The March/April 2008 edition of Mission Frontiers magazine addresses a very important issue effecting the contemporary American and European church.   While the Gospel is advancing wildly in several parts of the world, many formerly active church members are walking away from the church – and often Christianity – across North America and in Western Europe.  

 

It was not long ago that these regions were the strongholds of Evangelical Christianity, and the seemingly inexhaustible source for mission sending and support for generations to come.  But no longer is this the case.  Now these giant of faith are themselves mission fields.

 

MF Editor Rick Wood suggests the problem is the Gospel.  It is not that the Gospel itself is defective.  Instead Wood observes that what is often presented as the Gospel deficient and misleading.  And practically speaking, what we present as the church is often the only Gospel that most people know and understand. 

 

What is the result of a compromised Gospel?

 

1. Ineffectiveness. 

 

Once people realize that what they thought they bought into is not what they get in reality, inevitably they grow frustrated, distrusting of the church, and finally chuck it all.  That’s what Wood sees happening.

 

In the long run we are losing ground in the “home-front” at the very time we are seeing the Kingdom advanced on the frontiers. 

 

2. Impotence. 

 

The Gospel alone is the power that transforms lives.  The Apostle Paul was adamant about this. He challenged the Galatian believers because they were embracing a Gospel that was “no gospel at all”. 

 

As Evangelicals, if we proclaim a message that distorts the Gospel, simply for the purpose of getting people to easily join us, we will see our churches full of unchanged members.  Our churches will be composed of those who are spiritually unhealthy, self-absorbed, and consumer oriented, not those who seek first the Kingdom and glory of God, and who are committed to faithful discipleship and service. 

 

Sadly, I think Wood is dead-on right.  I’ve had a number of conversations with those who have expressed similar sentiments. They feel misled. They are understandably skeptical and disenchanted. And while not all have walked away entirely from their faith, I’ve found many no longer see any value in being part of the visible church. 

 

Because I believe Wood’s article offers a radically important perspective, I will publish it in a subsequent post.  It is worth reading for anyone who is missions-minded, theologically oriented, or if you or someone you know has grown disenchanted with contemporary Evangelicalism.