In the late 1990s, a movement began within Christianity called the “emergent church”. It sought to clarify the core principles of Christianity that lay beyond warring denominational differences. The Emergent Church aimed to be a path toward Christian unity. Emergent Church was an attempt to re-invigorate the church. Emergent worship services frequently included these words from Isaiah:

“Behold, I am doing a new thing;

 now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

and rivers in the desert.”  (Isaiah 46:19)

Over twenty years ago, I was part of a team that created a Sunday evening worship service, called simply “Emerge”. There was a simplicity to the service, and a pointed message: “God’s love is for all, the journey is challenging, we journey together.” No pretension. People felt safe to be vulnerable, encouraged to persevere, and strengthened for the journey. 

To this day, I keep an Emerge service announcement card and Isaiah’s words on my desk. They remind me that God is doing a new thing, right here, right now, bringing forth new life no matter how much chaos, harm, and destruction we may perceive.

The secular world of philosophy and science also has a long history of seeing emergence as a principle inherent in all living things. Emergence describes the distinct patterns and behaviors that can arise out of complex systems. For example, an embryo begins with a single cell, out of which come bones, muscles, and organs carefully shaped into what we call a “baby”. 

Emergence is the principle underlying medical science: our bodies are programmed to heal. This isn’t to deny death. Rather, in the miracle of life, new cells are created, while old cells die off. This creative process goes on quietly, moment by moment, until we take our last breath.

Scripture offers a theological perspective. Emergence is God’s force of Love expressed throughout creation. We become the best humans we can be when we nurture love in ourselves and with others:

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.… God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us.”  (1 John 4: 7, 16-17)

I am old enough to remember 1967 when The Beatles album “Magical Mystery Tour” came out. And John Lennon’s song, “All You Need Is Love”, played on every radio in the United States and Europe. The words go like this: 

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

Lyrics by John Lennon

“Love, love, love… Love, love, love… Love, love, love

There’s nothin’ you can do that can’t be done

Nothin’ you can sing that can’t be sung

Nothin’ you can say, but you can learn how to play the game

It’s easy

Nothin’ you can make that can’t be made

No one you can save that can’t be saved

Nothin’ you can do, but you can learn how to be you in time

It’s easy

All you need is love… All you need is love… All you need is love

Love is all you need”

As a teenager, I believed these words. Now, the message appears quaint, too simplistic, a mere fantasy. And yet John Lennon’s lyrics capture a thread that runs deep within the religions and spiritual traditions around the world. We are created of love and intended to love.

Medical science affirms the power of love to promote healing in children and adults. So too for those who are dying. Hospice care has become more widely available as we learn what ancient communities have always known: people die more peacefully in an environment of care and compassion.  

Consciousness remains a mysterious reality for science to define. Yet our everyday experience shows us the magical mystery of our thinking minds, with the proliferation of thoughts, inherent creativity, and endless imagination that is present in the very young and continues throughout our lives.

When we do nothing but fight with each other, proclaim our self righteousness, treat one another as the enemy, we are emerging as creatures who are less than who we can be. We violate our nature as loving beings. 

We emerge, moment by moment, day by day. And, except for the harshest conditions, we are free to move in directions that support emergence toward life or direct it toward harm.

How shall we handle this precious quality of emergence? When we listen, care for, treat each other with kindness and respect, strive to work collaboratively, we align with the best of who we are. These words from St. Paul summarize what I believe to be true:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”  (St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 4:8-9)

Emergence is the principle behind growth and creativity. For example, I witness my children emerge from little ones into adulthood. I witness myself emerge as a grandmother. And I continue to witness that an environment of love quickens the emergence toward new life.

In our human lives, we all witness a new period emerging from what has gone before. Sometimes the “new thing” is wonderful, joyous, and exciting, even if daunting. Other times the new emergence is unwelcome, like an illness, death, or loss of home or job. The scriptural promise is that God is present at all times, in all things, no matter what.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

What does emergence look like in your life? You may notice it in raising children or plants, creating or learning something new. You may notice emergence within a painful period, as you realize that something once treasured (such as a relationship, career, living situation, or political ideal) is slipping away. 

What does emergence look like as you look outward, toward your community, the country and the wider world?

Feel free to offer your responses to these questions or anything in this post in the Comments section below.