You may have to order this book direct from www.lighthousetrails.com because it is not the kind of book commonly available on the shelves of your average Christian Bookstore. Its subject matter is a serious critique of the Emergent Church and the direction into which its leaders are heading. The book is full of quotes from a number of prominent church leaders, people of influence within the evangelical and charismatic churches. The title clearly indicates the concerns of its author. From the data he has amassed it is clear that the “faith once delivered to the saints’ is being undermined by the emphases promulgated within these emergent churches. The chapters look at contemplative spirituality and mysticism as it is promoted as a path to knowing Jesus, the new missiology that basically teaches Jesus can simply be added to your present religion, whatever that maybe. The idea that the Emerging Church is a road back to Roman Catholicism with its emphasis on ‘the Eucharistic Christ’ is examined. The whole book is a thoroughly provoking read, all the more so as the teachings of Rick Warren and the purpose driven phenomenon are viewed carefully as well as Tony Campolo, Richard Foster and Brian McClaren. What is noticeably is the absence of unpleasant shades of contention in Roger Oakland’s writing. It is factual, well footnoted and carefully written. I am sure that there will be those offended by its contents especially as Oakland indicates that it is likely that those who resist the juggernaut of this ‘post-modern’ church phenomenon will be called fundamentalists and many other disparaging terms and regarded as those who are delaying the emergence of the church into its new form! On the other hand, Oakland specifically indicates that in his view the true believers in Christ will be a ‘remnant’ and in fact be part of that remnant spoken of in the scriptures. What this book brings home is the fact that the Emergent Church is not a kind of passing fad but constitutes a major threat to the testimony of Jesus Christ in the earth and could most likely become a fundamental part of the new world order as it is envisioned by many in the religious, political and social spheres. The language of ‘a new way of being a Christian’, the laboring to bring forward ‘a new reformation’ and the incoming of a new awareness of God in all things are indicators that something is happening that warrants thoughtful examination and testing by the truth revealed in the scriptures. This book provokes us to do that.
