The YBPDLN Ping List is generally published infrequently, but based on the exploits of the megachurch pastors, posts can spike for a period of time. If you would like on or off of this list please FReepmail me.
Posted on 12/09/2013 6:02:21 AM PST by Gamecock
Jim Hinch argues in The American Scholar that evangelicalism is on decline in America. This thesis is not new. He’s accessing trends in polling data that evangelicals have been aware of for years. The article focuses on the demise of Robert Schuller and his Crystal Cathedral as a parable of what’s happening in evangelicalism writ large. Hinch then argues that Rob Bell’s flight from the pastorate and from his own megachurch is a leading indicator of where younger evangelicals are trending. In short, they’re leaving the movement. And in Bell’s case in particular, they’re leaving the church altogether. Hinch writes:
Yet, like so many younger evangelicals, Bell grew disenchanted with church. By the time he wrote Love Wins, he was already fantasizing about Southern California, where he had attended graduate school. Bell doesn’t go to church in Laguna Beach. He and some friends from college have formed a quasi-intentional spiritual community, gathering in one anothers’ homes to worship and talk about faith.
…”I was the pastor of a megachurch, and lots of people came, and I did book tours and interviews and films. That’s fine. But I’ll take seeing God every day, which is washing dishes with my kids and walking my dog and interacting with someone I just met.”
I don’t know what a “quasi-intentional spiritual community” is, but it doesn’t much sound like a church. Apparently, it didn’t sound like one to Hinch either.
The fundamental flaw of Hinch’s article, however, is taking the likes of Schuller and Bell as representatives of evangelical trends. I know that there is great disagreement over the definition of “evangelical,” and the issues here are complex. But if evangelicalism has any theological identity at all (I’m thinking here of the Bebbington quadrilateral), then Schuler and Bell were at best on the margins of the evangelical movement. They were not leading lights. In fact by the time Bell and Schuller were winding up their ministries, they were not recognized as evangelical by many who remain committed to the authority of scripture, the necessity of personal conversion, and the great commission mandate. In short, countless evangelicals did not recognize them as evangelical. Yes, evangelicalism is in a numeric decline, but I question whether Bell and Schuller are truly representative of what is going on in actual evangelical churches.
If it's quasi-intentional, doesn't that mean it's also quasi-accidental?
1. Not the case in my church
2. You can “quasi” anything you want, but good luck trying to get “quasi” believers to tithe to YOU.
Bingo.
After a given target universe of people hears of the Gospel, some will fall in love with it and some will reject it. And of course there are some in the middle who at first think they are attracted to it but in the end still fall away.
Just my humble opinion but it seems that America is choosing up sides (i.e. falling into solidified groups). Those who love the Gospel are growing in their love of it and those who reject it are growing in their hatred of it, hatred of those who love the Lord, and, indeed, their hatred of God.
One might conclude that this is the Great Falling Away. America, the Great Christian Nation is, as Obama says, no longer a Christian nation (i.e. we have lost the control/leadership of America to those who hate God).
When Bell came out as a universialist, he pretty much ended being in the Church.
Looking for the satire keyword...
Can’t ever tell these days.
Translated: I got rich off exploiting Jesus Christ and don't have to pretend any longer.
I will say that we should not give up trying to evangelize young people as they become increasingly disenchanted with the worldly powers (i.e. Obama) in whom they’ve invested their faith.
Rob Bell built a phony church and then grew disenchanted with it. This is no surprise. Now he's in Cali hanging with a bunch of "spiritual" people. For Bell, it's all about him, not about Him.
The YBPDLN Ping List is generally published infrequently, but based on the exploits of the megachurch pastors, posts can spike for a period of time. If you would like on or off of this list please FReepmail me.
LOL.
To worship whom or what?
Who is Rob Bell?
without the slutty unattached sex?
Related to Art Bell?
A lot of these “mega” churches are very light on theology to begin with
he is probably way to weird for Art Bell
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.