The History of Emergent Part 3

Chapter 2 Continued

As Brad Cecil got a ton of attention and recognition in the last post and in chapter two of Tony’s great book, we will look at a couple other characters that need a few shout outs.

First off it was kind of nice to see that someone other than Brian McLaren received credit for the seminal moments of Emergent because he gets quite enough credit.  But I will say that there is no way there is ANY movement without his anchor wisdom, rational voice and progressive thoughts.  I think everyone knows that but I feel compelled to say it.  Because the other guy that probably does not get enough credit in this chapter I must say is Doug Pagitt.  That guy created a lot of momentum in his eighteen short months at Leadership Network.  But lets be honest, Brian was the defacto leader of that group and everyone knew it.

Two other people at least need a couple recognitions.  One being Bob Buford and his organization Leadership Network because it housed and FUNDED these over-cussing, gothic, bitter gen x pastors for more than a few years and provided the Lobster dinners, bottles of wine and platforms that made them the “successors” to Bill Hybels and Rick Warren.  And it is a travesty that Brad Smith does not appear anywhere in this book.  Sure, he was the guy who fired me at Leadership Network but he was my boss and Doug’s boss and he was the guy who had some vision to start these gatherings and grab some right people before any of us were around.  So boom.

Now for a brief retort to the much vilified Mark Driscoll.  We will call him William Wallace for now (another enjoyable story).  Sure he dropped F-bombs at conferences and churches.  I remember Mr Pagitt inserted the word “fuc%$!” instead of “sin” at a conference or two (San Antonio being one that I was present for).  But who is counting.  I have the mouth of a sailor to this day.  Not necessarily proud of it, just sayin’,  and who’s to judge.  But let the record show that it seemed like everyone was cussing back in the day at churches and conferences.

Mark is an extremely funny, quick witted and sharp-tongued character who apparently is prone to be afraid of women and gays.  He could easily get caught up in a moment and drawn offside by an innocent question from a woman in the audience at Brian McLaren’s church in 1999 and knee jerk with a rant that left her crying.   Poor guy.  Just ask Andy Pettite or Terrell Owens, its tough to face questions.  But to see him sitting in the foyer of the church with that forlorn look on his face of half satisfaction and half “what in the hell just happened” could make even the staunchest hater to have a bit of sympathy.

He really is a decent person if you meet him in person.  He just often is a jackass behind a microphone.  Too bad most of his loyal followers do not get to sit with him to realize that he is insecure just like the rest of us and will apologize and correct himself in many cases when challenged.  I wish his followers could understand a bit more of the whole picture and not mimic the behind the mic persona.

To this day I am not proud of the person I became by listening to endless 30 minute sound bites of John Macarthur for a couple years straight back in the late 80’s.  This possibly just another case of a prophetic and often harsh black and white guy behind the pulpit who is probably a more whole and decent person around his grandchildren.

To be continued . . . .

el mol