Desiring God Conference a dangerous place?

Yeah, read that article earlier today. Unfortunately what I have read from her about the emergent church seems to be colored with many inacuracies. Most of her evidence of the "emergentness" of Driscol seems to come from quotes from other people and guilt by association rather than from actually listening to his sermons and being familiar with his ministry. And although I'm not as familiar with the rest of the line up for the conference, it seems to be very solid nnd I'm surprised at the someone finding issue with it. I was under the impression the the Desiring God ministry was something that was generally suported in reformed circles. It can be hard when you've defined yourself as against something (like the EC) to think clearly about it. After awhile you just are on auto pilot and stop being effective.
I considered commenting over there, but the discussion prompted by the article hasn't seemed to go anywhere. It is just two view points talking past each other rather than people really responding. It's too bad, because she probably has some valid points about the EC movement overall, but they just seem to get lost in articles like this one.

Bill,

It seriously grieved me to read her post. Her reasoning was so messed up I didn't know where start. This is so sad.

Voddie Bauchum!!!

I think this was a mountain from a molehill. I can't help but think that people are assuming things of Carla's post that she didn't say.

Tim, what do you think people are assuming that wasn't said?

In my experience, sometimes the people attending the conference are stranger than the ones leading it. But I haven't let that keep me away so far.

If you follow that blog regularly, you'll recognize that the arguments follow a familiar pattern there. The objectors are the EC and BHT types, and the supporters are the ones who object to the wacky EC practices. There are no surprises to be found there. I find the postings there interesting, but when there are comments, the responses are entirely predictable.

I don't think her posting is anything earth-shattering. She makes some observations about Driscoll and Keller's presence at the conference and states some concerns about having Driscoll, whose recent "behaviour" has been a little "edgy", and Keller, who has some rather odd *implicit* ties with marginal practices that appear to be closely aligned with Eastern mysticism. None of this is a big secret, nor is it something that was conjured up from thin air.

Bill, if I recall correctly, your church is an Acts29 church, which Carla states clearly that she has some issues with. That being the case, I'm sure you would have something of a problem with what she's written about Driscoll & co.

That entire blog is a critique of the Emerging Church. Surely you didn't expect them to turn somersaults in celebration when EC folks appeared on the DG agenda?

All that said, I'll most likely be at the DG conference. I'm not an EC fan, but I am a Piper fan, and I personally trust his judgement and discernment; if nothing else, it'll be interesting to hear Driscoll and D.A. Carson in the same venue.

To be completely honest, I know I won't have time to read it this semester. So if you have the time and you want to borrow it, that's fine with me.

Bill, I read Carla's post, and have read some of her posts before, as well as her comments on other blogs. I just have to say that I don't get where she's coming from.

I will say this much, though. Once Carla takes a stand, she doesn't back down. You definitely know what she thinks about something.

I prefer actual dialogue, reasoned approaches to topics, attempting to see things from both sides so that a choice can be made fairly. And while I have a tremendous amount of respect for Tim Challies, I'm really not sure that one needs to read anything into what Carla wrote (referencing his comment above). Her rhetoric is tough, and her statements are pretty strong in that post.

Several commenters on that post have pointed out the logical fallacies used there, but I have not seen her acknowledge that as of the posting of this comment here.

steve :)