Dr. David F. Wells, distinguished senior research professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary wrote about the fundamental problem among evangelicals in his 1995 book, God in the Wasteland: The Reality of Truth in a World of Fading Dreams. I think he was spot on then and it is still spot on 15 years later.
The fundamental problem in the evangelical world today is not inadequate technique, insufficient organization, or antiquated music and those who want to squander the church’s resources bandaging these scratches will do nothing to staunch the flow of blood that is spilling from its wounds. The fundamental problem in the evangelical world today is that God rests too inconsequentially upon the church. His truth is too distant, his grace too ordinary, his judgment too benign, his gospel too easy, and his Christ is too common, (pg. 30).
It would be easy to focus on different churches or even looking at my own church. It’s fashionable to complain about the Church. Not to say that the evangelical Church doesn’t have problems, it does. Have we taken the time to consider this introspectively? How are we contributing to the problem?
Does God rest too inconsequentially upon me? Is His truth distant in my life in such a way that I conduct myself as though it contains no relevancy or urgency? Am I bored with His grace to the point I’m no longer amazed? Do I not consider His judgment and lack urgency in sharing the Gospel. Does it not even come to mind when I entertain temptation? Do I communicate a Gospel that doesn’t call people to consider the cost? Has Christ become too common for me, or do I seek to serve an uncommon Christ?
HT: 1517