Russ Crawford, a fellow Jesus follower , coffee drinker, and “1st Gufru” with Gospel Organic in my hometown, shared an article from Michael Spencer in Kentucky titled “The Coming Evangelical Collapse“. Please read it slowly. Don’t rush through this one. Consider its implications and message and then share your comments below the post.
I post. You decide.
Michael Spencer is a writer and communicator living and working in a Christian community in Kentucky. He describes himself as “a postevangelical reformation Christian in search of a Jesus-shaped spirituality.” This essay is adapted from a series on his blog, InternetMonk.com.
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I agree with what that article says, although I think the author missed out on recognizing that God is in control. God’s plan won’t be thwarted, it will be worked out perfectly, according to His divine wisdom. God gave me a dream that corresponds to the article. Read it and you decide.
Purifying Love
Peter, I’d have to agree with you that the author is on to something here. But, I’m careful to agree with all of his convictions. Do you agree that Michael seems to be writing from the worldview of an “evangelical” Christian? For me (and possibly other readers), the author has not clearly identified what he means by “evangelical”. One hesitation I have in wholeheartedly putting my stamp of approval on this one, is that the author seems more concerned with preserving evangelicalism as a “movement”, and not Christ’s church. I do consider myself an evangelical in the traditional theological sense. However, I don’t think Christ is worried about the collapse of evangelicalism, or more importantly, His Church. In fact Christ clears things up this way: “…I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it”(Matthew 16:18).
The second reason I hesitate to fully endorse the author’s convictions, is his oversight that God is Sovereign Lord. I do agree with Peter’s understanding that God is ultimately in control (over all things, including the church). The Scriptures are clear about who’s in control over creation and the Church.
The author certainly gives us some things to consider.
Some questions come to mind after reading this piece.
1. Did Christ command us to make “evangelicals” or disciples? (Matthew 28:18-20)
2. Did Christ establish the Church or an evangelical movement to carry out his redemptive mission in the world? (Acts 1:8)
3. Is Christ’s Church purely represented in modern American churches?
4. Will Christ ever allow his Church to be collapsed by a culture, government, individual, etc.?
Interesting comments, Peter.