A recently leaked letter from Russell Moore describes profound institutional rot, overt racism, and the toleration of sexual abuse inside the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). (His claims were later substantiated in leaked recordings.) The public square has been consumed with discussing this controversy, especially as the SBC annual meeting is underway.
But the problems Moore describes are not limited to one denomination. Many so-called “moderate” evangelical leaders—those who hold to historic orthodoxy and traditional sexual ethics but speak out on behalf of women and racial minorities—have similar stories to tell. It feels increasingly hard to find institutions in America that aren’t knee-jerk conservative or progressive.
The American Church Is a Mess. But I’m Still Hopeful.
Dr. Jim Denison Wrote this in response to the above post:
“My hope for the church”
Tish Harrison Warren is an Anglican priest and a wonderful writer and thinker. Her latest article in Christianity Today headlines, “The American Church Is a Mess. But I’m Still Hopeful.”
She surveys the bad news of our day: declining membership, young adults who are dropping out of church, and so on. But then she states, “Increasingly, my hope for the church is found in words that I recite each Sunday in the Nicene Creed: We believe in the Holy Spirit.”
Warren notes that “ground zero for the Spirit’s work is often in the very places where our resources fall short, where problems seem intractable and unsolvable.” She adds, “I believe that God is far more invested in purifying and strengthening his church than I am. I therefore live in the full knowledge that I cannot predict the future—I cannot even take a guess.”
We have a role to play: “Amid broken institutions, we attempt to become truth tellers and work for reform in the imperfect and incomplete ways we can.” But all the while, we can be confident that “the Holy Spirit is redeeming the church in ways we deeply need and cannot yet imagine.”
Here’s the bottom line: Our ultimate trust is not in the Supreme Court, the government, or our capacities to bring about the changes our broken culture needs so deeply. Our ultimate trust is in the Holy Spirit: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).
Read Dr. Jim Denison’s complete response at Denison Forum
Ponder this assessment from Timothy Dalrymple, President and CEO of Christianity Today:
“One group within American evangelicalism believes our religious liberties have never been more firmly established; another that they have never been at greater risk. One group believes racism is still systemic in American society; another that the systemic racism’ push is a progressive program to redistribute wealth and power to angry radicals. One is more concerned with the insurrection at the Capitol; another with the riots that followed the killing of George Floyd. One believes the Trump presidency was generationally damaging to Christian witness; another that it was enormously beneficial. One believes the former president attempted a coup; another that the Democrats stole the election. One believes masks and vaccines are marks of Christian love; another that the rejection of the same is a mark of Christian courage.”
Evangelical Division: Why Have We Christians Suddenly Become So Divided?
IRS Threatens the Tax-Exempt Status of American Churches!
The unraveling of the America we knew continues at a high rate of speed.
I just got off the phone with Pastor Paul Holt who has been warning for over 10 years that this would happen! Does this mean that every ministry will have their 501-C3 taken away?
So very thankful for CBN NEWS reporting on this story:
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) denied tax-exempt status to a Texas Christian non-profit last month, arguing it was not eligible for 501(c)(3) status in part because “Bible teachings are typically affiliated with the Republican party and candidates.”
Christians Engaged, an organization dedicated to educate and empower Christians to pray for the nation and elected officials, vote, and be civically engaged, was denied the tax exemption in a letter from IRS Exempt Organizations Director Stephen A. Martin.
First Liberty Institute, a religious rights law firm, is representing Christians Engaged and has appealed the IRS’s decision.
