The New Evangelicalism

Everything changes in time.  I remember when going to church required you to dress up, or at least look presentable.  Today, many people look like they rolled out of bed and went to church.  Now, most of us would say that it doesn't matter, and perhaps it doesn't, but it is a change.  I remember when choirs were the way most churches conducted a worship service, now it's the worship team, changes come and they go.  I think the church has to change in order to attract the attention, and be relevant to a changing culture.  However technique of telling the story may change, but the story doesn't. There is a move today among evangelicals to ignore the major themes of His story, and accent on what is more politically correct among our culture.  The church has always swam upstream, but not today.  When I first became a Christian in the 1970's discipleship was defined through a changed life. That meant if we wronged someone, we paid restitution. We separated from those who influenced us to live in a lifestyle that was ungodly, and we were taught to live in a life of surrender. in those days, evangelism was taught as a personal responsibility, and churches were training how to lead people to Christ. We knew back then that unless there was a changed heart, nothing would really change.  Change the heart, you had a chance to change the culture. Today, most churches still have some reference to a changed life, but the emphasis is on the back side of discipleship, which is the social justice side. Some evangelicals have even made Jesus into a political lobbyist in protesting budget cuts for the poor. "What Would Jesus Cut?" is a popular sloan by those who advocate such a concern. However, as noble it may appear to advocate for the poor, I am not sure we are winning them to becoming  followers of Christ.  For Thanksgiving my family served a meal at a local mission. Showing this kind of love and compassion not only was a demonstration of God's love, it made each of us serving feel better about ourselves for giving up Thanksgiving in order to serve others. Yet, in the back of my mind I felt like it wasn't enough.  By night fall those we served would have forgotten about the meal and would be facing more of the same dispair they face everyday.

It is a righteous act to feed others, but it is more righteous to reach their soul for Christ. Often this new Evangelicalism is nothing more than a feeding program without the substance of the message of Christ. You can always feed a stomach, but if you don't feed the soul, you have allowed the poor to be feed, but without an escape from their poverity.

Let's be careful we don't forget the message is more important than our work of deeds.

Keeping it honest and truthful........K