Dissecting “Churchianity”

In Her Big, Fat Faith, I asked why Constandina’s spirit of martyrdom, “once universal in the Church, has become as rare as corporate worship?”

Thank God, Scott in Colorado didn’t take that question rhetorically, as I’d intended. Rather, he labelled it 

a softball; may I take a swing?

Jesus talks about those who “build on sand” (Matthew 7).  Here are three sandy foundations the “evangelical” church has been building upon the past 50 years (and why the martyr spirit has become as rare as corporate worship):

1. The Seeker Sensitive movement.  In this article I’ve linked, Paul Carter lists seven reasons why the Seeker movement has failed. 

In short, there was no “theological growth”, only “audience” growth.  Thus, when the “felt need” shifts to “safety”, say good-bye to Christ!  A church built on “felt needs” will always be pandering to those needs.  

That’s why churches are going through hoops to “comply” with CDC standards – to make their target audience feel “safe.”  Nothing here about “fear Him who has the power to throw both soul and body in hell.”

No, nor a concentration on what God expects from us rather than what we demand from Him.

2. The feminization of the church.  When the visual “the husband is head of the wife as Christ is head of the church” is replaced by “the wife can be head also”, then a valuable illustration is lost.  

Thus, the “State” can easily be head of the church, just as wife and husband are interchangeable.

I live 20 minutes from an “evangelical” seminary who has made this kind of feminism a cornerstone of their whole ministry.

3. Empire idolatry – Romans 13.  Now here’s where it gets tricky.  I know of many who are not swayed by either the Seeker Sensitive movement nor by the feminization of the church.  Why are these [clergy] capitulating?

After reading that fine article by Paul Carter above, I wondered, Is he capitulating today?  Here is the title of a recent article of his:  Five Ways to Look Like a Christian During Covid19. …

[K]ey quotes:

During this time of crisis and difficulty it would be helpful if Christians were known as the best of all citizens to lead. Our government and health officials are working long hours and shouldering incredible burdens

I may retch.

 and it would behoove us as believers to develop a reputation for gratitude and eager obedience. 

Yep: I am retching.

He goes on: Hostility toward the government is not a fruit of the Spirit, in fact a decent argument could be made that the more mature the believer, the more congenial he or she will be toward civil authority.

OK, in that case, call me a baby—neonatal, in fact.

My fellow infant, Scott in Colorado, resumes:

So why are people like Paul snookered?  It all goes back to an immature 

Take that, Paul.

understanding of Romans 13 (and these people will never reference Acts 5:29).

With this unhinged loyalty to the government, these same pastors are the ones who “support our troops” while our troops overseas maintain the Empire and wreck havoc upon innocent lives.

They are committed to the Empire, because their government tells them to be so.  No critical thinking.  No independent investigation of the facts.  Just “obey” the higher authority.

This is idolatry of the Empire, the military, and the latest puppet in office.

So, to answer your question: Why has the martyr spirit vacated the church?  The church has been built upon sandy foundations: “Felt needs”, feminization, Empire.

I’m glad you asked!

So am I. The failures of the American Church to subdue evil in this country are enormous and punitive: we suffer under a dictatorship in which most of our liberties have disappeared while flagrant Marxism flourishes; hundreds of millions of innocent children die at the hands of their own mothers and the medical cartel each year; Leviathan steals most of our wealth; airports host official sexual assailants assaulting millions of passengers daily; and Hollywood spews its filth to standing O’s. 

It behooves us to analyze and understand what derailed Christianity in a country our spiritual forefathers founded on Biblical precepts.

The Best of Becky Akers