The article linked above is a blast from the past. Article ID 92… we just went over 1000!
A question I used to wrestled with (now I’m just convinced in my answer) is, “am I an evangelical any more?”
The answer is a pretty emphatic, “No.”
To many evangelicals, an announcement that you are not one means you care nothing about the spread of the gospel, the importance of Scripture, and a true commitment to Jesus.
For me, the opposite is true. I believe the methods of the evangelicals for growing churches to be an actual hindrance to the Gospel. The dissection of the Scriptures, relegating them to nothing more than a divine textbook, devalues them rather than elevates them. And evangelicals on the whole are committed more to their belief system, church structure, and political causes than to Jesus.
I know that seems harsh, and I’m not necessarily speaking on the intent of evangelicals. They believe their structures and politics are in line with Jesus. They intend to further the Gospel with their structures and methods of evangelism. I just think they’re wrong.
Of course, many of my evangelical friends have said I could still be a part of an evangelical church. Sure, but at what level? If your beliefs and practices would disqualify you from leadership in well over 90% (probably closer to 99%) of evangelical churches, then how can you be considered an evangelical? Sure they’d let me sit in the cushy chairs in the sanctuary… because they think eventually I’d come around to their way of thinking. But leadership? No, those are reserved for people who think right.
Hey Alan-
Caught a comment of yours at theooze.com and thought I’d link over to your blog. I was wondering if you’ve ever consolidated (in written form) the events/thoughts that have led you to where you are now. I would love to hear more of your story. Guess I’ll look through some stuff from your “old blog.” Thanks for being an honest voice.
awtraughber
December 26th, 2004
I really haven’t done an auto-biographical snippet of my journey thus far, but I’ll put some thought into that. Right now, I have a ton of writing projects I should be focusing on.
Thanks for commenting, and I hope you come back often
Anonymous
December 27th, 2004
Hey Alan,
When that article was first published on Next-Wave I really didn’t have much understanding about the things Rogier was concerned about. I’ve learned a little bit in the last six years. Not sure I was ever truly and “evangelical” so that is probably why the article didn’t resonate with me originally…
Blessings,
Charlie
Charlie Wear
December 31st, 2004