With falling numbers in the pews, especially in the aftermath of the 2020 Covid pandemic, theological liberals want a severely watered down Gospel so that the church can appear trendy to an increasingly secular and pluralist society.
Ironically, it was this same liberalism trend in the mid 20th century within the mainstream Presbyterian Church in Ireland (then the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland) which allowed a certain firebrand preacher - the Rev Ian Paisley - to launch his own denomination in 1951, the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster.
Ironically too, that same ‘Free P’ denomination in 2025 is facing its own internal debate between traditionalists and modernisers over the use Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) in some Free Presbyterian churches.
In past years, Christian evangelicals and fundamentalists have lost debate after debate within Christianity and society over acceptance of homosexuality, same-sex marriages, divorce, abortion, women’s rights, and gender identity.
Will Biblical evangelicals ever be able to return the serve against the woke wave in today’s society? In short, those Biblical evangelicals have four years to turn that tide, namely the length of Donald Trump’s second Presidency in the White House.
In his hard-hitting inauguration speech this month, he emphatically threw down the gauntlet to the woke community who push the agenda of gender ideology when he stated there were only two genders - male and female.
With so-called trans rights the woke debate of the day, evangelical Christians have in Donald Trump a key ally who pulls no punches when it comes to supporting Scriptural positions. So now is the time for the various evangelical and fundamentalist Christian denominations to follow the lead of President Trump.
If, after Trump completes his second term as President, the Christian Churches have not restored their once impressive influence in society, it could be generations, if ever, before they enjoy such a say in society again.
Put bluntly, evangelicals must be prepared - like Trump - to go head to head with the woke society, and that will mean having to endure the verbal flak - especially on social media - from those who like to see themselves as all-embracing trendy churchy folk.
Practically, places of worship must not allow themselves to deteriorate into becoming nothing more than social clubs where hosting the bowling or badminton clubs takes precedence over the preaching of the Gospel of Salvation.
There is a perception that many churches do not want to be seen to be rocking the boat for fear of either being picketed by opponents or slammed on social media.
Put equally bluntly, do many churches simply want the quiet life involving a back-patting Sunday morning service and a gentle mid-week Bible study and prayer meeting?
But if clerics start preaching about Hell, the lake of fire, the second coming of Jesus Christ and any form of eternal damnation, it is seen as creating too much friction within a community.
This situation has been made worse by a minority section from the new generation of post pandemic street preachers who believe in using loud volume public address systems and controversial sermons aimed mainly at specific groups in society.
The dilemma which churches could face is that, post pandemic, they want to be seen as being an integral part of their local communities, but are scared they will offend substantial sections of the communities they serve with hard-hitting Hell fire and brimstone preaching.
Likewise, given the cost of living crisis, many places of worship may be facing financial challenges to keep their churches and mission halls open in terms of heating and light costs and the payment of preachers.
Many fellowships and congregations have an ageing membership and many of those folk don’t have the cash to put plenty in the collection plates.
Youth organisations in places of worship are the lifeblood of a fellowship as those young people are the foundation stone of a future generation of church attenders.
But churches no longer enjoy the status in communities they held in the Seventies. There is much more to compete with Sunday worship in 2025, prompting the perception that churches are increasingly turning to more entertaining forms of Sunday worship to compete with the secular society.
The next four years of the Trump Term Two will force many churches to self reflect - will they become ‘keep you heads down under the parapet’ woke fellowships, or will they show the same courage as The Donald and speak out what is in the Bible no matter who gets offended? The four-year clock is now ticking, especially for evangelicals.
Follow Dr John Coulter on Twitter @JohnAHCoulter John is a Director for Belfast’s Christian radio station, Sunshine 1049 FM. |
John, what Christian values does a multiple sexual predator, routine liar, convicted felon and organiser of the 6th January violent anti democratic insurrection embody yo you?
ReplyDeleteJohn, did the Episcopalian Bishop who urged Trump to show mercy and compassion to LBTGQ+ and undocumented migrant communities accord with your Christian values?
ReplyDelete