Dry lands

Here is a Southern Seminary Student who has read Greg's Article and now sees the light. Viva la revolution.


Does anyone care anymore if people come to Christ? I meet more and more ministers who really practice post-modern gnosticism. That is they have figured God out and if you don't have that same knowledge you can't be in their club. Truth is you are treated like your call is in question but most likely your faith. As I spend time traveling and speaking on college campuses the "Christian" students are stuck in hot debates on theology with incredible passion rather than dialogue with unbeleiving students about the cross and ressurection. It can be difficult to find "christian" students who carry the bible anymore because the latest book by their favorite theologian has hit the shelf. As a college student I loved engaging my peers and professors with spirited discussions on theology. However, our white hot passion was to see unbeleiving students drawn to the Lord Jesus.

The same can be seen in the Southern Baptist Convention, where 25 years ago conservatives took over. The conservatives felt that the moderates had so screwed up the evangelistic efforts of the convention that total takeover was the only way to make things right. Now, the statistics show that after a quarter decade of conservative evangelistic zeal we have plateaued. Astoundingly, one of my favorite professors reached the most unscholarly conclusion that things would be much worse if the conservatives had not taken over. An argument from silence based upon screaming statistical evidence. However, now a new takeover is not the answer, now it is a local church problem according to the conservatives. I have a news flash for you, it was a local church problem then as well. I am a critic from within.
While I am conservative and appreciate some things that have occurred because of the resurgence, I do not know that I could say those things were worth a decreasing evangelistic zeal. Presidents, Senators, and Supreme Court Justices, could not have the impact that millions of lay evangelists could have on the present culture. It is disheartening to see the political push by the top evangelical leaders of today. I do not think we will win the culture war in the political arena. If we do it will look much like constantine, where there are titles and no faith, or prohibition, where there was law, and no spirit. The culture war will only be won as beleivers lead their children, neighbors, co-workers, and friends to the gracy and mercy of Jesus Christ.

So, the culture is in need of the gospel. Jesus is the only hope for each individual. So we should flood the culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am afraid however, these are dry lands.