Abstract:
The rise of postmodernity in the USA in the early 1990s has affected Christian ministries in many ways, including the worship and preaching in the church. Traditional values held by the church have been challenged by postmodern ideals. The emerging church then became a popular movement that accommodated the postmodern values. In the area of preaching, one of the most forceful challenges from postmodernity is the authoritative nature of preaching in the traditional view. Two of the emerging church leading figures, Brian McLaren and Doug Pagitt, exemplify the shift from traditional to postmodernity in their preaching philosophies, challenging the authoritative mood of preaching in the traditional churches. They are the Revisionists in the emerging church, namely those who question the key evangelical doctrines on theology and culture. This paper seeks to explore the philosophy and method of preaching of these two individuals and attempts to exhibit that a low view of the Bible will affect the way one views preaching.