I was reading Al Mouler’s blog and he touches on the reality of the condition of the evangelical church. I believe he makes some striking points that I really resonate with, but is his position an overreaction? Are we crying wolf or painting a true picture of a new “downgrade” controversy? I am curious as to your thoughts.
About Dan Miller
Pastor Dan was part of the core group that started Grace Fellowship in 2003. Pastor Dan is our primary teaching pastor, leads the staff, and oversees the vision and strategy for our disciplemaking philosophy of ministry. Dan married Vicki in 1993. Together, they enjoy their seven children – Benjamin (married to Courtney), David, Alexa, Zachary (married to Ginna), Nathan, Ana, and Autumn, along with one grandchild - Lucy.
Here is a better link. The one you left is dynamic and updates daily.
http://www.crosswalk.com/news/weblogs/mohler/?cal=go&adate=6%2F23%2F2005
Well – that didn’t work. Just click on June 23 on the calendar. 😉
Now that I have read it, I agree with Dr. Mohler that the Gospel is being perverted. Where I don’t agree is his supposition that this is a modern problem and critical to this generation to fix. There have been false Gospels preached since the Apostle John’s day. And yet here we are. Matthew 16:18 makes it clear that Christ is building the church and gates of Hell will not prevail against it.
So in regard to my last point, I believe he is overstating his case.
I fixed the original link, thx for bringing that up Kevin.
Dr. Mohler has certainly identified the issue of our day: the postmodern approach to truth. Without objective truth, there simply cannot be a gospel. I agree with the previous comments that we know that God will always maintain a remnant of His people. But this is dramatically different than what we have seen over the past several hundred years. Evangelical Christians have helped shape western society. As we enter a post-Christian era, the landscape of culture and society will likely be dramatically different, and not for the better.
Good points, but I think he’s way overstating his case.
(In passing, I wish he defined his terms – since he didn’t, I can only infer that he means “evangelicalism” as a label for a class of people who confess the name of Christ in a generation devoid of real persecution.)
My fear isn’t that this is “evangelicalism’s terminal generation.”
I fear the judgment that awaits those of us who, though redeemed, will squander the precious years of service we have to give in the name of Christ.
My fear is that God will raise up future generations of Christians who will look back on us, weigh our impact, and find us wanting.
My fear is that they will tell their children, “make sure you don’t sell out like they did.”
My fear is that they will hold us in contempt for our dim, lukewarm, salt-free lives that were so narcissistic, we didn’t make the slightest difference in a world that embraces –and extols! – some of the most obvious and colossal errors in thinking and judgment ever conceived: errors we neither exposed nor remedied with the truth.
I fear the prospects our legacy holds for our kids.
But I also fear – and yes, hope in – the prospect that the generation that will so righteously disdain us will be our kids as well.
May these fears of what may be never become the horror of what is.