Evangelicalism has lost credibility. It can only blame itself. We are watching its unmasking.
Evangelicalism is a disorganized, ecumenical alliance of Christians with traditional beliefs, the necessity of a personal experience with God in Christ (new birth), and as a movement it (previously) had a strong commitment to evangelism.
But, evangelicalism has become a noisy cymbal with a pestering “look at me” call for attention. What it wants others to see is not what they see, and what it doesn’t see the rest observe. It’s ugly.
Theology is never meant to be a set of beliefs disconnected from a serious life, but evangelicalism’s claims to possess final truth about the Lord Jesus Christ is systemically denied by the immoralities and inconsistencies of its confessors. It is deconstructing.
There was a time when evangelicalism was carried along by a deserved, general social and even some political respect: Americans were “Christian” and respected the various Christian denominations. Priests got hat tips, pastors were asked to pray at high school gatherings, and churches had social honor. Evangelicals were part of that social world.
Not today. Continue here....
-- Scot McKnight
