"The New Christians"

Tony Jones is one of the most influential leaders within the Emerging Church movement. His blog and books are read by many. In his recent books, "The New Christians: Dispatches From the Emergent Frontier." The book lays out the basic thought and root of the movement. In short, anyone who is familiar with the movement will find almost nothing new here. However, Jones does provide a good review of the Emerging Church, what they believe, where they've come from, and where they are going.

What I found most helpful in this book was his historical survey of the movement. I have never come across such a thorough account of the various leaders and persons in the movement, where they came from, how they got involved, and where they are now. Although I knew much of it, Jones filled in much of the gaps.

A good example of this regard Mark Driscoll, his initial leadership and eventual breaking away from the movement. Driscoll has repeatedly mentioned that he used to be heavily involved in the movement but has since separated himself from it. He cites a number of reasons: the need to focus on his church in Seattle, being a new Christian did not feel qualified to travel around the country and tells others how to do church, and he felt that the movement was moving theologically left.

Jones, however, provides a little more perspective on the separation of Driscoll and the Emerging Church. Driscoll's strong language (even in the pulpit) as well as his move to theological conservatism/Calvinism played pivotal roles in Driscoll and the Emergent movement to separate.

Overall, this is well written book and surveys the beliefs and history of the movement in clear to understand language. It is clear, at least to me, where this movement is heading. Although they pride themselves on being post-liberal, they are falling for the same traps that Protestant Liberalism fell for, only this time in the name of postmodernism. And as a result, will become irrelevant and fade into history.