do emergents have a passion for Christ and a kingdom focus that is wholehearted? Might the "conversation" of emergent bring us to define what we really believe? Our hope and prayer should be that the Church will truly emerge into the spotless bride she was always meant to be, and the clear, simple gospel will be given to a world that says it doesn't want absolute truth, but is dying to hear it. Click here to reply to this post
It Depends on what the Definition of the Word "is," is.
Posted On: 07/28/06 11:37:34 AM
Age 39, TX
Cults and other heretical groups generally have difficulty making the following two statements. 1) The Bible is the inerrant, inspired, infallible word of God and is the source of ultimate truth and all things must be reconciled against it. 2) Salvation can only be found by placing your trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins through his sacrifice on the cross and bodily resurrection. Now I realize there are different ways to say this and we could elaborate on both but these but these are basic fundamentals that certain people in the emergent church cannot seem to make. They tend to waffle on what words mean. Attention to those in the emergent church: The two statements above should be more than on your doctrinal statement but they should easily flow from your mouth on a consistent basis. I am a defender of the seeker-sensitive, emerging, mega, purpose-driven churches as long as they can make the statements above and they freely preach them on opportunities which the Lord leads them. When they dont, we have a problem. Pastor Silva has called them a neo-liberal cult. Liberal theologians in the last 100 years have a hard time with the above statements. Several of our founding fathers did as well. If you cannot support the above statements, then what kind of a Christian are you? This emergent conversation has gone astray from its basic proposition that while we are in a postmodern world and many people deny there are absolute truths, the churches role is to show them the truth, not agree and say, yeah we cant really know. I am heavily involved with a missions organization that had has recognized this for twenty years and they could be fully described as emergent but they never, ever waver from the truth and boldly preach the two statements above with reverence. They recognize the worlds mindset in an effort to argue apologetically for the biblical mindset of truth of Scripture and salvation in Christ alone. Click here to reply to this post
