Comments on: “The Christian Spring” or “Brink of Extinction”

By: David Murray

David Murray — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 18:37:57 +0000

Good points and challenging questions, Zachary.

By: David Murray

David Murray — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 18:37:31 +0000

I take your point, Kent. I was thinking more of the general spiritual culture with that comment more than the church scene. Specifically I was thinking of the trends in education, judicial decisions, legislation and in particular in the areas of gay marriage, abortion, religious freedom, hate crimes, etc.

I do rejoice with you in the greater number of healthy churches in the US.

By: Zachary McKenzie

Zachary McKenzie — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 20:13:55 +0000

I must first admit that I am from the U.S. and we (the U.S.) are as you said 5-10 years behind. With that said, I am hearing a different voice coming from the ecclesia, especially from the millennials. Yes the latest PEW study reveals that 30% of the millennials are the so called “nones” but what I find interesting is that many of them are still very spiritual. They don’t associate with the church because of its “inward” focus thus hindering the true outpouring of God’s love. Maybe David Bosch was right in his missional model. Do we see the decline when in fact there is a new vision (or old) of the church? Have we lost sight of what it means to be the ecclesia? Have we been deceived to measure the churches success by the number of members? Maybe my outlook is skewed. Maybe as we enter post-modernity and post-Christendom in the U.S. we will see the impeding “winter.” Then again, maybe we have been staring at the shadow on the wall for too long and can’t recognize what the church actually is and how far it has fallen away from its mission.

By: Kent Butterfield

Kent Butterfield — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 16:42:27 +0000

David my good brother, I agree with your exhortation for us to get to praying and looking exclusively towards God for revival. The estimation of our churches being only 5-10 years away from England’s churches I disagree. It was the former Arch Bishop of Canterbury who was assessing his broken down denomination that has been on a decline for hundreds of years. There is not enough evangelical churches in England however. We in America have many weak churches but many strong ones that are making numerous inroads into our culture. New liberal seminaries are not forming but reformed seminaries are very slowly on the rise (as evident by your own). More and more good books are written or republished in America to disseminate God’s truth. It is not enough for certain so we must pray and labor more, relying only on the power of the Word of God and the moving of the Holy Spirit. America is unique in that the Church has many weaknesses and yet many strengths. Would you not say the Church in England has many weaknesses and very LITTLE strength? Regardless, we agree we must humbly beseech God’s grace upon our land and turns us away from the path of destruction to the path of righteousness.

By: Ron Gilbert

Ron Gilbert — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 15:03:44 +0000

And so it goes.
China and other present or past Communist outposts have become lands of Christian opportunity: young people from China are seeking Christ at home and abroad, with the blessing of parents who felt the spiritual void first.
If Christ tarries, the cycles will continue until the last of His purchased people is gathered in.

By: “The Christian Spring” or “Brink of Extinction”

“The Christian Spring” or “Brink of Extinction” — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 05:04:13 +0000

[…] is Professor of Old Testament & Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. This article first appeared on his blog, Head Heart hand, and is used with […]

By: Chris Schroeder

Chris Schroeder — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 12:14:00 +0000

Sunny but cold here in the North East of the UK. Winter coats but rays of light.
One barometer of the UK climate might be attendance at this (timely) Jonathan Edwards for the Church conference
http://www.edwardsconference.org

Just ordered your book Jesus On Every Page – this will also be our next church book at Gateshead Pres.
Looking forward to reading it, especially your treatment of JE. Thanks for putting this together.