This morning I posted an article on my site that says modern day Christianity has been "hijacked" by liberal theologians.
Below, you will find an excerpt.
Tell me if you agree or disagree:
"Just as many Muslims claim that their religion has been hijacked, I too maintain that modern day Christianity has been hijacked.
The Christianity of my grandparent’s day has been reduced to a mere remnant of believers scattered throughout the world. Their replacement, a spineless religion more worried about offending sinners than seeing their souls saved from an eternal hell."
I think your post needs some rapid clarifications.
You are not talking about Christianity per se but American Christianity.
And I don't think the term "hijacked" is correct in this case.
Perhaps morphed or adapted to be relevant.
This isn't a case of liberal Xianity either.
And from what I can see, there is a surging desire away from fundamentalism and toward a more biblical model for church and evangelization.
Lastly, why do we want the Xianity of our grandparent's day?
That has failed and what led us to the depraved state of things today.
We don't want the Xianity of 50-100 years ago... we want apostolic Xianity.
We want to mimic the early church.
At least I do.
Jeremy thank you for the article. There is no question that the organized church changed from 100 years ago. The fact that you are willing to speak about it is good. I suppose one could argue on which adjectives to use when speaking about it, but the bottom line is the church is not going in the right direction. Sadly the church is filled with compromise. I believe it was Spurgeon who said if you are faced with choosing the lessor of two evils, DON’T, something most the church has no clue about. For me I tend to explain it as in the Revelation 3:14-22, but your explanation covers some of the whys. Thank you for loving enough and having the courage to speak out about the evil in the world and the church.
This brings up an interesting topic at least for me. As I study the behavor of "fundamentalism" as it is practiced here in North America I'm conflicted because they as a group strive to mimic the church of the greek New Testament better than any recongnizable group but are weak in that they tend towards leagalism.
On the other hand, "evangelicals" are so engrossed with social issues, downplaying Scripture and inclusion that they are letting liberal causes infect their minds.
So, at least for me, due to the combined force of the above, I see the post-mil idea of a great godly society on earth loosing traction. And the demands placed on individuals of the fundamentalist camp suffering a like fate. This leads me to conclude that at least in North America and the west in general, absent a great revival, the church overall is headed in the wrong direction.
And I don't know how to describe myself within the fundamental/evangelical definition. I'm toying with the idea of Fundamental in Doctrine, Evangelical in Practice as a description.
I personally think that it's very sad that we're living in a day where we worry about which camp we fall into [fundamental, evangelical, etc.] (I suppose this has truthfully been going on for centuries).
Personally I couldn't care less what any of the "sects" think about me, as I strive to live Holy in the way I feel the Scriptures and the Spirit lead me and let the chips fall where they may.
I don't see anything unbiblical about having theological camps and I think they are in many ways useful. They give us a structure and support system.
They do not excuse us from having discernment or replace individual Bible study in matters of doctrine. It's like prayer, just because you pray for something doesn't mean Jehovah is going to act or is even listening. Just because you repeat Bible verses doesn't mean you are being biblical. And so just because a theological position claims to be biblical doesn't mean it is.
In too many religions (including Christianity), lies, sin, heresy, hypocrisy, and lukewarmness have crept in unnoticed and made many churches ineffective. Sin is being accepted in too many churches, and the gospel is being diluted so as not to offend anyone.
I see myself as one of them, a Chrsitian who holds to the 'Funamentals" of conservative Chrsitianity, but also one holding to keeping aware and using when needed 'current scholarship", and who interacts with socirty on a biblical basis!
I was just thinking how it seems to me that the Ds look to the bible to define "sin" and then include that "sin" in their platform/talking points/policy decisions.
Even worse is that some who very vocally espouse "Christian Values" then get on the band wagon wholeheartedly supporting these contrary values.
Oh, I know they SAY they are against "----", but when they support the politicians that pursue these goals ----- one has to wonder just how much against they really are.
Don't confuse having to accept a few "value" challenges - with any politician - with the "value" challenges that define the politician.
IMHO many conservatives and fundamentalists have come to believe that the Tea Party and right-wing politics is a litmus test for being Christian. Far too many Americans have confused American culture and Christianity.
Their feeling is that if you do not agree with me politically you cannot be a Christian. Hmmmmmm, like me, I have been called non-Christian because some do not agree with some of my political views.
Well I don't know. I am not a tea party supporter so I have no idea what their platform is if they even have one. From a personal standpoint I can say that there are some top people in the tea party I would not want to be associated with and yes they claim to be Christian so I don't know. I do support the weeding out of thsoe who are compromising and putting us deeper in debt while they strip away our constitutional liberties, but the tea party itself, no.
I'll be honest. The comments on your personal page that you linked to make you come across as a classic "flaming fundamentalist"...and that is NOT a good thing.
(as in the Westboro clan)
Tone it down a bit. Temper your admonitions with a healty does of love.
Do you believe a christian can vote for sodomite marraige,and abortion of babies....and not be partaker of those sins by enabling and supporting those positions???
Explain how this can be done....