Vintage Faith

   There are several evangelical churches in Santa Cruz, and this summer the staff team of our project will be splitting up with our groups of students to go to a few different ones.  I was chosen to attend a church called Vintage Faith.  It is a nondenominational church that is pastored by a man named Dan Kimball.  Some of you may recognize this name as Dan has actually written a few books that are prominent nationally in the "emerging church" movement.  Long story short, the church is very modern and contemporary.  The concern with this type of church and the wider emerging church movement in general is that the core messages of the gospel are sometimes lost in the desire and attempt to "connect" with the culture.  I could write much more, but to avoid being boring I'll just say that I had my critical ears on during the service yesterday.

  So far it seems like Dan Kimball is one of the more conservative leaders of the emerging movement in terms of holding to and teaching mostly sound Biblical doctrine.  The band was very talented in leading musical worship, Scripture was read creatively for reflection.  My only concern with the service yesterday was the speaker (who was not Kimball) seemed to focus more on a self-improvement "how to communicate better in relationships" type of talk that was not expressed solidly in Biblical or gospel-terms.  In other words, if I was not a Christian and came to that service,  I might be impressed with the psychology and communication principles, but might leave not realizing that it is actually the power of the gospel and of Jesus Christ working in me that lets me communicate in a way that honors God and loves others.  I might leave not knowing that I am unable to communicate in this way apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ.  

  I am mostly withholding judgment, though, until I hear Dan Kimball speak next week.  At the very least, my church experience here will be an educational one.  The people who attend the church are very "Santa Cruz" if you know what I mean.

You can check out the church yourself at www.vintagechurch.org