Please forgive the unsolicited PING. I wanted to point this article out to all of you. Dallas Willard is a Christian author/thinker that 'gets it.' He repeatedly says that the main thing wrong with Christianity today is that people don't walk the walk. They're not even taught that they should try to be like Christ--in thought, word, and deed.
Most of the Religion Forum took a pass at this article because, I guess, they don't like discussing how to improve their relationship with God--they prefer bashing other denominations. I've noticed in the past that y'all like discussing what it takes to be a good Christian.
Would any of you care to comment on Dallas Willard's words?
Thanks for the ping. I gave it a good scan and it does seem like he is making some valid points. Too many churches are WAY too focused on being popular instead of being faithful and they've watered down their teachings and have resorted to 'the soft bigotry of low expectation' when it comes to their members actually living the gospel and keeping the commandments.
The flip side is that churches that DO stress conforming your life with the gospel are derided as 'authoritarian' by the other churches.
It can't go on like this for much longer though. Society has become hostile towards religion in general and within a generation I expect only those with a burning testemony of their own will maintain their faith, and you can't have a burning testemony of a gospel you are not living. I think whole denominations will disappear, probably by merging with other diminishing denominations.