Sunday, October 23, 2005
The Problem With 'Evangelicalism'
There are so many definitions for "evangelical" that it is a word almost without meaning. For some it's a politically active Christian. For others it's a particular theological school. The definition I like best is that it is the group of Christians that believe there is an identifiable "salvation experience" and that they conduct evangelism in order to try and produce this experience in others.
This idea has, in some ways, been a blessing. It has detached Christianity from Christian institutions in a way that I think was, at least, healthy. Most institutions had grown corrupt thinking they had a preistly roll in a person's faith.
But there is a downside to the idea as well, that being that many people have come to believe that the "salvation experience" is the sum total of Christianity. Broken Messenger has done a good two parter examining this problem here and here. From the first part
The good news is not that we are saved, the good news is that we are remade. We sell Christ well short when all we sell is "salvation." I am not entirely sure I can envision church based radically on the transformative nature of Christianity, but try we must. One thing is for sure, we have to quit limiting the potential of the gospel.
This idea has, in some ways, been a blessing. It has detached Christianity from Christian institutions in a way that I think was, at least, healthy. Most institutions had grown corrupt thinking they had a preistly roll in a person's faith.
But there is a downside to the idea as well, that being that many people have come to believe that the "salvation experience" is the sum total of Christianity. Broken Messenger has done a good two parter examining this problem here and here. From the first part
Too often the church is offering doctrines of Christ that lead to the conclusion that an acceptance of him can be undertaken without expecting a radical change in how one lives their daily life. The removal of sin in our lives should not be looked upon something we can cast away under our own power and wisdom, only the Spirit of God by his power, wisdom and truth can do such a thing. But the presence of habitual sin our lives should lead us to be alarmed and concerned about our faith and prompt us to turn back to God in all areas of our life.Christianity is not a "belief," it's not an "experience," it's not a "lifestyle," it's not even a "worldview," though it includes all of those things. Christianity is nothing less than the total reconstruction of yourself by the God of the universe.
If one should find themself caught in sin or lacking faith, we of course, have remedy though repentance of our sin before God. We have Christ, who upon confession, cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). But a confession without faith, that God will also turn us from that sin we are confessing, should lead us to mourn our condition. Yet so often, many teach us move on in "faith" while still ensnared in sin and ask us to do so without thinking another thought about how it is destroying our faith and impacting our love for Christ. So a hidden tragedy ensues when we think that our faith is strong and in good standing before God, yet we are in fact standing in oppostion to him by living unconcerned about the habitual sin in our lives.
The good news is not that we are saved, the good news is that we are remade. We sell Christ well short when all we sell is "salvation." I am not entirely sure I can envision church based radically on the transformative nature of Christianity, but try we must. One thing is for sure, we have to quit limiting the potential of the gospel.
