"Walk to Emmaus" Frequently Asked Questions for 09-AUG-2011
In an effort to better inform members of Signal Crest on the spiritual renewal program called “Walk to Emmaus,” we will be sending you two or three Frequently Asked Questions about the program each day this week.
Today’s topic: What are the Strengths of Emmaus and What are the Potential Pitfalls?
What are the Strengths of Emmaus?
God is using Emmaus in our time. When countless adult Christians experience true renewal and the healing of love, and feel moved to make fresh and informed commitments to Christ and his church, the Holy Spirit is at work.
Emmaus attempts to strengthen the local church through the empowerment of disciples and the raising up of fresh leadership in congregations.
Emmaus maintains important balances and holds together the unity of personal spirituality and Christian action in the world.
Emmaus is dependable. Emmaus leaders strive for consistency in form and quality from event to event. Team members' faithful adherence to a standard manual prevents the dangers inherent in experiences centered upon the whims of leaders. Reliance on proven guidelines also allows more laity and clergy to serve in leadership positions and ensures safe space in which persons can be themselves with God and one another.
Emmaus includes follow-up aimed at undergirding the ongoing discipleship of the people.
Emmaus makes partners of laity and clergy, involves both in leadership together, and is based on confidence in laypersons' willingness and competencies for Christian service.
Emmaus focuses on essentials of the Christian faith. John Wesley's words express the spirit of the program well. He wrote, "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; and in all things, charity."
Emmaus is ecumenical in the sense that both the three-day experience and the follow-up seek to foster unity and mutual appreciation among Christians of different denominations who participate in the program in each community.
Emmaus is fun and full of joy, while at the same time reminding Christians that Jesus meant what he said and did, that God's business is important business and so are our commitments, and that God loves us more deeply than we ever knew was possible.
What Potential Pitfalls are on the other side of Emmaus?
Emmaus, like every vital renewal movement in the church's history, has its down side as well as its up side. Church leaders and members who have participated in Emmaus can anticipate several pitfalls as they work to realize the full benefit of the program for their church. Some of the common pitfalls are these:
Walking to Emmaus and never leaving. Many people have such a positive experience that they have difficulty moving beyond it. But as Luke tells us, once the disciples returned to Jerusalem to tell the story, their focus was the risen Christ and service in his name, not where they first encountered him.
Making Emmaus their church. Rather than propelling them back into their congregations, Emmaus becomes the focus of some people's religious activity. This typically results when an Emmaus participant's link to a church is weak or nonexistent. Emmaus should strengthen, not replace, persons' relationships to their congregations.
Acting cliquish or elitist. This perception may result when enthusiastic Emmaus participants continually talk together about their common experience, causing others to feel left out. Sometimes people mistakenly assume that Emmaus follow-up groups are closed societies, instead of straightforward discipleship groups. Sometimes people’s talk about their experience is louder than their actual witness through their deeds of love and service in the church. One of the pastoral challenges is to help enthusiastic Emmaus participants focus on servanthood and to encourage them to share the gifts they have received with the whole church.
Talking about Emmaus as though Emmaus were secretive. Sometimes people who have attended Emmaus do not reveal aspects of the three-day event so as not to spoil the experience for others. But as this daily sharing of information illustrates, nothing that occurs in Emmaus is secret. This withholding of information creates an air of secrecy that hurts the program and sets Emmaus participants apart in the church.
Viewing Emmaus as exclusive. This perception may result from the fact that participants have sponsors rather than being able to sign themselves up. However, sponsors play an important role in supporting the participants in special ways before and during their Walk. Sponsors also enable participants to find follow-up groups after the three-day experience. Anybody may ask a person who has been to Emmaus to assist them in their decision to attend.
Attending Emmaus for the wrong reasons. When persons go on the Walk for reasons other than those for which the program is intended, it may result in disappointment or a misuse of the program. For example, Emmaus is not designed to deal with fresh grief over recent loss or psychological instability, nor is it a haven for persons who live on the fringe of the church. Emmaus is for those who will return home to build up the community of faith in love.
Failing to understand the potential of Emmaus. As a result of this failure, sometimes pastors do not channel Emmaus participants' energy in avenues of servanthood and do not encourage their continued growth. Sometimes church leaders do not know what to do with people who return from Emmaus with raised expectations for the church and for their own spiritual lives. Without leadership and guidance, Emmaus may become an irritant in the status quo rather than a creative force for change and renewal.
Getting off balance theologically. Sometimes the theological leaning of Emmaus leadership in an Emmaus community gets off center and develops a narrow focus. Emmaus then loses its balance and fails to serve the whole church. The quality of Emmaus depends on the involvement of a broad spectrum of mature laity and clergy.
The Upper Room works with local Emmaus groups to provide the training and resources necessary to minimize these problems and to guarantee the highest quality program.
Tomorrow’s Topics: Why are there Separate Events for Men and Women, and What Should I know Before Attending a Walk to Emmaus?