The End of Evangelicalism?

Picture Courtesy of Billy Graham Center Archives

I was listening to the radio this morning and the talking head on the radio began referring to an article entitled “The Coming Evangelical Collapse”.

I found the excerpts he read very interesting so I looked up the article it was a very interesting read. I enjoy reading things that challenge my predetermined assumptions because many times I am wrong. I found some of what was said to be unfounded speculation but there was one paragraph in particular that tingled my spidy sense. As a kids pastor I am always looking for things that help me grown and make me think in regards to reaching kids. Here is the paragraph I am referring to.

We Evangelicals have failed to pass on to our young people an orthodox form of faith that can take root and survive the secular onslaught. Ironically, the billions of dollars we’ve spent on youth ministers, Christian music, publishing, and media has produced a culture of young Christians who know next to nothing about their own faith except how they feel about it. Our young people have deep beliefs about the culture war, but do not know why they should obey scripture, the essentials of theology, or the experience of spiritual discipline and community. Coming generations of Christians are going to be monumentally ignorant and unprepared for culture-wide pressures.

OUCH! That is one of those paragraphs that as a kids pastor will drive you to drink. When I read this I literally stopped and stared at my screen. God help us. That is the last thing I ever would want to see in our church kids know who God is without really knowing him.

I began to think the following:

1. Where am I failing to plant the seed of God’s word in the hearts of our kids.
2. How can I be more effective at equipping parents to be the Kids pastor and me be the assistant kids pastor
3. What will kids remember most about me and about Uptown when they are in college.
4. How can I communicate the core disciplines of christianity in a way kids can understand AND apply

These are some of my first thoughts. I appreciate the fact this article made me think about the what’s and why’s of what I do. I do however disagree that evangelicalism is dead.

I do think it is going through a transformation. In that transformation we must honor the past but be more loyal to the future. We can not forget the path that got us here nor can we stick to our path simply because it is safe. We must obey trust and rely on God like never before. We are facing challenging times we must stand strong and not be pulled this way and that. The bottom line we must never forget is the Jesus Loves his church we can not fail when we are on His side.

The article in it’s entirety can be found here.