Re-Reformation, Re-Downgrade, or Both

Throughout the Christian blogosphere, I see many posts that are addressing two specific ‘trends’ that warrant many questions. The two specific trends are :

A Re-Reformation

A Re-Downgrade Controversy

As I read many of these articles, I am really starting to wonder which trend is the most accurate description of what we are seeing in the church of today. Is it the re- reformation of people who want a balance of the Word and the Spirit and are sick of mamby-pamby, purpose-driven, seeker-sensitive, pragmatic, willow creek exercises in futility? Or are we really seeing the re-Downgrade Controversy that is paralleling the one Charles Haddon Spurgeon addressed around 1887?

I understand as I type this that many within the emergent movements actually refer to themselves as the re-reformation but from what I have read online, many are actually part of the re-downgrade with a postmodern gospel that is so blurry that no defined core bible-based doctrine can be drawn from it.

I want to believe that we are actually seeing both a re-reformation and a re-downgrade in process at the same time.

I see people who are dedicated to debunking the seeker-sensitive movement while at the same time see people justify Goldfish Eating for Jesus. I see people who are trying to re-teach the core truths of the Bible highlighted by the teachings of the reformation while at the same time other churches offer Hula Praise services. I see people who are trying to restore the lost art of true and genuine worship while others listen to pastors turned politicians, prophets turned psychologists, psalmists turned pacifists, and evangelists turned entertainers. I see elders trying their best to run the church the Bible way while the Church C.E.O. swallows up the latest Chrch Growth manuals and apply ’spiritualized’ corporate methods of running a business.

I know that this appears to be confusing. In fact, this confused me until I sat down and prayed and analyzed over this because even I could not tell what we were seeing. We are seeing both at the same time. In fact, look at all of Pauls letters to the churches and we clearly see that the formation was taking place at the same time as the downgrade was happening.

We desperately need the re-reformation. We need the re-reformation that refuses to be ‘marketed’ instead opting for obedience. We need the re-reformation that refuses to demograph instead opting for the Great Commission that includes everyone who wants to only accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We need the re-reformation that refuses to grow the church by the Christian C.E.O. method and instead allows God to grow the body when we follow Him. We need the re-reformation that refuses surpy songs with poor theology based more on personal esoteric experiences and instead worship with songs that reinforce the core doctrines and scripture of the Bible-based realities. We need the re-reformation that refuses to accept people and doctrines that add to or detract from the Gospel and instead opting for accepting what only the Bible says. We need the re-reformation that runs the Tetzel Televangelists out of the church and instead opting for the Martin Luthers who risked all for the sake of telling the truth. We need the re-reformation for our children and future heritage that will cut out Gospel Games that last two hours and a sermonette that lasts five minutes with the kid remembering the fun at the game more than the core value supposedly being taught instead opting for teaching that will instill foundational core values in our children when they are young instead of attempting to cram it all in at the age of adolescence to where they can resist temptation without even questioning.

How does the church go about doing this? By simply being the church the Bible teaches the church to be instead of being pragmatic and fearing the competition therefore reacting to the competition.

Thanks to Ken Silva at Apprising Ministries for his article The Falling Away of The Evangelical Church that helped me bring forth these thoughts.