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THE LOST LANGUAGE OF CHRISTIANITY

 

The Lost Language of Christianity

A recent Gallup poll is sending shockwaves through the evangelical world. For the first time in Gallup’s polling history, church membership fell below 50% in 2020. It was 70% in 2000, but twenty years later it is now 47%.[1] The numbers are worse if you look at them generationally. Only 8% of white millennials identify as evangelical compared to 26% of seniors.[2] Our world is increasingly secular, and young people are increasingly turning away from the church.

Russell Moore points out an astonishing reality. People are turning away from the church not merely because they reject the doctrines of the church but because they think the church rejects the doctrines of the church. It is sad when people turn away from the church because they do not believe in the authority of the Bible. It is tragic when people turn away from the church because they do not believe that we believe in the authority of the Bible. Our preaching has become secular in our quest to attract the world to the church. Moore writes:


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MORALISM OR MORAL PREACHING

Moralism or Moral Preaching

Al Mohler labeled much evangelical preaching today as “moralistic fables” because the sermons used biblical stories as examples to teach moral truths. Christ and the cross should be the focus of every sermon because they are the focus of every biblical text.[1] G.K. Beale, in a recent article, stressed that every verse in Scripture points to Christ and must be used to preach Christ, not moralism. He asked how our preaching is different from rabbinic teaching if we fail to focus on Christ and redemption.[2]

Christocentric preachers argue that when we use examples from the lives of biblical characters to teach moral and ethical values, we are guilty of moralism – using the Bible to emphasize our efforts to please God instead of preaching what God has done for us. Exemplification, using Bible stories and characters to teach moral values, is wrong to the redemptive-historical preachers.


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PASTORAL ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE LIGHT OF THE RZIM SCANDAL

Pastoral Accountability in the Light of the RZIM Scandal

PASTORAL ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE LIGHT OF THE RZIM SCANDAL

The news about the serial sexual misconduct of Ravi Zacharias has exploded around the world in recent days. It is sordid, disturbing, and horribly destructive, first to the women who have been abused and then to the ministry that enabled the abuse. Our hearts go out to all the women he has victimized. You can read the horrifying details here and here. I am deeply saddened to learn that the witness of a man I respected, whose global ministry was powerfully effective for Christ’s kingdom, lies in tatters; his integrity shredded by his private sins.[1] The RZIM scandal should be a warning to all of us that we will stand before Christ one day to give an account for sins done in private (2 Cor. 5:10, 1 Cor. 4:5).

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CAESAR AND GOD: POLITICS AND THE GOSPEL

Caesar and God: Politics and the GospelThe images are jarring, borderline blasphemous. The mob attacking the capitol on January 6 unfurled a massive banner at the top of the steps proclaiming, “JESUS 2020,” while marchers carried flags announcing, “TRUMP 2020.” An American flag blew in the wind as the mob broke down the doors to the capitol building. On one side of the flag, the words read, “Jesus is my Savior,” and on the other side of the flag were the words, “Trump is my President.”

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OLD FOSDICK AND MODERN PREACHING

Old Fosdick and Modern PreachingCrowds pursued Him. People searched out Jesus even when He tried to get away. Thousands gathered on hillsides and shoresides overlooking the Sea of Galilee to hear Him preach. They could not get enough of His messages. Jesus talked their language – the language of the average man. His messages made spiritual ideas practical and popular … until they didn’t! Jesus dove deeper into spiritual truth. He delved into difficult theological concepts using sometimes mysterious language. The words became harder to understand and accept, so they left Him. It turned out that many disciples were not disciples. They were merely followers who were not interested in learning the words that came from God (John 6:59-66).


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