"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
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2 comments:
I just read this article a few days ago and was wondering what you thought of it. He makes some bold predictions. I wonder if he is referring to both the so-called "modern" and "post-modern" streams of evangelicals, or if he doesn't see much distinction between the two.
You are very right when you say many/most evangelicals do not know what and why they believe; until recently I wasn't aware of how common that is. Maybe the church as a whole is too eager to get people to say the prayer/sign on the dotted line. Perhaps we don't value true repentance that comes from someone's conviction of the heart, preferring a join-our-club approach.
Just thinking aloud.
I agree that he does not see much distinction between the emergent church or the established church. And honestly, I don't think God does either. There are errors in both. Thanks for bringing that out.
I'm ultimately not worried about what is being said, but concerned for my own church and what defines it. I see the allure of the 'join-our-club approach' that you mention, but feel sobered up by articles like this one that more is at stake than just my perception of my church.
It's helpful to recognize genuine faith from that which is pretend. I hope people don't read it as if God now has a problem he isn't prepared to deal with.
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