This week Michael Spencer published an interesting article (subject title) in the Christian Science Monitor. I thought I would add my two cents.
Spencer predicts that within two generations half of evangelical churches will be deserted. The collapse heralds the arrival on an anti-Christian chapter of the post-Christian west, with a corresponding hostility toward evangelical Christianity. Finally, “Millions of Evangelicals will quit. Thousands of ministries will end.” I don’t disagree with his conclusions, although I see some different reasons for the result.
In discussing the “why is this going to happen,” Spencer offers 7 reasons.
His first reason is that “Evangelicals have identified their movement with the culture war and with political conservatism... We fell for the trap of believing in a cause more than a faith.” I agree with Spencer. The success of the Reagan years made us think that we could change society using laws, when laws only protect or inhibit, real change must occur in the heart. Today, few believers share the testimony of change in their life and even fewer can articulate the gospel.
Secondly, Spencer states,
“We … have failed to pass on to our young people an orthodox form of faith … Our young people have deep beliefs about the culture war, but do not know why they should obey scripture, the essentials of theology, or the experience of spiritual discipline and community.”
I agree again. We spend far too much effort entertaining the young than challenging the young to a life of discipleship. We teach the same lessons over and over again, and deep bible study is considered too boring.
Reason three is an observation rather than an argument (three types of evangelical churches). Reason four, in my opinion, is the same argument as reason two, Christian education has failed. Reasons five, six, and seven are by products of the first two reasons.
The missing reason is the biblical reason. Christendom is becoming apostate. The bible predicts apostasy before the end of times. Paul wrote,
“Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs (falling away, KJV; apostasy, NASB & AMP) and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.” (2 Thess 2:1-3, NIV)
Apostasy is defined as a defection from truth. At some point, the fundamental aspects of the faith will be denied by the majority of “churches.”
Jesus made the same argument,
"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matt 24:9-14, NIV)
This agrees with Spencer’s first point, believers will be hated by all nations, and many will turn away from the faith. But the primary reason isn’t involvement in politics, it is a defection from the truth, the prophesied apostasy that comes before the end times.
If you are willing to accept that the churches in Revelation are 1) not only real churches at the time and 2) also represent church types, but additionally represent 3) dominant church types during specific periods of time in the church age, then the last church, representing the last church type dominant during the last days is instructive. John writes,
"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” (Rev 3:14-18, NIV)
This “church” isn’t even Christian. God is about to spit them out of his mouth. He says nothing good about them, in contrast to the previous six churches. They don’t think they need anything. God says that they are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. The need clothes (obviously a metaphor by the text, clothes here referring to a covering of righteousness), they need real riches (spiritual), and they need to see (the Holy Spirit). This “church” is not Christian and it is the dominant church type prior to the end of times, the apostate church.
When a recent Barna poll suggests that one-third of Christians believe Jesus sinned, forty percent do not believe they have a responsibility to share their faith; twenty-five percent do not believe the bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches; and the majority believe that Christianity is just one of many faiths a person can choose, then I would say we are entering the apostate church, if not already there.
Yes, evangelism is collapsing. God said it would collapse during the end days. “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” (1 Tim 4:1, NIV)
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