COMMENTARY
Doug Pagitt, one of the original “Emergent” leaders from Leadership Network, announced last fall that he would be running for office in the Minnesota State Legislature, but has now announced that he will be postponing his political campaign until 2012 because of lack of financial support.1 (link removed by Doug Pagitt’s website)
Pagitt is the author of several books, all propagating emerging church ideologies. 2 He is also known for his embracing of Yoga and other eastern-style meditation practices and beliefs. And in the book he co-edited with Tony Jones, An Emergent Manifesto of Hope, he provided the basic New Age/New Spirituality concepts of the emerging church. These views are consistent throughout his other books. For instance, in his book, Church Re-Imagined, Pagitt makes the following statement: “God also invites us to be re-created and to join the work of God as co-(re)creators” (p. 185). This is indicative of a belief system that teaches that God is in all things; thus, since God is in us (all of humanity), we are equal to God and co-creators. This, of course, is a deceptive (not to mention absurd) idea, since man is incapable of creating even a speck of dust. Nevertheless, this is classic emerging/contemplative thinking.
As we have reported in the past, we believe that the emerging church voters played a significant role in the election of our present White House administration. And we believe that Christian leaders such as Rick Warren and Bill Hybels (to name a few) were instrumental over the past decade in giving “life” and momentum to this emerging church movement. In addition, a concerted effort to confuse, manipulate, and instill guilt on evangelical, pro-life voters was instigated and successful. With the help of figures like Brian McLaren, Doug Pagitt, and Tony Jones, winning over the youth was essentially “a piece of cake.” And with the help of Tony Campolo, Rick Warren, and a number of others, taking a hold of the older generation was also quite easy. Our present political scene is the aftermath of these efforts.
With these things in mind, Lighthouse Trails is grateful that emerging church leader and mover Doug Pagitt will not be running for office in 2010. But believers should keep in mind that efforts are already underway and will continue to convince more and more of our society that biblical standards should be laid aside for the common good of all people. And do not forget that our Adversary has a particular group of people he targets more than any other … the Bible-believing Christian who defends the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Politics or no politics, he hopes to make this group ineffective, afraid, confused, and deceived.
As the emerging church seeks to exalt uncertainty and doubt (of biblical truth primarily) and introduce mystical practices as the correct path to truth, let us who know Him as Savior and Lord not lose heart nor grow weary in well doing. By His grace and His strength, let us stand.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:7-9
Related Information:
Emerging Church Confusion – What Does it Really Mean?
Hate Crimes Bill Passes House – Christian Leaders Partly to Blame
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.