i read an interesting post in tallskinnywiki yesterday. he quoted a newspaper article entitled,
Religion: American Evangelicals, once considered monolithic, are fragmenting
This read reminded me of what i have said here a # of times:
- we are experiencing the death of christendom
- evangelicalism is cracking apart before our eyes
- young evangelicals do not believe like their parents on issues like race, and poverty, and abortion, and climate change, and homosexuality...
probably even more troubling to evangelicals, is when the article raises the fact that they:
"almost never convert a native-born American who wasn't raised in a church. That most evangelical growth comes from stealing sheep from other denominations. And they've stolen about all they can.."
the author, Christine Wicker (who wrote a book on the subject) goes on to write what may be the most poignant and powerful words in the article:
"Conversion tactics also focus on telling people the Good News as though no one else knows it. But most everyone has heard it. Again and again. The trouble is that they aren't convinced. They aren't scared of hell. They aren't hoping for heaven. And Christians haven't been good at giving anyone better reasons than that for following Jesus."
more to come...
"Conversion tactics also focus on telling people the Good News as though no one else knows it. But most everyone has heard it. Again and again. The trouble is that they aren't convinced. They aren't scared of hell. They aren't hoping for heaven. And Christians haven't been good at giving anyone better reasons than that for following Jesus."
ReplyDeleteall this is probably true- but people in their virtual worlds are more isolated, angst ridden and alone than ever- seems they secretly really still would like to know that there is someone out there and that he cares about them and understands them- which seems one reason Jesus came b
well said. and, we forget that the gospel is the power of God unto the salvation of all who believe, but, when the church gets in the way of the gospel, then, we're a long way down the road...
ReplyDeleteI just read the Christine Wicker story again, thanks to the link on your blog. I am struggling with this. However, if I could comment on her article, now that I've had a chance to mull over it again, I would say the following:
ReplyDeleteAs you have said many times, our best witness is to tell our story, what Jesus and God have (has?) done for us, in a personal and meaningful way. And it matters how we live, because it brings us the most blessings and shows people that there is something different going on in our lives. I just don't think you can start at a better place than that. Ms. Walker talks about preachers and leaders and missionaries; she talks about Christians and evangelicals and fundamentalists and universalists; she talks about big studies and little surveys. We can all believe different things, but there are some truths that we must not compromise on. I personally think we need fundamentalists, In fact I enjoy listening to them. I liked Jerry Falwell, I've never heard him say anything I did not agree with. I've heard stuff he's supposedly said, but I've never personally heard him say anything I didn't believe in. I also like another controversial pastor, John Hagee. I think he may go too far on some topics, but everything he says is Bible based, and the truths I have heard him espouse are truths that can be found in the Bible. That's where the answers lie; not in surveys or studies. When I think of Falwell and Pat Robertson and how they are perceived, that's mostly -- not completely but mostly -- the result of a secular world and media looking for cracks in the armor of Christian leaders. We all have cracks. And that old cliché that "we're not better, just forgiven" is a true statement. Having said that, Billy Graham enjoyed almost universal respect because he never seemed to put anyone down. We need people like Graham, but I say we need people like Falwell and Hagee too. Somebody has to remind us of the fundamental message.
Ms. Walker seems to think, from what I gather, that the results of a study is cause for rejoicing. The study means nothing in the real world. Evangelism for us, or witnessing or whatever one wants to call it, is a personal thing between two people. It's not about groups or studies, and I guess that's why her generalizations irked me so much. She's trying to be scientific, and sociological; and I just don't think that works in the context of personal relationships with a savior or a friend. Either you have accepted Christ as savior or not. Either you want to share that or you don't. We all know that God is in control here. Another cliche comes to mind: "There's not enough church in the world and too much world in the church." We need to stick to our guns. Not everybody is going to accept our beliefs.
Finally, if the era of denominational Christianity is coming to an end, that is a concept I could wrap my arms around and celebrate. If we could all drop our labels and separate traditions and simply focus on the basic truths of what it means to be a Christian, what a step in the right direction that would be. But that's not what Ms. Walker sees, or wants, as best I can tell. She's too busy dividing everyone up into little groups, which somehow makes her feel better.