Evangelicalism and the Coming Kingdom

Warning: Long post to follow
My good friend Becky Tucker has recently added as a subtitle to her blog, "the misadventures and wandering thoughts of a recovering evangelical." To many, I fear this the phrase "recovering evangelical" may resound like the ranting of another twentysomething "emergent" bagging on institutional Christianity. In all honesty, I can't help but connect with it somehow. To many of us "evangelicals" who feel a little duped by the evangelical agenda, I think we might agree that Becky's terminology is quite honestly worded.

How does one even begin to undertake the whole of evangelicalism? How do we define what it means to be an evangelical? Well, I have to say that beyond it's agressive bent toward "evangelizing" the masses in order to make converts (rather than kingdom-centered lives focused on discipleship) I'm prone to stave off further definition. Recently, I asked a friend and co-member of our house church community if he believes Sinners & Saints can be rightfully lumped into an evangelical category. His affirmation that we are indeed evangelicals by nature doesn't leave me with the most comfortable feeling. I understand that we function much differently than your typical evangelical church, but in all honesty...i really don't want to be one. Not because I am opposed to evangelism, but because I think the Evangelical movement has done more harm than good. (Sorry if that stings but I am just being honest.) And I believe it is fair to say (and rather evident) that a number of us are quite bitter towards our evangelical backgrounds. So perhaps much of what we've been taught in our evangelical past can serve as a sort of definition for what evangelicalism truly encompasses.

As mentioned before, the main thrust of evangelicalism is to evangelize. The greatest thing (or so it would seem) to an evangelical is to ensure that as many people as possible make it into heaven. Not a horrible thing mind you, but at best this is shortsighted. As in John 14:6, Jesus states "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father except through me." This, evangelicals read, as Jesus being the sole deliverer into heaven of anyone who would believe in Him. And this I believe is the foundation for much of evangelicalism's theology.

While I'm pretty sure I believe that Christ is the only means of salvation, I'm also pretty sure that the above interpretation misses the whole of the Christian faith at some point. If we are to accept the premise of saving souls as primary to evangelicalism's theology, then a much clearer understanding of the many peculiarities evangelicals often embrace with their witnessing tools can be better understood. All of the blur surrounding chick tracts, Christian witness wear, pamphlets and street corner preachers suddenly comes into a clearer focus once we understand that they are only trying to secure all of us a ticket into heaven.

Unfortunately, it gets a bit more sticky at this point. I believe somewhere along the Evangelical timeline (circa 1800 and onward) the aganda of "saving souls" surpassed the greater mission of Kingdom living, or the natural proclaimation of the Kingdom of God alive within its members. Instead of fulfilling our "chief and highest purpose" to "glorify God and enjoy Him forever," as the Westminster Catechism proclaims, evangelicalism has sought to glorify man by attempting to save him by use of our own methods. A recent interview I had with Lee Camp perhaps can clarify my point:

"I think the language of the so-called "Great Commission" fits perfectly what I’m trying to describe: our task is not merely to sell people on some set of intellectual propositions about "faith" and "doctrine" and "religion," as if we have the best religious product on the market. Instead, we are called to make disciples, and in my experience, the market-savvy means we have adopted, in a late-capitalist society may "sell" a lot of people on "Christianity," but does not seem to have all that great a track record at making disciples. "Making
disciples," if we take Paul’s comments seriously in his correspondence with the Corinthians, is ultimately not something we can manufacture; instead, we are called to be the church, to be the body of Christ, ministering, serving, sharing; and as we plant and water seeds, God will or will not give the growth."

I think this is a beautiful description of what the Christian life should be. But somehow evangelicals think that what truly matters is your belief is foremost correct. If one professes belief in Christ, then this is all that really matters. Sure they often say your Christian lifestyle is important. But in the end, unless your having gay sex, aborting your children, or voting for a democrat, you're pretty much "in" so to speak.

How interesting it is that as long as an individual continually mentions God, and continually talks about how Jesus is working in their life, we seldom care about their participation in the Kingdom. For observations sake, look at how many evangelicals blindly backed George W. Bush for President simply because he cited Jesus as his hero (not referring to those who legitimately researched Bush and then backed him). These same evangelicals seem to care very little that many of his policies stand in stark contrast to principled living in the Kingdom of God.

Even more fascinating is the U2 phenomenon. As their early albums contained a more bold proclaimation of faith, which evangelicals ate up entirely, it seemed Bono and crew could do no wrong. Throw in the controversial Actung Baby, Zooropa and POP, and evangelicals are suddenly pissed off (I was once one of them) that this once great "Christian band" somehow lost their faith or "sold out," simply because their lyrics weren't as bold as they once were, or even because Bono decided to drop an f-bomb here and there during his regular discourse. Now however, since the release of "Walk On" and HTDAAB, evangelicals are back into glorification mode of Bono and the band, because a positive presentation of the Christian faith encompasses their lyrics. But let's face it, aside from Bono's involovement in the "One Campaign" (which is to be applauded, along with his other 3rd World intervention) truly we know very little of U2's personal expressions of faith as it pertains to Kingdom living.

And who can forget Gibson's "Passion of the Christ." A fantastic re-telling of the crucifixion, yet one that had little to with the greater story of redemption, and essentially nothing to do with discipleship. But evangelicals touted this film as the "greatest evangelistic tool of out time." I'm only left to ask what good evangelism is without discipleship?

Truly, the list is impressive, the endless the amount of pop-culture icons evangelicals will readily embrace simply because they mention, emulate or articulate an element or expression of Jesus (read:The Matrix, Ashley Smith and the Purpose-Driven Life, an athlete who points heavenward after he scores, etc.). I believe that because Evangelicals are so primarily focused upon "saving souls," these self-declared signposts of faith in our popular culture are something to them, that just might "plant a seed" in lost soul's heart. Better yet, these signposts might just influence a sinner so much that they will in turn "accept Christ into their heart" and win themselves a trip to heaven when they die. Yes, for evangelicals the ends often justfies the means, especially if that end is a one-way ticket into heaven.

I recall as a budding evangelical, it came to light that a popular Christian comedian named Mike Warnke had effectively lied about his background in the Satanic Church, along with his dramatic conversion to the Christian faith (which incidently made him a lot of money). The big rebuttal which ensued in the aftermath of this little scandal was, "But think of how many people came to Christ through his ministry?" So essentially, as long as people like President Bush, Bono, Mel Gibson, Evander Holyfield, Kirk Cameron and Stephen Baldwin keep talking about Jesus, evangelicals will embrace them. 'Cause you never know where they might "plant a seed." I don't know... It's just odd.

There is so much more that convolutes the whole of Evangelicalism, i fear I haven't the time to list the whole of its short-sightedness. Bear with me as I attempt to do so. In high school & college, among the many things I was taught by one person or another, church leader or friend, pastor or lay leader were the following: Catholics are going to hell; Jesus is coming back to rapture his church; The Bible is innerant and it teaches courtship not dating; women are the "weaker vessel"; the creation account is a fact and evolution is a shoddly concocted system of growth devised by a scientific community who hates God and refuses to accept His salvation; The United States was founded as a Christian nation and liberals who hate God have sunk this country so far from its godly heritage we may never recover from our lowly state of immorality; drinking beer in public might cause someone seeing you to think it is okay to drink, and they in turn might stumble and get drunk, and then it will be your fault; environmentalism at its core is really not too far off from satanism; In the end of all things God is going to destroy the earth, therefore polluting the earth just might bring Christ back that much sooner. (I'm not kidding about this last one.)

I don't blame the people who told me these things. Someone, somewhere along the way, must have taught them similarly, and they in turn we're only doing their best to pass the faith onward to me. But you can see how one might become a bit soured out a bit on this kind of Christian practice, because it is really a backwards practice of our faith. It essentially asks us to get our understanding of the Christian faith in order, that we might better demonstrate what the Christian faith is, that others might see this and want to have some. 'Cause, you know, we're all going to heaven, right? Don't you want a piece of this? Here's a tract explaing the four spiritual laws. Once you understand that you're a sinner, you will recognize your need for Jesus to rid you of your sins, and then you'll go to heaven like us!

Right. I swear, anyone reading this who is not a follower of Christ must think we Christians are jacked in the head.

As I'm learning, however, participation in the Kingdom doesn't require a right knowledge on the whole of Christian History or even the fullness of Christian Theology. One can begin bearing witness to the Kingdom simply by participating in it. And what I mean by participating in the kingdom is this:

     We believe God in the beginning created the universe and called it "good." We believe that somehow mankind messed up this good creation. Since the fall of man, however, God has been interceeding in, and working though mankind, in order to redeem the broken state of things, the greatest redemption being met in the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus (for this is a restoration of life!). We believe at the end of all things God will restore His good creation to its rightful state before it was fallen. If then, we believe that this world was created good and will be restored again from it's fallen state, how much more should we live our lives as faithful testimonies to this restorative life God has designed for us! We participate in His Kingdom then by living lives which declare the life in His Gospel. (See Luke 10 when Jesus sends out the 72 to proclaim the Kingdom of God telling them to heal the sick). These lives we lead encompass and evidence redemption, and declare the life that only God can deliver...these lives ARE our evangelism. A right learning of all else can be met along the way.

The Kingdom is alive among us, and I dream of the time when it will be met in its fullness. May His church have the grace enough to embrace this.

And as a fellow I witnessed just the other night, once sang...

"I want to run
I want to hide
I want to tear down the walls
That hold me inside
I want to reach out
And touch the flame
Where the streets have no name

I want to feel sunlight on my face
I see the dust cloud disappear
Without a trace
I want to take shelter from the poison rain
Where the streets have no name."
May the kingdom come to life. Amen.