Thoughts on “The Gagging of God,” Part II
Carson writes about the current focus of the majority of evangelical churches:
“More frightening is the impression that the social sciences hold the key for church renewal and growth. The assumption seems to be that we are basically OK theologically, spiritually, morally, in our prayers and passion and understanding, and that if we just add this component we are bound to see fruit.”
Obviously the problem runs much deeper. We have spent the past 25 years honing the next church marketing programs and can’t miss church growth tools, but what has all this gotten us? Well, the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest conservative evangelical denomination in America, was concerned enough to launch a task force to examine why we aren’t fulfilling the Great Commission. The task force released a progress report that contained some startling, if not surprising, data. America has 150 million more people than we did in 1950. The Southern Baptist Convention has over 17,000 more churches than it did in 1950. The SBC Baptized more than 35,000 fewer people in 2008 than it did in 1950. This is a sign of big trouble for the future of evangelicalism in America.
Our churches that are expert market strategists are doing a great job killing off our smaller churches, but little else. It’s time to get our head out of the sand and realize that there is no seven step workshop that we can go to that will make our church grow by 20%. We need a revival of the theological, spiritual, moral, prayer, passion and understanding variety. We need a return to gospel centered churches with biblical worship and a biblical purpose.
