I was checking out some news today and ran across a “progressive” blogger giving advice on how our country can move in a socialist direction. What he applied to the political, I’ve often seen at work in the church. Here’s a quote:
…to achieve long-term progressive realignment, we must shift the fundamental value frame for political and economic debate. We must re-establish the dominance of progressive values in the mainstream political dialogue, as the definition of what is political “common sense.”
In my book, Stand Up Straight: How Progressives Can Win, I make the case that while some people think that in order to win we must move to the center, adopt conservative values, and split the difference, history shows they are wrong. We don’t need to move to the center. We need to move the center. We need to redefine the political center in American politics.
A number of examples came to mind. But I’ve decided to resurrect the old BORDERLANDS BLOG PRIZE. The person who can provide the best example of this in the life of the Church will win a sweet prize. I promise you’ll like this box of goodies!
Adam, what an amazing quote! And, the parallels to what is happening in the Church are both obvious and profoundly troubling.
The “center” of doctrinal understanding has been shifted in certain circles, particularly in the Western Church. What was once considered common is now either “conservative” or even “extreme fundamentalism.” Unbiblical and untested notions are now the new norm.
Years ago, I was honored to interview Sir William Deedes, at that time the Editor of the London Daily Telegraph. He was discussing the way that the Church of England was moving further and further away from core doctrines such as the reliability of Scripture and the Deity of Jesus, and he said this: “I’m not a man of faith, really, but what I can’t understand is why anyone would want to deny the very basis of their own belief?”
When the Church begins to parrot the news media or Madison Avenue or Hollywood … when things once considered sin are now celebrated and things once considered sacred are now scorned, we have entered into the fulfillment of Isaiah 5:20-21, which says: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!”
I hope you don’t mind, but I posted an excerpt from this blog over on the CSM website at:
http://www.csmpublishing.org/discuss/viewtopic.php?t=499
I am always encouraging our readers to utilize your stellar writings and videos, and I’ll have a review of the new videos posted soon! Thanks, Adam, for your courage, eloquence, and faithfulness. (Sorry for the length of this reply!)
- Stephen Simpson
Stephen Simpson
June 12th, 2008
hmm, move the center. i’d have to lean to the ‘that’s a bad idea’ camp on that one.
i believe the ‘center’ of the church is Jesus Christ.
(john 1:1)…in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
so, if there should be a shift in the ‘center’ of the church, that would lead me to think that it would be more ‘man’ focused rather than ‘Christ’ focused. Sounds like a recipe for disaster following man’s ways rather than God’s way.
(john 14:6)…I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Based on Jesus’ own words, I’d much rather pick Him than some other person or place.
In closing, I believe the ‘center’ should stay squarely on Jesus. Anything different than that….look out.
peace out
brick
brick
June 13th, 2008
This is short and sweet. My example of something bad that moves the church away from what is the center of the church which is Christ, in my humble opinion, is Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Church. The church is not about a business plan to fill seats. The church is about the entire message of Jesus for the world and that is a big message of love and cleaning up to see the King. This is a very personal message meant to be delivered by each one of us who have been saved and changed to anyone wanting that same salvation. It does not take a business plan.
Sugar Land Steve
June 13th, 2008
Greetings All!
Some excellent responses here.
Stephen, thanks for dropping in and sharing your (always) insightful commentary. Your comments on “orthodoxy as the new fundamentalism” are right on! It is frightening how easily people can be led down this path, too. In the last few years, the evangelical community has had a number of well-know, well-published and still respected voices challenge the centrality of several things. Inerrancy. Substitutionary Atonement. Christ’s exclusive saving power. God’s foreknowledge. Eternal punishment. And the list goes on.
Brick, you cut to the core here, brother. Jesus is the one who “holds all things together” (Col 1). The problem in our day is that people fail to ask, “Which Jesus?” Because a number of “Jesuses” are now up for grabs in the Church. There’s the radical, pacifist, social activist Jesus. There’s the nice, feminine Jesus who would never send anyone to hell. There’s the “coexist” Jesus, a la purple bumper sticker theology. There’s the “God is green” Jesus. There’s the “Jesus isn’t a Republican” Jesus, again, bumper sticker theology. And the list goes on.
Sugar-Steve, I know there are a number of critiques of Warren out there right now. Personally, I thought he had a lot of good things to say in “Purpose Driven Life.” I know he’s not been a champion of the strong doctrine-driven sermon, but I’d like to hear more of why you feel he represents a shift from the center.
Administrator
June 13th, 2008
actually, i thought sugary steve’s comments are valid…not just necessarily directed towards the purpose driven church or life, but programs similar to that.
so much of the time, one hears a success story of a church and a revival/renewing of sorts as the result of a topical study or focus. then word (notice little w) gets out of the success and then other churches decide to jump on the proverbial bandwagon. because if it worked at that church then it must work at our church as well. I don’t know, do all of the same people go to both churches?
The studies themselves may not be necessarily wrong, its more or less the reasoning behind ‘why’ they are being used. the real questioning should be “God, what do you want us as a church to do?” I think that question gets missed too much of the time.
steve-does that sum up or add to what you were thinking?
adam-does it make sense as to what i’ve said?
brick
June 13th, 2008
Adam, that is an interesting thought, instead of moving to the Center…you move the center…sorta like doing a bell curve grading. You move the grade according to the curve as opposed to a certain established criteria.
One example I can think of the church moving the center iis the concept of Seeker Friendly churches. As Sugar Land Steve noted, the Center should be Jesus Christ and Him alone. But when a church’s main focus is to fill the pews and one way to do that is to make it seeker friendly, then something can be and is lost…
Anything we do, we should always be based on the Foundation, the one unmovable center, which is Jesus Christ our Lord. Anything else will be sinking sand, which changes with the shift in the winds.
Dr. Paul Yoh
June 19th, 2008
My thought on moving the center doesn’t necessarily have to do with people using different methods, such as RW’s book(s) (I’ve not read the “church” one). I personally don’t think he takes Jesus out of the picture, but maybe could focus on Him more (?) There seems to be a shift in the meaning of the gospel, though….aimed at “progressive” thinkers and those who are tired of the “old way of doing church”…..I would say much in the emergent movement is trying to move the center….There’s a great big ? at their center.
And also any sort of tolerance–ideas vs. people. or better, ideas=people, so reject idea, reject person with idea.
As a woman, I will boldly say that feminism in the church has tried to move the center…….if I had time and nothing else to do I would love to give examples, but I’m limited in both! Fun reading everyone’s thoughts, though!
Jen
June 19th, 2008
Great posts here!
Brick, Dr. Paul and Sugar: I think each of your comments hits on something incredibly important: The idea that we can “change our methods” without having an affect on our message is definitely dodgy. “Method” and “message” are very closely related. Certainly, any “method” changes we make in the Church need to spring from the Message. But too many churches are “picking out” the part of the message. When evangelism becomes the sole driving force in a church, a whole lot of illegitimate methods can be justified.
Jen, very sweet reply here. Your focus on the meaning of the Gospel is, in my opinion, the clearest example of how ‘the center’ is shifting in the American Church. I’ll be writing an article on that in the next week!
I also appreciate your courage to touch on the impact of feminism on the church. Your words carry weight, coming from a woman. Anyone who has followed the theological debates surrounding that issue will know that the “evangelical feminists” are in the process of redefining core doctrines like the Trinity to accommodate their message.
Any time we add an “-ist” to a good idea, it becomes a controlling ideology. And, for Christians, Jesus is the center.
I’m going to leave the contest open till next week. Let a few more people submit. Besides, I just don’t relish the task of picking a winner out of all these posts!!! Each is insightful.
Administrator
June 19th, 2008
Adam, you said “Any time we add an “-ist” to a good idea, it becomes a controlling ideology.” I think you hit right on the nail…
We need to not emphasize the ‘ism’ or ‘ist’ but Jesus Christ and the cross.
For a season I was influenced by our church in Elmhurst in Dominionist theology, propagated by Rushdoony and made popular with David Chilton’s Paradise Restored. It is now mentioned as a cause for concern by atheists and agnostics when Christians get involved in politics. One atheist on a conservative forum I participate was able to link Discovery Institute to one person on the board with Dominionist theology and politics as he was associated with Rushdoony. I was surprised she even knew who Rushdoony was!
Dr. Paul Yoh
June 19th, 2008
I too have enjoyed reading all the comments! Some churches that want to be ’seeker sensitive’ tend to make the Gospel easier and more palitable to our culture. I dislike this approach because it is not about numbers as many of you have said, but it is about Jesus Christ. If we make the Gospel too easy when the times of testing come (and they will come!) will the convert have a strong foundation? The Gospel will always offend our selfish nature and we must not soften the message we must allow its power to soften our hearts. It is vital that we keep Christ the center of all that we do!
Thad Truitt
June 22nd, 2008
here is a ‘redefining the center’ for you…
I would put the link in here, but i don’t know if that’s allowable or not. But on time.com in the middle of the page is a section of features. One of the features is titled ‘Christians: No one path to salvation’.
after reading the article, the sum of it is that everyone is becoming more tolerant of other people’s views. so much so, that in a survey last year that ‘57% of evangelical Christians were willing to accept that theirs might not be the only path to salvation’. This is in Time and they are saying that there seems to be a big shift!
That seems really really sad and troubling to me. what is going on nowadays?!
all i have to say is Wow and God help us!
brick
June 24th, 2008
Greetings all! Some excellent posts here. It’s been difficult to pick a winner from the bunch. But I’m going to give this blog challenge award to Mr. Stephen Simpson. I love the quote and engagement with Scripture. Every single post, however is sweet.
Administrator
July 17th, 2008
Congrats to Mr Simpson! I know I’ve got my work cut out for me next time around.
Unrelated to these posts… what is anyone’s thoughts on Todd Bently and Lakewood Florida revival. I’ve heard both positives and negatives and was wondering what other people’s take on it was.
gotta run
brick
brick
July 23rd, 2008
I’m a bit late to this discussion, but I ran across this quote a few weeks ago and thought I’d share it here.
“Religion today is not transforming people; rather it is being transformed by the people. It is not raising the moral level of society; it is descending to society’s own level, and congratulating itself that it has scored a victory because society is smilingly accepting its surrender.” ~A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)
Unbiblical and untested notions are not the “new norm”, but rather something even the earliest Christians had to battle against (Gnosticism). The trends just go by different names each century or so. (-:
Kathy
Kathyz
July 29th, 2008