An Evangelical for Evangelicalism’s Reform
Feb.14, 2012 by
in
General
Some in our circles have a pretty cheerful estimate of the state of evangelicalism in America today and identify criticism with “Reformed chauvinism.” In that context, this October 2009 article by Mark Galli, senior managing editor of Christianity Today, is worth reading: “In the Beginning, Grace”.
February 14th, 2012 at 9:50 am
I have some disagreement with the article’s call for evangelicalism. Although it does expose the churches conforming to the world in its rudiments, it has also failed to expose its own compromising worldly rudiments.
#1. Believers are not to be committed to anything in the sense that they are in a religious bondage. One cannot boast about tomorrow of what they are committed to do.
James 4:13Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
It is by God’s grace and His help that we serve Him wherein we cannot boast of such “commitments” to do good.
#2. “Opening ourselves up to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit” is akin to new age mentality. We need to lift our sights higher as to Who is really doing the work in us.
Philippians 1:6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: …11Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Hebrews 12:1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
It is by going before that throne of grace for help in living this christian life is HOW He is working in our lives.