The re-launch of Precipice Magazine has been an exciting event for those of us involved. Above all else, its been exciting to enter the "conversation" and to make new friends along the way. We've already had some thoughtful and encouraging feedback come in from people all over the world. And that's what this particular section of the magazine is all about- dialogue and interaction.

Here are some of the thoughts shared by fellow sojourners:

Hi Darren,

I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate Precipice Magazine.  I have but little exposure to it, and because of my current spiritual plight combined with a particular article I read, God spoke something to me that I have been needing to hear for years.  I am a 'lay' theologian/philosopher and have extensive knowledge by way of reading others' works, not necessarily originating a lot of thought of my own accord.  I have a personal library of over 700 books ranging across many subjects and authors.  I homeschool my kids because of personal convictions for my own family, and so I have quite a bit of time on my hands to peruse the works of many authors.  I am an avid reader of authors such as Brian McLaren, Dallas Willard (philosophical works, too), Michael Polanyi, Soren Kierkegaard, Evelyn Underhill, Roger Olsen, A. W. Tozer, Stanley Grenz, John Frank, Gabriel Fackre, George MacDonald, Jacques Ellul, Leonard Sweet, OK, you get the picture.

I have done an awful lot of thinking, much of which has been spurred on by church experiences with congregants and taking notice of the breaking down of relationships of congregants of varying points of view on doctrine.  For this reason, I haven't been able to put the issue of doctrinal diversity to rest for several years running.

When I was reading an article on your web-site about critiquing criticism and the Emergent Church, a light went off in my mind which penetrated to the depths my heart.  Even though I am a proponent of many of the ideas of the aforementioned authors, I discovered that my own faith is still in bondage to modern thinking.  In other words, even though I have sensed a relief because of better understanding myself in terms of my own thinking on postmodern thought, especially pertaining to Christianity, the kinds of questions I have been asking have had more of a modern tone and have had a grip on my own perception of Christianity to where I have felt like I have been in bondage for such a long time.

I now am aware that 'little ole me' can know God in just the kind of way that only I can perceive Him, as He wants me to know Him, and to acknowledge that others on this journey of faith must walk their own path as God discloses Himself to them as He deems is best for them.  The diversity of human nature is something I believe God has taken into consideration as He is relating Himself toward humanity. 

I have had little need to suggest to others that my own Christian beliefs should have much credence for them, but I have been seeking a kind of personal resolve for myself  that I am at least on the right track.  Viewing postmodern affinities through modernistic eyes has held me back in my walk with God, and I believe that I have been relieved from the effects of this, or at least have gotten on a track that I need to be on.  I know that I will still approach others with an attitude of doctrinal humility, but now I can approach God with much more confidence and trust that He really is near and in me, because He has spoken to me in particular in a way that I need to hear Him, not that others need to hear Him in just the same way as I.

I thought I would share this with you to demonstrate the kind of powerful effects your ministry can have in the life of someone like myself.  Thank God, and thank you.

--Chris, Edgewood, NM.

Excellent article by Darren King on Anne Lamott (What to do About Anne Lamott?). I've browsed through a couple of her books while hanging out at Barnes & Noble. I found her writing thought provoking, humorous, and somewhat curious, perhaps a reflection of my own confusion with which side of the political spectrum my own Christianity lies. I didn't feel inclined to buy a book that day so I left and eventually forgot her name, although I occasionally thought about her books. The Sunday Los Angeles Times Book Review reviewed her new book Grace (Eventually) Thoughts on Faith. With renewed interest, I launched a Google search. After reading a good amount of material on Ms. Lamott and her work, I came upon your cite and Mr. King's article. My thoughts exactly, but delivered more concisely than the muddled opinions bouncing around inside my mind. I appreciate her bold honesty and candid revelation, but I am still cautious about her position on certain issues when given the litmus test of scripture. I'm still going to read some of her work. I also intend to read the other articles in Precipice Magazine.

--Danny Stark (Ventura, CA)




Hi! I'm really interested in this series A Critique of Criticism: A Response to Reactionism Against the Emerging Church, but I'd like it if you could address the fact that the Emergent movement is a movement, as opposed to a well-defined, modernist construct. As such, criticisms that come out of some sense that "all emergents are...." are inoperative, since this is really more about the choices made by local congregations than some unified set of standards or beliefs. The critics who try to attack it with sweeping generalizations are no more accurate than someone who would look at a local Baptist (or other Congregationalist body) and assume that all Baptists (or worse, all Christians) operate by their rules.

In other words, any meaningful critique or defense of the movement should probably have to start with the fact that it is not some well-defined thing to which the modernists can react (which is the basis of much of their fear), and that attempts to intellectually "reign it in" are like trying to grab a fistful of jello.

Just a couple of cents there.

--David Adams (Lexington, KY)




I found your site earlier this evening 'accidentally'!

I really enjoyed "The Destination of Journey in Finding Community" and the points you made (all of which I would agree with). I had a chance to listen to Brian McLaren when he was in the UK recently - and I've watched a number of his videos. It was an interesting interview you did with Brian. I was particularly struck by your question about the conversation being largely an intellectual one. As a 70 year old who has had no theological training and who has never had a leadership role in 'church' and who has effectively been going through a wilderness experience for the last few years, this is something that sticks out to me like a sore thumb.

I have only recently begun the journey from head to heart after some 40 years in what could perhaps be described as a spiritual wilderness. I don't think I had ever met a Christian who had had a Damascus Road experience until very recently. Then I heard from someone who explained how he had then been sucked into the 'religion' of the church - and had then spent some 18 years before he 'escaped'.

I don't see anything about such things within the conversation which seems to be restricted to seminary graduates who are now questioning some of what they were taught, but seem to be unaware of many pharisaical attitudes. Could it be that there needs to be more input from those who are not 'contaminated' by denominational theology?

--Pete (Somewhere in the UK)




I came across your website tonight and read about five articles in a row. I really like what you're doing with Precipice. All of the energy behind the Emergent Church movement is really giving me hope. Unlike two or three years ago, I actually feel like I'm on the same page as a lot of people now. It seems like there's some inertia to this thing now. I don't think there's any turning back. Some people might see that as a bad thing. I, for one, think its a very welcome turn of events.

--B. Craig




I have to admit that I'm a little confused about what exactly the Emerging Church is. I'm having a hard time pinning it down as this or that. Still, the dialogue is interesting. So are all these people online connected in some way? Are there local churches behind it all? Or is it an online phenomena? If there were an Emerging Church near where I live I'd certainly check it out. Thanks.

--P. Whitehouse




There is nothing in my theological background that separates the sacred from the physical. The Kingdom of God intrudes into all of life and we are not permitted to categorize the influence of the Kingdom into a neat spiritual character, shorn of all physicality. Simply said, what Peter Walker has said about the Kingdom I embrace wholeheartedly. His example of stopping his contributions because the mission organization with whom he was affiliated failed to respond to the needs of the poor is a clear example of the Kingdom not being integrated into the warp and woof of our existence.

Now, I'm reading a book by Jimmy Carter. It's his newest book and it addresses how many values which have been strongly held by American are being systematically lost. What seems important to his thinking is the lost of a clear separation between church and state. He feels that the religious right has infiltrated deeply into the Republican Party and that objectivity about political issues has been compromised. People within the party are being manipulated by this religious wing in their political decisions]. I can see that this important American value being raised by Carter contradicts what is taught about the Kingdom of God in Scripture. Maybe, he divides between the personal and the public like those heavily influenced by the Enlightenment. You clearly expressed in your article, Making Disciples: Revisiting the Commission, that the Kingdom can't slice things so evenly.

For me, I want to continue reading President Carter's book and how he explains how politics should keep church and religion separate. Questions that I have as I read are: 1) does he factor the church's loss of moral authority in today's society, 2) is there any way to accommodate, and to what extent, Carter's view on the separation of church and state in light of the biblical teachings of the Kingdom of God, and 3) what shifts might be needed by the religious right (is this a joke??) in the Republican Party as they reflect on what Carter is expressing on church and state and what Scripture teaches on the Kingdom of God.

--E. Brown




"I appreciated finding an Emerging Church article that talked about the role an experience of the Holy Spirit plays in bringing people to salvation. Personally, I would consider myself "postmodern" like many others. But at times I've been surprised by the degree to which the discussion has seemed to be solely about intellectual categories and "sacred externals".

I am very much a both/and kind of person, and as such I would hope that we would continue to seek out new metaphors to communicate the gospel with, but that in so doing, we would also seek the face of God- in the here and now; even if we can only 'see through a glass darkly'."

--Michael (San Francisco, CA)




"I have been in the evangelical church for 35 years but only in the past ten have I begun to feel that something was missing in its message and world view. I credit this awakening to my HOSPICE volunteer work. The HOSPICE volunteer community is made up of people from many Christian denominations (and others with non-Christian backgrounds). The HOSPICE world compels one to look beyond one's theological predispositions and join in the community of the caring. Joining the final journey of those who are terminally ill is both humbling and enlightening.

I have been searching for answers for the spiritual discontent that I have felt in my soul. When I read your magazine my heart felt "strangely warmed".

A fellow traveler along the pilgrim path...

--Patrick (Richland, WA)




"I came across your site while I was looking for another one. Anyway,I just wanted to let you know I found the thoughts expressed very stimulating. I of course have no idea of what theological stream you're coming from, but I sense in your words a passion and pursuit of God that is genuine.

In one of your posts you said something about that it still comes back to discipleship. I couldn't agree more. In the words of a radical reformer (anabaptist) of the 16th century, Hans Denck 'One can not truly know Christ unless one follows him in life'. In our decadent culture the cost of radical discipleship is too high and it's alot easier to sit around and talk about it. I guess it makes us feel better."

-- Sharon (Kansas)




"I have to admit that up until recently I saw the whole Emergent Church thing as a bit of hype-fest. I thought it wasn't much more than the "latest and greatest" in seeker sensitive thinking. But after reading a couple of the articles in your magazine, and elsewhere online, I'm beginning to see this was a bit of an unfair conclusion to jump to. I'm not saying I'm all for all the ideas that are being tossed around, but I do sense in it a genuine desire to find God's heart for a postmodern culture."

--Tony (New York, NY)




"I recently stumbled across your magazine and found myself really enjoying reading it. I wanted to say that I share your heart for Christian unity- across denominations. I agree with you that there seems to be a growing trend towards ecumenicalism amongst many churches today. I guess that's the benefit of moving from the dominant to the counter-culture. All of a sudden Christians are realizing that unity is essential. And when unity is essential, secondary matters begin to look like just that- secondary.
Thanks for being a part of the ecumenical process."

--Brian (Toronto, ON)




If you have thoughts you'd like to share, or if you just want to drop a note to say hello, please don't hesitate to contact us. Shalom.

--Darren King