Speaking of D.A. Carson, he has identified five points on trends in the church and Reformed Pilgrim brings them to us.
1. It is important to observe contradictory trends.
For example, “He said we have a lot more good commentaries available to us than we did fifty years ago. Yet, mainline churches have fewer conversions than ever before.”
2. Current evangelical fragments are moving into a new phase — into polarized “clumps.”
3. The most dangerous trends in any age are the trends that most people do not see.
4. There is a trend in our churches to be consumed by social concern.
5. There is a trend in our churches to emphasize discipleship over the gospel.
The final two trends were identified by Rick Warren 13 years ago in his book, The Purpose Driven Church.
For those who haven’t read the book, the main thesis Warren promulgates is his idea that Scripture outlines five purposes for the church, Worship, Discipleship, Fellowship, Evangelism, and Ministry. He then notes that almost all churches reflect one purpose much stronger than others. So, it’s not a new trend that some churches focus exclusively on discipleship or social concern. What might be new is that analysts are beginning to view it as alarming rather than merely unhealthy. Warren recognized the unfruitfulness that results from such imbalance and prescribed a pro-active approach to balancing the five purposes.
Unfortunately, too often I only see two responses to Warren’s prescription. Rather than seeking true balance, many opt instead to focus on implementing the program Warren used to bring balance to his church, which may work in maintaining balance in an already balanced congregation, but too often only brings conflict and divisiveness to existing congregations.
The other extreme is represented by those who have been unbalanced so long, they see it as normal and desirable. They view any attempt to bring their church into balance as an attack from Satan to destroy their long held tradition of discipleship, fellowship, or whatever. Rather than enjoying the meat in Warren’s teaching and spitting out the bones, they find a few bones and toss out the whole carcass. Just google his name and you’ll find plenty of ammo aimed his way.
Of course, Scripture is loaded with timeless truths. The trends we see today are the same trends that Luther battled and Paul agonized over and for which the churches of Revelation were chastised. As Solomon observed, there is nothing new under the sun.
Well said, sir, and I’ve seen some of that attack on Warren. It’s ugly.
Point 3 is especially interesting and insightful.