I suggest that the primary problem that is at the heart of the creeping
\ncrisis in American Christianity is a spiritual one – not merely
\nfinancial or lack of members or the presence of young people or
\nunresponsive structures or antiquated thinking (1960’s and 1970’s
\nthinking, that is the antiquated thinking I’m writing about), but a
\nspiritual problem.<\/p>\n
What is the single thing that the Christian
\nChurch provides humanity that no other organization or institution or
\nsystem offers? It is squarely Jesus Christ! Redemption – forgiveness,
\nhealing, and restoration between God and the rest of humanity. That’s
\nit. Period.<\/p>\n
The Christian Church is not needed for social work,
\npolitical activism, justice seeking, or most anything else, except new
\nlife in Christ. (Not that we don’t have something to say or do with
\nregard to those other things, but our engagement with such things is on a
\nprimarily different plain than is secular society’s.)<\/p>\n
Until we
\nrecognize the reality of spiritual crisis, no matter what “change” we
\nengage in to correct other presumed crises within our churches will
\nbring about the results we seek or bring about the reality of the
\nKingdom of God in the world around us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I suggest that the primary problem that is at the heart of the creeping crisis in American Christianity is a spiritual one – not merely financial or lack of members or the presence of young people or unresponsive structures or … Continue reading