Christless Christianity #1

I have recently read Michael Horton's Christless Christianity and am going to post several thoughts here.  I am hopeful for some responses and perspectives.

In summation, Horton describes the American Church as rooted in the revivalism of the 19th and 20th centuries and the individualistic tendencies of American culture.  Although his chapters long and sometimes a bit of a ramble, I found his critique to be immensely insightful.

Here are some quotes from Chapter 1--and my thoughts.

Page 16-17

"I think that the church in America is so obsessed with being practical, relevant, helpful, successful, and perhaps even well-liked that it nearly mirrors with world itself.  Aside from the packaging, there is nothing that cannot be found in most churches that could not be satisfied by any number of secular programs and self-help groups."

The weight of trying to carry these programs of "help" is killing pastors and leaders.  As I approach the stage of life where I will be required to be a lead pastor, I am incredibly daunted by the expectation of American Christianity.  Horton goes on to make the point that we have lost our poignancy because we have traded the Good News for Good Works.  It becomes a painful indictment, but a relieving perspective that alleviates the demands of pragmatic programs.  Also, from my perspective, we increasingly are forgoing what it is we believe for the sake of what it is we might practice.  We so want to be relevant, but are forgetting the most relevant revelation of all--Jesus and Him Crucified.

Page 17

"Let me be a little more precise about what I am assuming to be the regular diet in many churches across America today: 'do more, try harder'...it can be exhibited in an older, more conservative form, with recurring emphasis on moral absolutes and warnings about falling into the pit of worldliness that can often make one wonder whether we are saved through fear rather than faith...At the same time, more liberal bodies could be just as shrill with their 'do more, try harder' list on the left and their weekly calls to action rather than clear proclamation of Christ."

Wow.  I would have never have thought in this way because my mindset is all about human response.  I am constantly concerned with my congregation's response and my own response to God's principles and directions.  As a preacher, I feel the strong need to make sure and give the listener's plenty to do after a message.  And, there is no doubt that we take up positions behind the conservative bunkers, hurling grenades at culture or rally our people to confront injustice.  

I know there is a place for both of these emphasis'--I think Horton's point is that the church isn't the hub of socio-political-moral-cultural change.  It exists for the proclamation of the Gospel.  For a long time I have tried to reconcile (through methodological ponderings) how to fit all of our proper responses into a church assembly and the programs of the church.  The task is enormous and as I observe it, when we have tried to pull together a comprehensive plan, it invaribly is disjointed.  Perhaps we have been trying to be God (as the Church).  

Horton further illustrates this human tendency (and American folly) of striving towards God:

Page 17

"...the do more, try harder message has still dominated--this time in the softer pastels of Al Franken's 'Stuart Smalley' than in the censorious tone of Dana Carvey's 'Church Lady,' both of Saturday Night Live fame.  In this version, God isn't upset if you fail to pull it off.  The stakes aren't as high: success or failure in this life, not heaven or hell.  No longer commands, the content of these sermons, songs and best-selling books are helpful suggestions.  If you can't people to be better with sticks, use carrots."

I have never heard the modern leniency and narcissism described through the lens of works.  I have long grown weary of the flaccid atmosphere of our culture, but honestly, my response has mostly revolved around reverting to a more legalistic "holy life."  Either extreme isn't the Gospel, and Horton's encouragement is to allow the church to be all about the gospel.

Page 18

"...the search for the sacred in America is largely oriented to what happens inside of us, in our personal experience, rather than in what God has done for us in history.  Even baptism and the Supper are described as 'means of commitment' rather than 'means of grace' in a host of contemporary systematic theologies by conservative as well as progressive evangelicals."

Over the past few years, I have grown weary of the subjective (and therefore non-contradict-able) nature of a personal relationship with Jesus.  Horton will go on to explain the Gnostic beginnings of such an inner claim later in the book.  In my own experience, our individualistic culture loves this sort of a relationship with God because it removes the "strain" and work of accountability.  God has given us two main outside sources of accountability--His Word and His Body (church).  Both the Word (doctrine) and the leadership of the Body have lost authority and ability to discipline and lead the saints.  

Horton further states:

Page 19

"My concern is that we are getting dangerously close to the place in everyday American church life where the Bible is mined for relevant quotes but is largely irrelevant on its own terms; God is used as a personal resource rather than known, worshiped, and trusted; Jesus Christ is a coach with a good game plan for our victory rather than a Savior who has already achieved it for us; salvation is more a matter of having our best life now than being saved from God's judgment by God himself; and the Holy Spirit is an electrical outlet we can plug into for the power we need to be all that we can be."

He says it well.  It is becoming all about US and we only want HIM for what he might do for US.

To be continued...