The Collapse of Evangelicalism

"Millions of Evangelicals will quit. Thousands of ministries will end. Christian media will be reduced, if not eliminated. Many Christian schools will go into rapid decline. I'm convinced the grace and mission of God will reach to the ends of the earth. But the end of evangelicalism as we know it is close." - Michael Spencer

I am not quickly swayed by talk of the many crisis' that face our world. At my last trip to the video store I noticed how the new releases section is full of documentaries on the financial crisis, the water crisis, the food crisis and others. The words of Michael Spencer above are admittedly not 'a lock', but they find some affirmation from me. In his full-article he says "we fell for the trap of believing in a cause more than a faith". I agree.

Evangelicals don't know what they believe, or more accurately 'who they believe,' all they know is that they are Christians. My desire in teaching through the New Testament on atonement at both our Bible studies has been to show us what it means to 'be a Christian'. Being people who see ourselves as totally depraved and in need of the saving act of God should not be equated with feelings of affinity toward Christ.

Whatever becomes of the infrastructure established by the evangelical tidal wave of past decades, the church will continue because the future of the church is not in our ability to reach people, but in God's ability to save people.

To check out the full article, go to http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0310/p09s01-coop.html