Why did the Emergent Chicken cross the road? Here are my top ten reasons in no particular order:
- The Chicken was drawn to the candles and incense on the other side of the road.
- There was a Hauerwas discussion group at the coffee shop on the other side of the road.
- The idea to cross the road emerged from the chicken’s generative cohort.
- It was more “post” on the other side of the road. (i.e, postmodern, post-evangelical, post-colonial, post-institutional, post-post, etc. Pick your favorite "post.")
- D. A. Carson showed up on the chicken’s side of the road.
- Obama was on the other side of the road.
- To demonstrate that it is more environmentally sustainable to walk across the road than to drive across the road.
- Bono said crossing the road would save Africa.
- The chicken was seeking change. Everything must change!
- The question is merely a foundationalist modernist attempt to distill complex realities down to a single proposition in accordance with some metanarrative.
Any others to suggest?
Emergent economist's answer: Because chicken eggs can be labeled "fair trade" on the other side.
The Shock Doctrine answer: Milton Friedman kicked the emergent chicken across the road and then charged him for it.
Driscoll's answer: The other emergent, chickified-dude chickens were on the other side.
McLaren's answer: That's an interesting question, and it prompts me to wonder why we invaded Iraq and how that's a generous gospel?
Posted by: Virgil | May 21, 2008 at 11:42 PM
LOL. That is hysterical!
Posted by: Michael W. Kruse | May 22, 2008 at 10:42 AM
What the... is it assumed that all Emergents are Obama supporters?
Posted by: Dan Ra | May 22, 2008 at 09:08 PM
Yes. Afraid so.
They've been looking for an emergent openly support McCain, but it hasn't happened yet.
Some have been known to whisper about Hillary, but they run away when you ask them to fill out the survey form...
Posted by: VanSkaamper | May 22, 2008 at 09:30 PM
Dan, judging from my experience in Emergent conversations, I'm guessing Obama would win by a landslide if their votes were tallied. :)
Posted by: Michael W. Kruse | May 22, 2008 at 09:37 PM
Listen if an emergent came out in support of McCain, and McCain accepted that emergent's endorsement, it would only be a matter of time before McCain would have to "reject and denounce" that emergent, so ...
Viva la Obama!
BTW -- I like the fourth bulletpoint, but I would be more succinct and just call that one "post-roadcrossing" ;-)
Which reminds of Don Miller's old website, roadsearching.com? Anyone remember that site?
Posted by: Steve K. | May 23, 2008 at 09:07 AM
Listen if an emergent came out in support of McCain, and McCain accepted that emergent's endorsement, it would only be a matter of time before McCain would have to "reject and denounce" that emergent, so ...
You mean like Obama rejected and denounced his white grandmother?
Posted by: VanSkaamper | May 23, 2008 at 10:11 AM
"Obama rejected and denounced his white grandmother"?
What are you smoking, VanSkaamper?
BTW -- If you're on the McCain train, riddle me this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjCYmjjxp8I
Posted by: Steve K. | May 23, 2008 at 10:44 AM
What are you smoking, VanSkaamper?
Not a thing. Did you miss his comments about his grandmother, the "typical white person"?
And no, I'm not a fan of McCain...never have been...and your video seems to indicate that he's associated with some people with questionable records...just like Obama.
Push comes to shove, though, I'll probably hold my nose, vote for Johnny and hope he means what he says about government spending.
Posted by: VanSkaamper | May 24, 2008 at 12:07 AM
How does a simple discussion about chickens and emerging church morph into a political diatribe?
Hey, maybe we can get some funny answers to that riddle!
In the meantime, did we all forget the obvious answer? To get to the other side!!!!
Posted by: raffi shahinian | May 24, 2008 at 05:12 AM
Raffi, it Tis the season. :) Almost left the Obama one out but decided it was too much fun.
Posted by: Michael W. Kruse | May 24, 2008 at 08:19 AM
I must confess that I am just to old and slow to keep up with you guys and your clever and intelligent responses.
Posted by: J Lynn Pflug | May 24, 2008 at 09:12 AM
The emergent chicken crossed the road to show the fundamentalist, evangelical opossum that it could be done.
Posted by: Fred | May 24, 2008 at 11:18 AM
LOL. Nice, Fred.
Posted by: Michael W. Kruse | May 24, 2008 at 12:12 PM
that was cute. you're so post-emergent.
Posted by: priest | May 25, 2008 at 05:14 PM
Maybe Driscoll meant "chickified" Roosters or, roostified chickens ?
Posted by: Susan S. | May 28, 2008 at 01:07 PM
too bad this post ever made it to the internet. It'd be really great if the "us vs. them" mentality could leave the christian dialogue.
Posted by: adam | May 29, 2008 at 10:38 AM
"that was cute. you're so post-emergent."
LOL, this is what I tend to think whenever I read this blog. ;)
Posted by: Mike Clawson | May 29, 2008 at 01:28 PM
"Post Emergent"
I've been called a lot of things but this is the first time I remember be likened to an herbicide. :) My mision is to kill weeds after they emerge. :)
Posted by: Michael W. Kruse | May 29, 2008 at 02:43 PM
I thought the reason the chicken crossed the road was to show the opossum that it could be done.
Posted by: Jeff Thompson | May 29, 2008 at 06:50 PM
Because there was a more socially acceptable or justice provoking conversation that didn't involve the actual Cross.
sorry couldn't help myself.... just ribbing. Hopefully not with a sword to anyones side.
blessings.
Posted by: Cathryn Thomas | Jun 02, 2008 at 05:05 PM
hilarious. my first response (before reading the post) was, "to get away from the modern side", which is covered under your #4...
#adam: so, does that make you vs. us, or you vs. them, or you vs. us & them both, or you vs. the internet, or you vs. dialogue, or you vs. vs.?
#Cathryn, OUCH. well, if the cross is on 'your' side of the road, maybe the emergers crossed to get a larger perspective?
Posted by: Sean | Jun 07, 2008 at 05:40 AM