For a lark, here’s my take on the top ten things wrong with Evangelicalism.
1] too much emphasis on being “right” at the expense of being loving
2] Inward focus to turn the local church into an institution (more land, more seats, more church activites) at the expense of local community service
3] Transactional salvation. The idea that we need to “just” be saved. As Dallas Willard puts it; we focus on converts and hope disciples will happen when we should focus on disciples and let converts happen naturally.
4] Too much emphasis on cultural transformation through politics. “if we just get one more judge on the Supreme Court to overturn abortion, then this will be a Christian nation again.”
5] Too much building up of the Christian ghetto (bookstores, music, movies, media in general). Instead of making “christian” art we should just make great art. We’ve got to stop declaring things “good” just because it has a bible verse on it.
6] Poorly thought out relief work in impoverished foreign nations. We’ve done as much harm as good in Tijuana. I honestly think in the long run it might be better off without American Christians.
7] Divorce rate statistics exactly the same as secular society.
8] Evangelic Gnosticism – the soul is the only thing worth saving.
9] the idea that the sermon is the main function of our church services.
10] fear of Harry Potter books.
Well thought-out.
The sermon at Cedar Ridge this Sunday was focused on #2, and they even put up a pie chart showing how little of their money they spend on Mission. The pastor even suggested that he and the staff should possibly take smaller salaries, and that the church grounds and facilities could be used in a more productive way to help and benefit people.
It was extremely refreshing.
Amen.
Great post, Dando. A lot of what you said is what bothers me about evangelical Christianity, and turns me off from it.
Especially the Harry Potter stuff. Seriously.
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