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In this episode, Terry and Cole discuss Tim Keller’s most recent article, “The Decline and Renewal American Church Part 1: The Decline of the Mainline.”
This podcast carries significant insights for the modern church based on Keller’s article. Keller addresses the question, “What is wrong with the modern American church?” He observes that the church will eventually become irrelevant in the church’s search for relevance within American culture.
Keller makes two main points in his article when it comes to the church’s search for relevance in the American culture:
Churches are making choices between two different ways of thinking: fundamentalism and modernism.
Churches are choosing between two agendas: secular or biblical which distinguishes how one views morality/ethics. When people give up the moral foundation of scripture, they are left with social positions and political interests that diverge from the mission of the church.
In this discussion, they identify ways in which some of the mainline denominations have adopted unbiblical ways of thinking and the decline that has ensued.
Some Takeaways:
Don’t be bullied into believing what everyone else believes if it’s not in Scripture. Know what you believe and why you believe it.
Don’t be seduced by worldly power. God works in ways that are adjacent to the world (1 Corinthians 1:18-31).
Don’t forget the mission. The church’s mission is not political! The church’s mission is to live out the Great Commission.
Brittany Proffitt lives in Dallas, TX, holds a BA in Religion, and is a student at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is passionate about Scripture and how God’s Word impacts individuals’ hearts and lives.