Perry Noble from New Spring Church writes:

"The church is called to grow!!! We are not called to form “holy huddles” that criticize the churches that are growing. (And for what it is worth…we get that…AND we ignore it. Why? Simple–I would not ask a fat person for advice on how to take care of my body. I would not ask a person who has declared bankruptcy three times for advice on personal finances. And I would NOT ask someone who has had the same 50 people in their church for the past 20 years HOW to do church…it really is that simple. And that is NOT being cocky…it’s being smart.)

One of the chief critics of churches like NewSpring is the whole “emergent” church movement. I just love that–here you have 15-20 people…usually guys, who sit in rooms smoking cigars and drinking beer, debating theology while the world around them goes to hell…and somehow they think they’ve “got it!” In my opinion the only thing that needs to “emerge” from the emerging church is their head out of their rear ends so that they can better listen to God and fulfill the Great Commission."

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My thoughts:
When it comes down to it You can miss being what God wants you to be on two fronts. One, you can be a church that has embraced the culture of the church so tightly that you can't embrace people where they are, in essence declaring "go to hell" to all who don't fit into your ecclesiastical club.

Or two, you have embraced something that is barely different from what drives those who do not profess faith in the Christ. Basically saying to those searching for something real that we are on our way to heaven, but really there's not much difference between the life of the believer and the unbeliever. I say if their isn't much different than maybe you don't have the vibrant relationship with Christ that John 10:10 speaks of. One that leads to a life that is full. Not a life full of rules and regulations, but a life full of contentment and direction. It seems to me often those who are pushing the "emergent thing" are bitter, angry, and counter productive to people's faith. I know many of the well know emergent leaders are amazing and have brought a much needed balance to the church. For some reason though many who express allegiance to this vein seem to be more focused on pressing their "cause".... I guess I thought our "cause" is Christ and our heartbeat is introducing people to Him, not our kooky thoughts on church sociology and function. Man I don't have time for that. I would rather surround myself with practitioners than theorists any day.

Well I guess my rants over.