My study into the emerging church started when a pastor back East asked if I knew anything about “The One Project”. When I began to study into the history of the Project and those who started the movement, I was lead to enquire about the Emerging Church and its teachings and history. I found that it deals with much more than just “spiritual formation” and “centering prayer.”
Before we look at the key leaders of The One Project we must take a general look at the Projects history and beginnings. This information that we share here is not based on hearsay, but on official documents representing the project and/or its leaders. At the same time we must be clear that we not judging the motives or sincere intent of those who sense a need for change in our church, a remedy for the Laodicean condition, but only question if the agenda of the Projects leaders as seen in their history is what our church needs.
History according to Andrews News (http://www.andrews.edu/news/2011/03/one_project.html)
It is stated that the desire was for personal renewal and renewal in the church. Seven key leaders took part, all of which have a history in the Seventh-day Adventist church of working for and with young adults.
Andrews University News cont. 2nd quote is from Japhet De Oliveira’s statement of Mission from the Project website. There seems to have been planning before the get together in Denver in 2010. We will take a closer look at the founders below.
The five founders that gathered in Denver, and the two that joined via phone, all work with Adventist youth and young people. Thus their desire was to start a movement with the youth. We will return to this thought a little latter.
Adventist News Network. De Oliveira suggests this Denver gathering was partly for support group for personal health issues.
Some serious soul searching took place as well. But there seems to be even more reasons as to why they met (see next slide).
There appears to be even more to the story however. From Terry Swenson’s talk in Atlanta, on Feb. 8, 2011 during the first large Project Gathering, we can ascertain that there were other past issues, battles and dreams that drove these men together to refocus their lives and their ministry. Although obviously very sincere we might wonder what battles they were tired of fighting.
Before continuing with The One Project we will look at each of the five main leaders who gathered in Denver.
Japhet De Oliveira at the One Project gathering in Seattle, WA.
(http://the1project.org)
Director of Center for Youth Evangelism since 2006.
De Oliveira seems to have some fetish with Indiana Jones and “Raiders of the Lost Ark” movies. He also seems to make light of his poor diet which may have led to some of his health problems mentioned in the context of the Denver planning meetings for the Project.
An introductory video on Andrews University website introducing De Oliveira and the Center for Youth Evangelism which he heads up (https://www.andrews.edu/cm/change/missions/about/staff/japhet.html)
Seems enamored with Indiana Jones movie star. What connection does that have with Adventist missions?
For those who wish to know what De Oliveira has done in the past the Diploma in Youth Leadership program at Newbold College might be a place to start. Also taking a look at his church plant and HUB magazine might be insightful.
It is admirable to seek to reach the very secular world of London, but how far should we go in our “initiatives” to do so? The desire to get young people involved is excellent but are we giving them mixed messages through some of our programing?
It is admirable to seek to reach the very secular world of London, but how far should we go in our “initiatives” to do so? The desire to get young people involved is excellent but are we giving them mixed messages through some of our programing?
Video clip (33 sec.) of LondonLive Community Choir with the band at the left. It is admirable to seek to reach the very secular world of London, but how far should we go in our “initiatives”?
Japhet started HUB, a monthly journal for youth ministry leaders across England (maybe only quarterly now). This is now headed up by Eddie Hypolite who is also one of the planners for the One Project. Similar philosophy of ministry goes into the hub as into the One Project. (see: http://issuu.com/secyouth/docs/hub-new?mode=embed)
Under the heading of “About” (the One Project) we find a link to “Why” (the One Project). Here we find a link to an article written by Japhet De Oliveira titled “Philosophy of the One Project.” Thus we might conclude that this is a summary statement or position “about” and “why” the One Project, as well as the “philosophy” behind it. De Oliveira’s article draws from several sources, many of which are written by those who are involved in the Emerging Church movement. One could assume that these sources apparently portray thoughts and themes that De Oliveira and the other One Project originators envision as aligning with those of The One Project. Whether or not these are some of the books that De Oliveira states “by reading, people will learn and change and transform their lives,” we cannot say. But one assumes that these books might represent some of the “non-Adventist voices” which Alex Bryan alludes to (see Alex Bryan section below), and over which controversy has swirled. http://www.the1project.org/resources/documents/seattle-booklet.pdf
Deep Church is the 1st book referenced be De Oliveira in his “Philosophy of the One Project.” Remember that all these books are written for Western Christianity (US). A country that is considered a Christian nation but takes in a wide spectrum of beliefs in a very secular/humanistic society. Doesn’t the Bible have something to say about our country at this time and the direction that it will head? Doesn’t the Spirit of Prophecy offer us greater insight as to the problems of “Protestant” America. Doesn’t the Bible and SOP offer us insight into the condition of SDA church (Laodicean) and also offers the true remedy?
This is the official biography and book description of Deep Church.
Pragmatism= rationality, matter-of-factness, hardheadedness, realism.
Webmaster note: Fuller Theological Seminary mentioned above has strong emphasis in Spiritual Formation and Georgetown is the first Roman Catholic University established in the United States and the first Jesuit institution in the US.
Adventism also dabbled in the Gen X ideas as well during the 1990s. What were the results? Some of Belcher’s ideas sound balanced and good, but what have others said about this approach? Belcher suggests that through this continued dialogue we can reach agreement between emerging Church extremes and Traditional church problem.
There are many long reviews that suggest that Belcher sides more with Emerging church ideas and doesn't really identify the real problems with the traditional “Christian” church in America. In the end it seems that the book is still pushing toward a redirection of the “church” more in line with an Ecumenical one world religion. The last quote leads to the next slide with the concept of Hegelian Dialectics. It seems that there has been an incredible number of books written in the last few years all bemoaning the condition of the “church” in protestant America. One might wonder if this “unrest” is being used to bring about a “change” planned for by Catholicism to begin with?
Notice how “dialogue” and “Conversation” fit into this idea of “Hegelian dialectic”. The Christian church is being told over and over that they have a problem. The Emerging Church claimed to be the solution which brought about conflict. Now books pointing to a third way. The point being that seeking a compromise between traditional church and emerging church, may in fact be actually another way of putting aside the created conflict to take a few more steps in an already intended direction. The Bible makes it clear that there is no mixture of truth and error. Its black and white. Yes, we are to seek how we might reach people in the world, but we are not to become in anyway like the world.
The Hegelian dialectic is the framework for guiding our thoughts and actions into conflicts that lead us to a predetermined solution. http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/05/dialectic.htm
Dialectic (also dialectics and the dialectical method) is a method of argument for resolving disagreement that has been central to Indian and European philosophy since antiquity. The word dialectic originated in ancient Greece, and was made popular by Plato in the Socratic dialogues. The dialectical method is dialogue between two or more people holding different points of view about a subject, who wish to establish the truth of the matter by dialogue, with reasoned arguments.[1] Dialectics is different from debate, wherein the debaters are committed to their points of view, and mean to win the debate, either by persuading the opponent, proving their argument correct, or proving the opponent's argument incorrect – thus, either a judge or a jury must decide who wins the debate. Dialectics is also different from rhetoric, wherein the speaker uses logos, pathos, or ethos to persuade listeners to take their side of the argument. …
Hegelian dialectic, usually presented in a threefold manner, was stated by Heinrich Moritz Chalybäus as comprising three dialectical stages of development: a thesis, giving rise to its reaction, an antithesis, which contradicts or negates the thesis, and the tension between the two being resolved by means of a synthesis. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialectic)
Basically, Hegel believed that history unfolds as a thesis is countered by an antithesis. Through persuasive argument, a synthesis is created which becomes a new thesis, countered by – you guessed it – an antithesis. This process continues until an “absolute idea” is created for which an antithesis cannot be formulated. Thus, society continues to progress toward’s Hegel’s ideal state. …
According to the late Dr. Antony C. Sutton, Hegelian dialectic has also been used as a tactic to create war and revolution – “managed conflict” – throughout the world.7 Dr. Sutton suggested that this Marxist philosophy was at work in 1917′s Bolshevik Revolution, the rise of Hitler in pre-WWII Germany, and WWII. (http://www.believeallthings.com/1481/hegelian-dialectic/)
ReJesus: A Wild Messiah for a Missional Church. Another book quoted by De Oliveira in his “Philosophy of the One Project”, and shown in the photo gallery of the Atlanta gathering mentioned below, is written by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch.
Both authors are part of the Emerging Church movement.
The term “centrality of the person of Jesus” is a catch phrase picked up by One Project, as well as “recalibrate” (see Eddie Hypolite clip in presentation 10).
Christology=theological study of the nature and person of Jesus Christ
Missiology=theological study of religious missions.
Ecclesiology=theology as applied to the nature and structure of the Christian Church.
The concept that our ideas of Christ lead to our ideas of mission which leads to the ideas of the structure of our church is correct, but if our Christology is wanting what does that say about our mission and church ideas?
Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
What if we throw out that text about Jesus. What is our Christology? How has that effected our missiology? And in turn our ecclesiology.
“As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, satan himself will personate Christ.” (GC 88ed. 624)
But not only is this book being used as one of the references for the “Philosophy of the One Project,” these books are being handed out at One Project gatherings. (next slide)
With this in mind what books where given out or sold at the Atlanta One Project gathering in Feb. 2011?
Which leads us to the next book: Next Christians.
(http://the1project.smugmug.com/Gatherings/Gatherings/22376237_dK9fpF#!i=1789197460&k=hjHT2KW)
Another book quoted by De Oliveira, and shown in the photo gallery of the Atlanta gathering mentioned above, is written by Gabe Lyons, The Next Christians: The Good News About the End of Christian America (2010). Again, this is one of scores of books that is decrying the terrible condition of the church in America. One wonders if this is not partly a ploy, for “change” can never come unless you convince people that there is a terrible problem which requires that change. The question is, has the correct problem been identified, and therefore the correct remedy?
Another book quoted by De Oliveira, and shown in the photo gallery of the Atlanta gathering mentioned above, is written by Gabe Lyons, The Next Christians: The Good News About the End of Christian America (2010).
Continually being reminded that lots of people are ashamed to be called Christian because it is looked down upon by a secular/humanistic society.
Why is the Christian church waning? Why are people ashamed of the church? What is it that they are ashamed of?
What movement is this the beginning of? And what gospel are they proclaiming that is now accepted by those who not so long ago looked at Christianity with disgust?
Have you read the Great Controversy about the early Christian church and understood what it meant then to be a Christian?
The Book Review was written on the blog “Not Emerging.” This is 1 of 4 slides.
This Book Review was written on the blog “Not Emerging.” This is 2 of 4 slides. The reviewer goes on to show categorically how the content of the book undermines biblical Christianity. How many of these concepts are creeping into our Adventist churches and are part of the One Project philosophy?
This Book Review was written on the blog “Not Emerging.” This is 3 of 4 slides. The reviewer goes on to show categorically how the content of the book undermines biblical Christianity. How many of these concepts are creeping into our Adventist churches and are part of the One Project philosophy?
This Book Review was written on the blog “Not Emerging.” This is 4 of 4 slides. The reviewer goes on to show categorically how the content of the book undermines biblical Christianity. How many of these concepts are creeping into our Adventist churches and are part of the One Project philosophy?
Recommended Reading is a who’s who of Emerging Church authors.
Another Review: “First of all, if you're heavily involved in your church, church activities, have your kids on the church basketball team and ESPECIALLY if you homeschool, you are a "Separatist Christian". Gabe informs us that these Christians want nothing to do with nonbelievers and hide inside their self made world that only involves fellow Christians. The are always offended and angry at nonbelievers and show it by voting against gay marriage and abortion. They give Christianity a bad image and are responsible for people not becoming saved. …
Of course Christians should be serving their community, but why? For what purpose? So people can become acquainted with Christ and receive salvation? Not exactly [according to the book]. The "next Christians" have finally figured out: ‘The longings they have felt to do good in the world -even if it wasn't explicitly connected to getting people saved have been validated.’ (p. 104)
But, hey, so what? Getting saved is only part of the gospel-another thing the old fogey Christians have gotten wrong. Getting people's souls secured in the after life is all well and good but we need to focus on the here and now. We need to RESTORE THE EARTH. According to Lyons, this is the ultimate objective of the ‘next Christians.’” (Sharon Henning, http://www.amazon.com/The-Next-Christians-Christian-America/product-reviews/0385529848/ref=cm_cr_dp_qt_hist_one?ie=UTF8&filterBy=addOneStar&showViewpoints=0)
Finally summary of this book taken from two other Reviews. If these reviews are correct why then was this used as one of the references for the “philosophy” of the One Project? Why were these books given out at the One Project gatherings?
Ellen White talked about a movement that would claim a to be a great reformation coming into the church just before the close of probation. Are we seeing these prediction fulfilled?
The last book we will look at that De Oliveira references in his “Philosophy of the One Project” is Wide Awake: The Future is Waiting Within You, Published 2008.
Interestingly enough there was another book published in 2003 about Buddhist practices called “Wide Awake.” We are not suggesting a direct connection between the two books but wondering if the philosophy is not similar?
“One of the recent trends in Buddhist publishing has been a subtle generation shift: we are now seeing second-generation Buddhists' memoirs as well as introductory books for teenagers and young adults. Into this latter category falls Diana Winston's Wide Awake: A Buddhist Guide for Teens, a well-written and basic primer for Gen-Ys who are asking Big Questions. Introducing concepts such as meditation, enlightenment, metta (lovingkindness), karma, the four noble truths and the eight worldly conditions, Winston writes accessibly but doesn't try overly hard to sound cool or relevant. Teens will appreciate the way she gives the dharma to them straight, while many adults will also benefit from this lucid manual.”
The last book we will look at that De Oliveira references in his “Philosophy of the One Project” is Wide Awake: The Future is Waiting Within You, Published 2008.
This slide shows an official biographical statement of Erwin McManus, the author of this book.
Other Books written by Erwin McManus:
The Barbarian Way: Unleash the Untamed faith within. (2005)
Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul. (2006)
An Unstoppable force: Daring to become the Church God had in Mind. (2013 reprint) forward by Rick Warren.
Unleashed: Release the Untamed Faith Within. (2011)
The Church in Emerging Culture: Five Perspectives (2003) With Leonard Sweet.
(http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Erwin%20McManus&ie=UTF8&search-alias=books&sort=relevancerank)
The last book we will look at that De Oliveira references in his “Philosophy of the One Project” is Wide Awake: The Future is Waiting Within You, Published 2008.
The Wording is questionable about the “potential lying within us.” It is only by God’s power that we have any potential to “change” into His potential.
Erwin McManus is clearly seen as part of the Emerging Church movement.
Summary: All these books listed above and more are quoted as authorities in De Oliveira’s “Philosophy of the One Project.” Is this the kind of foundation that a Project should be built upon?
Summary: All these books mentioned above and more are quoted as authorities in De Oliveira’s “Philosophy of the One Project.” Is this the kind of foundation that a Project should be built upon? Whether or not these reviewers we have sited give a correct representation of the books mentioned (though the reviewers all shared similar concerns), wouldn’t it seem worthwhile to ask a few questions? Should we assume that because these books are being quoted as authorities by Project leaders that they represent to some degree the concepts and goals for The One Project? If so, we might ask if this is the correct view of Jesus presented in the Bible that we as Adventists are supposed to be sharing with the world? Or are these books supporting a theology that is seeking to get away from “too much talk about sin and guilt,” and wanting a “Jesus talk” that is really a “de-emphasis of Jesus” and a “blurring of the lines,” as the reviews have stated above? If these books that Pastor De Oliveira cites, which are also being promoted at The One Project gatherings, are in fact representing the ecumenical, Evangelical Christianity movement of the day, why are the leaders of The One Project quoting from them for support to show Adventism what our mission is to the world, and what our church should look like? Shouldn’t we be asking these kinds of questions? What does the Bible and Testimony of the Spirit have to say about this?
These slides taken from: http://the1project.org/why.html & http://the1project.org/assets/documents/the-one-project.pdf
Japhet De Oliveira is one of several who started the One Project. Their claim is that its all about Jesus. Jesus. All. But has Japhet De Oliveira’s past experience demonstrated that this is the case? Is the One Project really about making Jesus supreme, or about making an avenue through which the leader’s agenda can be brought into the church, primarily marketed to our young people through our Universities?
Is the One Project really the reformation that we need in our church (we do need one)? Based on the backgrounds of the Project leaders what will be the result of the influence of this Project on our young people through our Universities? We will now take a look at Alex Bryan in presentation 6.
Click here for presentation 6.