The evangelical view of the church–my piece of the ecclesiastical pie–is weak on a number of levels. After 40 years on this planet, and growing up in an evangelical home, and as someone who is deeply invested in the success of Gospel churches, I have seen much. These weaknesses, in my estimation, lead to lesser and lesser influence in the modern world and a dysfunctional ecclesiology. Here are at least 26 weaknesses to be followed in another post by its strengths:
a) it views church worship as a funeral procession for Jesus rather than a triumphant resurrection procession,
b) it disincentivizes male participation,
c) it makes the Bible secondary and human creativity primary,
d) it views Jesus’ authority over the world in similar categories to Satans’ (a misunderstanding of II Cor. 4:4), which means it minimizes the power of the resurrection in changing the world in the first century (I Cor. 15:26),
e) it treats the themes of worship as preferential rather than objective (see letter c),
f) it belittles the sacraments,
g) it is not future-oriented, so it’s bound to do theology only for the present,
h) it is content to keep Christians at a basic level of growth, which means it diminishes rigorous theological dialogue for lack of knowledge
i) it forgets its origins, thus minimizing the lessons of history,
j) it doesn’t rejoice enough; in essence, there is a low view of feasting,
k) it fails to view the church using the war-like categories of Scriptures,
l) it begins in Matthew when it should begin in Genesis,
m) it forgets the little ones in the life of the church, who often are only brought back at a much later time,
n) it doesn’t view catholicity in a positive light,
o) it doesn’t read broadly enough (see letter n),
p) it fails to encourage women to pursue good theology,
q) it doesn’t practice church discipline,
r) it doesn’t sing enough; we need a broader repertoire. The church is too rich musically for us to stick with a few,
s) it doesn’t encourage hospitality,
t) it fails to pray for the kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven,
u) it would rather sacrifice at the altar of sports than the altar of God on Sundays,
v) it views food and fellowship primarily as consumption rather than communion,
w) it reads too little Bible, and that parts that are read are incomplete and de-contextualized,
x) it is inconsistent in applying the Gospel to society, education, and culture,
y), it’s too casual or non-interested in Creeds,
z) it is incoherently trinitarian instead of intentionally so.
Amen and Amen… Especially when it comes to subscription and the Creeds and Confessions. And if you even mention the Seven Ecumenical Councils, evangelicals often think you are fleeing to Rome.
In the end, much of evangelicalism has become a cult of personality with each person or group of persons determining what is right in their own eyes rather than submitting to the Word of God and to what has always been held at all times by all Christians.
Thanks for a good post!