Apparently this article from the Internet Monk (Michael Spencer) has garnered a significant amount of attention and sparked a good amount of discussion (especially online) since it was published a few weeks ago. I agree with most of what he has said, and it’s something that I’ve felt for years. I grew up in the conservative evangelical camp, but became quite frustrated with much of the extra “baggage” that has been made core to its identity. Not to say that nothing good is being done in conservative Christianity, but it is almost completely irrelevant, and I think may be doing as much harm as good.
It has been said, “Be in the world but not of it” but it seems that conservative Christianity has gotten it completely backwards, being of the world but not in it. We copy whatever is popular in the culture, sharing most of its values (such as consumerism, individualism, etc.), but separate ourselves from the culture, picking a few minor points to build our walls along. We then think we are being a light and God’s voice to world! Those outside the camp can see right through the sham. It’s no wonder they don’t want to give conservative Christianity the time of day, they are being more honest than we are which is sad.
I’m completely over conservative evangelical Christianity. But I’m not over following Christ. I think he is real and has an amazing message for the world, and his voice to the world is the church. But it’s not the church that we usually think of. This is why I’m passionate about church reform.
