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The Coming Evangelical Collapse

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Deacon, Feb 21, 2009.

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  1. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    A Frighteningly on target blog prediction, well worth the time to read from source.

    The Coming Evangelical Collapse (Part 1) by iMonk, Jan. 27, 2009 [LINK]

    I believe that we are on the verge- within 10 years- of a major collapse of evangelical Christianity; a collapse that will follow the deterioration of the mainline Protestant world and that will fundamentally alter the religious and cultural environment in the West.

    I believe this evangelical collapse will happen with astonishing statistical speed; that within two generations of where we are now evangelicalism will be a house deserted of half its current occupants, leaving in its wake nothing that can revitalize evangelicals to their former “glory.”
    The party is almost over for evangelicals; a party that’s been going strong since the beginning of the “Protestant” 20th century. We are soon going to be living in a very secular and religiously antagonistic 21st century in a culture that will be between 25-30% non-religious.

    This collapse, will, I believe, herald the arrival of an anti-Christian chapter of the post-Christian west and will change the way tens of millions of people see the entire realm of religion. Intolerance of Christianity will rise to levels many of us have not believed possible in our lifetimes, and public policy will become particularly hostile towards evangelical Christianity, increasingly seeing it as the opponent of the good of individuals and society.

    The response of evangelicals to this new environment will be a revisiting of the same rhetoric and reactions we’ve seen since the beginnings of the current culture war in the 1980s. The difference will be that millions of evangelicals will quit: quit their churches, quit their adherence to evangelical distinctives and quit resisting the rising tide of the culture.

    The Coming Evangelical Collapse : What will be Left? (Part 2)

    The Coming Evangelical Collapse : Good or Bad? (Part 3) [LINK]

    Rob
     
    #1 Deacon, Feb 21, 2009
  2. J.D.

    J.D. Active Member
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    Isn't Imonk that guy that doesn't believe in going to church?
     
    #2 J.D., Feb 21, 2009
  3. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    if so, maybe he is part of the problem....

    Actually, I would fault the shallowness I see every day in the modern evangelical churches.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #3 Jim1999, Feb 21, 2009
  4. JustChristian

    JustChristian New Member

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    I agree with this dire view. Evangelicals have made a disastrous coalition with the Republican party. For many, there is no division between the Republican party and their faith. Those not in the Republican party are viewed as lost. How could a Democrat possibly be saved? They have trusted the Republican party to resolve their greatest concern which is legalized abortion in the United States. The Republicans have said all the right words but have really delivered almost nothing on their promise. Meanwhile the church has completely turned off 50% of America through this disastrous union of church and party.
     
    #4 JustChristian, Feb 22, 2009
  5. Grasshopper

    Grasshopper Active Member
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    #5 Grasshopper, Feb 22, 2009
  6. sag38

    sag38 Active Member

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    We knew it would'nt be long before one of our resident conservative haters would some how tie this in to presidential politics.
     
    #6 sag38, Feb 22, 2009
  7. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    Your statement is exactly what I have felt for some years now. The marriage of Fundamentalists and many Evangelicals with the Republician party has not made politics cleaner. Rather the opposite has happened, the immage, and thus the message, of Fundamentalists and Evangelicals have been soiled. This is a great tragedy.

    There is an old addage that applies here. "When you mix religion and politics, politics does not become clean, but religion does become dirtied"
     
    #7 Crabtownboy, Feb 22, 2009
  8. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    The marriage of some Christians with the Democratic Party has brought shame to the Kingdom.
     
    #8 Revmitchell, Feb 22, 2009
  9. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

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    (BTW..I'm not a Democrat)

    I think the marriage of Christians to any party is a shameful thing. We should be voting based upon issues, not party.
     
    #9 matt wade, Feb 22, 2009
  10. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    Amen to that. The leaders of this nation and both parties do not exhibit one shread of evidence of the fruits of the Spirit. I would not equate stealing from the American people and feeding self indulgent, power hungry lives as being connected to God from either party.
     
    #10 saturneptune, Feb 22, 2009
  11. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    There is much to think about in this. And JC is right, those that put their faith in the GOP (or the Democrats for that matter), are creating an unholy alliance of God and Government. The anti-science agenda of many evangelicals also will work toward their detriment, and they will either need to adapt or find themselves becoming less and less relevant. God's message of salvation and redemption should not be stuck in the understanding of centuries past, but is relevant to today when viewed in its proper context. Many here will disagree with me, and that is fine. But I think within 100 years, America will indeed be a post-Christian society. Will Christianity still exist? Of course. But unless the church can regain its solid footing on the solid foundation of the gospel and get itself unentangled from politics and science, it risks losing its core message and mission.
     
    #11 Magnetic Poles, Feb 22, 2009
  12. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
     
    #12 Revmitchell, Feb 22, 2009
  13. JustChristian

    JustChristian New Member

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    In what way?
     
    #13 JustChristian, Feb 22, 2009
  14. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    So the naysayers of evangelicals are against Evangelicals because they stand against abortion and evolution...

    Well people that support abortion and believe evolution over the Bible have more problems to worry about than condemning real Bible believers that know that as Christians we are to not support murder of babies and calling God a liar.

    The reason Evangelicalism is losing numbers is called apostacy

    And we who are true believers can see the apostacy happening...
     
    #14 tinytim, Feb 22, 2009
  15. JustChristian

    JustChristian New Member

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    I agree to that. Christians should speak out on moral issues not ally themselves with political parties. When you hear statements like "I can't understand how a Democrat can be a Christian" it's gone way, way too far.
     
    #15 JustChristian, Feb 22, 2009
  16. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    By being yoked up with

    The gay agenda
    Pro abortion agenda
    The ACLU
     
    #16 tinytim, Feb 22, 2009
  17. JustChristian

    JustChristian New Member

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    I'm saying that when the church says "Only Republicans need apply" it has immediately reduced it's potential outreach by 50%. Do you think that's good?
     
    #17 JustChristian, Feb 22, 2009
  18. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    No, Just Christian.. I don't...

    I am actually going to leave the Republican party...
    They are just as corrupt as the Dems... :smilewinkgrin:

    Being a Republican does not = good Christian
    Just as being a Democrat does not = bad Christian...

    WE should be Just Christian! LOL... (Gotta love that :tongue3: )

    What I am saying is that when people enter the polling booths they MUST Stand against evil.

    And being in a party that supports abortion rights, special rights for Homosexuals, and removing God from all facets of public life is just not being Christ like....

    I have nothing against Democrats... I know some... :laugh: :tonofbricks:

    My mother grew up one.. until she saw the light...
    I have some very influential Christians in my life that are....
     
    #18 tinytim, Feb 22, 2009
  19. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Here comes the one-bang band again!

    Just remember, when you knock abortion you are knocking every woman who has a D&C and every woman who has an miscarriage...Someone is KILLING these babies..........

    You don't even try to understand homosexuals. You can only condemn them...Oh, right, the scriptures were incorrect..Jesus actually helped to stone that prostitute!

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #19 Jim1999, Feb 22, 2009
  20. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    That is absurd.
     
    #20 Revmitchell, Feb 22, 2009
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