Warren Smith on "A Lover's Quarrel With the Evangelical Church"

Although I haven't read Warren Smith's book, A Lover's Quarrel With the Evangelical Church, I think based off of what I've heard him talk about, I think he makes some really good points.
Back in August of 2009, Mike Horton interviewed Smith on the "White Horse Inn," in regards to his book, which you can listen to here. In fact, Horton stated: "This is an important book for a crucial moment in our history as Christians in the United States. Besides being richly biblical in its analysis of contemporary evangelicalism, this book is written by a veteran journalist with hard-hitting and inescapable data to support his conclusions. I highly recommend this book."

This month (Jan. of 2010), Smith also gave a lecture, in a similar tone to the interview with Horton, regarding what he percieved as problems with Evangelicalism in America. And, I think he also was wise to stress that he wanted to make the emphasis not on the quarrel, but on the lover.

Evangelicalism

In this video, Lane Chaplin interviews Phil Johnson about Evangelicalism, including the historical meaning of the term "Evangelical," and the push to redefine Evangelicalism. Johnson points out something interesting about modern Evangelicalism, especially in light of people like Rob Bell trying to redefine the term: “I see it as one more sign of a widespread meltdown in the Evangelical movement itself where people who call themselves Evangelicals these days have so moved away from their Evangelical moorings. They don’t really understand what the word means anymore, they don’t remember what their heritage is, they don’t believe what their spiritual forefathers taught, so there’s this great movement to redefine Evangelical….I see it as a significant sign that the Evangelical movement is melting down severely, if not completely dead.” Mike Horton, in his book Christless Christianity: the Alternative Gospel of the American Church, a book which I intend to review at a later date, asks this question: "judging by its commercial, political and media success, the evangelical movement seems to be booming. But is it still Christian?" (Horton, pg. 19)

Jesus for $ale

Pay attention to T.D. Jakes's remark at 0:23: "I think Jesus is the product." No, Jesus is not a product, He's our Lord and Savior.



It's pretty shameful that many, particularly, in Evangelical circles, have fallen into this trap of trying to be pitchmen for Christ. This is a topic which the guys at "the White Horse Inn" address.