The Unresolved Tensions of Evangelicalism Part 1: The Biblical Worldview

NOTE: This post is analysis and opinion. It’s not about what I believe or don’t.

My posts on Christine Wicker’s and Julia Duin’s descriptions of evangelicalism’s winter are meant to be provocative, but they are also an attempt to hear something in the voices of our critics we rarely allow into our discussions: the scary truth.

The observations of these two reporters- one a Christian and one not- tell a similar story of a fragmented, declining evangelicalism; a movement whose energy and direction has badly dissipated.

Some of these observations are highly controversial. According to Christine Wicker’s model, evangelicalism began to come apart at the Scopes Trial and its end was actually hastened by the advent of critical thinkers like C.S. Lewis and Carl F.H. Henry. Such men gave evangelicals a non-fundamentalist option and started a process of accommodating various aspects of modernity.Continue reading “The Unresolved Tensions of Evangelicalism Part 1: The Biblical Worldview”

Christine Wicker’s Unmentionables

Have you ever been part of, let’s say, a committee assigned with a specific task? You go to committee meetings, week after week, maybe month after month; you work with the committee to complete the task, but something else happens.

You learn. Specifically, you learn the obvious things that people on the committee never say. The questions they never ask; the obvious problems they never point out; the solutions that can’t be brought up without controversy.

Perhaps you learn to live with this situation. You accept the unmentionables and you play along. You don’t want to be the source of an explosion. You prefer to see the job get done, even if the same problems are overlooked and the same obvious solutions are avoided. We’re in the people business here, you tell yourself. Relationships are important.Continue reading “Christine Wicker’s Unmentionables”

Recommended: Wicker and Duin on The End of Evangelicalism

I have a few words about two books that should be of interest to the IM audience.

I heard Julia Duin, author of Quitting Church, on The White Horse Inn last week. Her interview was interesting, so I ordered her book and a book she recommended, The Fall of the Evangelical Nation by Christine Wicker.

I can’t offer full reviews of these books. They are both similar in that they reference a lot of research from the past decade that looks at what is happening in American religious life, particularly in reference to evangelicals.Continue reading “Recommended: Wicker and Duin on The End of Evangelicalism”

Do You Trust The Abbreviated Jesus?

The other day a strange feeling came over me.

Don’t get me wrong about what I’m about to say here. It was just a feeling. I’m not claiming any powers of discernment or certainty.

I got the distinct feeling there’s something wrong with a lot of people who say they are Jesus-followers/believers.

If you want to supply your own vocabulary, like “Aren’t saved” or “aren’t Christians,” do so at your own risk. I’m not saying that. (There’s other blogs for that game, if you are burning to know.)

No, but it was as plain as daylight to me that when I hear a lot of people talk about Jesus, I feel like I am hearing….an abbreviation.

I said abbreviation. A shortened version of the real word. You see the abbreviation, you’re supposed to know what it means. We all agree on the abbreviation.

Don’t we?

We all know what the shorthand version stands for.

Right?

Or maybe we don’t.

I’m beginning to get the feeling that when people say Jesus, I can’t trust the abbreviation.

I’m getting the feeling that we are talking about a kind of “mini-Jesus.” A diluted, declawed, demoted savior who is a symbolic representation for a kind of anemic, watered-down, un-Biblical, culturally acceptable Jesus.

I get the feeling that if you move beyond the standard biographical paragraph, you’re going to discover that the Jesus you are hearing about has considerably less to say than Jesus as we meet him in the Gospels.

You are going to discover that he has little or nothing to do with most of the Bible, especially the Old Testament and the more demanding parts of the new.

You are going to discover that there is a remarkable resemblance between the abbreviated Jesus and the current version of political correctness. (Isn’t it unusual how Jesus takes an interest in whatever happens to be the current rage on CNN-MSNBC-CBS-FOX-USATODAY?)

I am not sure this abbreviated Jesus believes in hell.

I actually think the abbreviated Jesus doesn’t like to be bothered with issues of morality, character or behavior. He’s mostly interested in larger political and cultural issues, or your experience at your local church, or how you’re doing in your relationships.

The abbreviated Jesus has quite a bit in common with contemporary “life coaches,” talk show hosts, political apologists, faith-based advocates, teachers of “principles,” community organizers, and family values lobbyists.

The people who talk about the abbreviated Jesus don’t seem to know much about the Bible. Not at all.

But they still have a surprisingly strong opinion about the meaning of all kinds of things Jesus said and did in the Bible.

The abbreviated Jesus can convincingly seem like the real Jesus, until you look and listen closely. Then it appears that he’s lost his laptop, his luggage and his cell phone. So for right now, he is reading it all off the teleprompter.

The abbreviated Jesus doesn’t vary much from the script.

In fact- and this is what really got my attention — the abbreviated Jesus would only get crucified if there were some terrible mix-up.

The abbreviated Jesus is Jesus without the Biblical context, Jesus without church history, Jesus without Jesus theology, Jesus without costly discipleship, Jesus without offensive teaching or mysterious parables. The abbreviated Jesus is so easily explained, so comprehensible and user-friendly that anyone can follow him, even without instructions.

In millions of cases, the abbreviated Jesus is Jesus without the church. He is Jesus who lets you pick your friends, pick your community and pick your comfortable seat. He is OK with whatever your plans are for the weekend. He is not making demands on your time. (He is a major spokesperson for unplugging the fourth commandment.) He is not making any demands on your money that don’t follow your emotions. (He wants you to feel personally fulfilled about whatever you choose to support.)

The abbreviated Jesus seems to always need one more book to really get down to what he actually means.

He has a lot of preachers who understand him, and a lot of churches where his way of doing things has become very popular.

Aside from abortion and gay marriage, the abbreviated Jesus is pretty happy in America. There’s so much for his friends to do and enjoy!

I don’t trust the abbreviated Jesus.

Sometimes, he has been in my house, my head, my heart and my preaching. And I don’t like him.

He is flat. Empty. Easy. Moldable.

He is not full of the Holy Spirit. He is full of us.

Frankly, he seems to be full of….well…..there are words here that my daddy used, which I’m not supposed to use on this blog. If you don’t know what they are, write me. Or ask a farmer who knows the real Jesus.

I am announcing that I’m afraid of the abbreviated Jesus and his followers. I am afraid of his “church,” his books and his kind of “discipleship.”

I am uninviting him from my life and my interactions with other Christians.

I want to know Jesus. The untamed, old school, offensive, mysterious, demanding, awe-inspiring, transformational, life altering, crucified, risen, ascended, revolutionary Jesus.

Spell it out: He is the creator. The mediator. The fulfiller and establisher of the law. His the passover lamb. He is the head of the church. He is the heart and key to Holy Scripture. He is the meal on the table. He is life in the living water. He pours out the Holy Spirit. He is the rider on the white horse. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the eternal God.

He doesn’t need my explanations, endorsements or euphemisms. He isn’t reading my note cards and nodding. He doesn’t tolerate my sin. He’s the life of God for the sin of the world. He’s righteousness, sanctification and holiness. He’s the Kingdom bringer, the executor of judgment, the one who is worthy to open the scroll and read the books. He’s the light of heaven and the conqueror of hell, death, sin and the grave.

He’s the one in whom all history, poetry, story and theology come together into the great I AM. He’s the mystery and the Word that reveals God to all persons. He’s the Gospel itself, the meaning of every message and the open door of God’s mercy.

You cannot abbreviate him.

You fall at his feet and worship. You get up and follow. You die and he raises you on the last day.

That’s Jesus, and I’ve got a feeling a lot of people really don’t have a clue.

Iain Murray: Facing the Main Problem in Evangelism Today

I really appreciate Iain Murray, the editor at Banner of Truth Trust, former associate to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones and an eminent historian of evangelicalism. His many talks at various reformed conferences throughout the years are worth acquiring and his books are all valuable. Some are simply essential.

Dr. Murray’s books are available through any reformed book outlet such as www.ccvbs.com or monergism.com. His talks are available through Sound Word Associates. The particular talk that I want to encourage you to read/hear is in The Old Evangelicalism in a chapter called “Preaching and Awakening: Facing the Main Problem In Evangelism.” An audio version of the talk is available from Sound Word (search Iain Murray’s section) as “Facing the Main Problem In Evangelism.” This talk was given in 1987 at Calvin College, but it’s timeless and extremely diagnostic of what I have seen in my own ministry. The talk is currently $5, but it’s worth the cost and Sound Word is well worth your support. Their library of conference speaking is a real treasure.Continue reading “Iain Murray: Facing the Main Problem in Evangelism Today”

Open Thread: The De-Churching of America: What do YOU Think?

I’m reading some books on the de-churching of America, i.e. the drop in church attendance over the last 50 years.

Research being what it is, I know that anything can be proven, but I have my own research tool: the IM readership.

Without going into great detail, what have you seen in your own extended family? Do more or less people participate in church now than in the past? What is your personal take on the de-churching of America?

From where you live, can you see the emergence of a post-evangelical (Or Catholic or Mainline) or post-Christian culture?

Fr. Ernesto Obregon: An Orthodox View of the Issues In Sola Fide

UPDATE: A great way to learn more about Orthodoxy is the amazing selection of podcasts at Ancient Faith Radio. There are 4 pages of podcasts! I have always enjoyed Fr. Reardon. Perhaps some commenters can share their favorite.

One of the frequent commenters here at Internet Monk recently is Father Ernesto Obregon, an Orthodox priest. Fr. Ernesto is a thoughtful, gracious conversation partner. He sent me this letter clarifying the Orthodox view of the doctrine of justification, the place of works and assurance. You’ll find it fascinating.

His current post series is on the same subject.

Fr. Ernesto’s excellent blog is “OrthoCuban.” Be sure and read his fascinating spiritual journey. Add his blog to your RSS feed and blogroll.
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Hey Michael,

I have been enjoying the discussion on Sola Fide immensely. It has been very exciting to be able to review theology on this subject, particularly since it has to do with my personal future someday! I had thought of posting again, but my post would have had to be too long. So, let me sketch out very briefly a couple of thoughts that would need lots of filling in.Continue reading “Fr. Ernesto Obregon: An Orthodox View of the Issues In Sola Fide”

Internet Monk Radio Podcast #118

podcast_logo.gifA story to encourage post-evangelicals. Neuhaus on the differences between Evangelicals and Catholics.

Our sponsor is New Reformation Press. Great t-shirts, books and reformation resources.

Drew Marshall
First Things
SBC Voices podcast with Michael’s interview

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Riffs: 11:13:08: My Response to Scot McKnight and “What Evangelicals Do Well.”

First, read Scot McKnight’s BeliefNet piece, “What Do Evangelicals Do Well?”

I’m not Scot McKnight, and I don’t play him on TV. I’m nowhere in his league on New Testament scholarship and he’s got far more world-wide experience than me in describing evangelicals. He’s written lots of great books and has a classy blog.

So of course, I have to disagree with his optimism about evangelicalism.

Well….not entirely. I agree with everything Scot has to say. In fact, I’ve had several positive posts on evangelicalism and Protestantism here at IM. (Seriously. That’s not a joke.) Before I make a more critical response, could I add some positives to Scot’s list? There are some things about evangelicalism that make even me hopeful and proud.Continue reading “Riffs: 11:13:08: My Response to Scot McKnight and “What Evangelicals Do Well.””