In a recent edition of First Things, Aaron Renn wrote about the divisiveness afflicting the evangelical world. While in times past, American society had a positive and (later) neutral view of Christianity, it now holds an overall negative view of the faith.
“Being known as a Christian is a social negative, particularly in the elite domains of society. Christian morality is expressly repudiated and seen as a threat to the public good and the new public moral order,” Renn surmises, “Subscribing to Christian moral views or violating the secular moral order brings negative consequences.”
According to Renn, this “negative world” has been the social reality since at least 2014, roughly speaking. Divisiveness arises as some evangelicals embrace strategies that only work effectively in a positive world or neutral world context, or as some evangelicals pursue contradictory postures and approaches to the new negative world context, with cultural engagers having the most to lose. Renn observed that culture engagement can morph into cultural synchronization while culture warring often finds Donald Trump’s rhetoric and policies attractive. In short, the reality of the negative world has torn typical evangelical alliances asunder, or it has at least strained the relationships self-professed evangelicals have had amongst themselves. Dysfunction in evangelical circles increases when folks refuse to acknowledge that we dwell in a negative world context.
While this analysis can seem heady, it really isn’t. We need only consider the phrase “we need a revival in this country.” Evangelicals will utter this phrase when discussing political issues. They will see a popular evil, a broken system, or an intransigent opposition to justice. Fixing that complex system is beyond their knowledge, or perhaps a bad policy is unlikely to be uprooted within their lifetime. They observe the seeming impossibility of correction due to lack of will and allies, and, in discouraged frustration, they proclaim the need for national revival. In many ways, evangelicals are saying, “If we had a revival, more people would agree with us and that would manifest in desirable changes in society and politics. I don’t want to be in the negative world. Revival would make that go away.”
Maybe that analysis presumes too much. Confessing the Christian faith doesn’t offer explicit guidance on medical care reform, diplomatic stances with other regimes, tax rates, and more. Incompetence at the DMV won’t disappear because everyone becomes an ardent Christian.
Nevertheless, there remains an intuition that revival addresses key problems. But one does detect a lost sense of agency when evangelicals wish for revival. Things have not been restored, retained, or established as they should, and it seems unlikely that they will unless the American people (and their elites) have a change of heart. Now, revival is a work of God, not of man. And so Christians would do well to repent of their own sins and supplicate the Divine for the salvation of the lost, for no other reason than the Great Commission.
However, in the meantime, the faithful must navigate the negative world as it is. That will require hard work and careful thinking that we in our slothfulness wish to avoid.
Sadly, evangelicals don’t want to make unfamiliar political alliances, invest in alternative schooling models, or pursue a different vocational script than that offered by the wider culture. Yet flexibility in cooperation, thoroughly Christian education (particularly of the classical variety), and skepticism with regard to corporate jobs and established narratives regarding gainful employment is exactly what is needed at this juncture. Some desperately fear a loss of social status and refuse a necessary renunciation of the world. Others find it difficult to think practically, such as how to equip their young people to excel in durable trades, entrepreneurship, and productive households (including the acquisition of a suitable spouse). Yet others maintain biases that hinder much-needed alliances or that attempt placating parties (on both the right and the left) that will simply never countenance biblical Christianity, nor allow its values to hold any sway in society.
Obviously, surprises abound in history; Christians cannot embrace a decline narrative in light of this truth. Revivals do bring unexpected shifts. However, evangelicals would do well to understand the current moment and act accordingly with a cool-headed sobriety and determination. At present, denial of the negative world creates unnecessary consternation, conflict, and confusion. If evangelicals are going to minister wisely and navigate our cultural context, they need to know the times (1 Chronicles 12:32).
Evangelicals might not like the times, but they must assent to reality if they are to conduct themselves with prudence.
Barton Gingerich graduated in 2011 from Patrick Henry College with a B.A. in History. He serves as a priest at St. Jude’s Anglican Church in Richmond, Virginia, and previously served on the staff of the Institute on Religion & Democracy.
Comment by Dan W on January 25, 2022 at 9:18 am
I’m one of those evangelical Methodists that say we need a revival. Revival is good for active church members as well as lapsed members. It use to be a good way to reach the unchurched. I miss the old fashioned camp meetings and the “Igniting Faith” retreats. Even before the global pandemic, a lot of folks were too busy for a weekend of revival, and it’s a shame.
Comment by Rick Plasterer on January 25, 2022 at 9:09 pm
Excellent article! Especially important is that too many Christians are in denial, and we need to be clear-headed about the non-negotiables of our faith.
Rick
Comment by Gary Bebop on January 25, 2022 at 11:37 pm
We need this conversation even if there’s no solution except what God wills. Since I’ve been hanging round these evangelical precincts for a long time, I’ll venture the opinion that evangelicals have lost faith in their historical trajectory. They are dumbfounded that this should be so. I think this phenomenon of dismay should be pondered in more depth. “We” (because I include myself of this tribe) must accept that we had our heyday, our platform revivals, our campus awakenings, our church growth moments, our new music. Our attractional stylings have gone the way of all flesh. The attempt to birth a new Methodist denomination out of the wasted years of United Methodism is contrapuntal, nostalgic, and a bit of Jody Ray derring-do.
Comment by Chip on January 26, 2022 at 9:56 pm
“Divisiveness arises as some evangelicals embrace strategies that only work effectively in a positive world or neutral world context, or as some evangelicals pursue contradictory postures and approaches to the new negative world context.”
True, this can occur, but some things that work in a positive world can work in a negative world. Lots of people in the U. S. still just go about their daily lives and are just trying to make it through life. They are not particularly negative toward Christianity, and they are not necessarily ideological in either direction, left or right. (Some might have one or two pet issues they are ideological about, but they are not ideological in general.) Anecdotally, this is what I see with most people in the workplace. This leads me to conclude by extrapolation (since I live in a metro area that should lean ideologically toward the left) that a large percentage of Americans are not subscribing (or at least not fully) to the current worldviews in vogue. They are still living to a large degree as Americans of a few decades ago were doing, when America was more neutral toward Christianity.
We need to recognize this substantial subset of Americans. We should not assume that people are necessarily negative toward Christianity. Nor should we fail to hold to the virtue of hope for all people. This means we can converse with people genially, not caring about what they might negatively think of us.
Comment by Jeff on January 27, 2022 at 12:39 pm
Chip,
Good points, well stated. Thank you.
Blessings
Jeff
Comment by Julie on January 29, 2022 at 1:17 pm
Whenever we lump all people of a kind (Evangelicals, in this case), we ascribe certain characteristics to them as a whole. This is a mistake because within the group, there are so many variances in thought, word, and deed.
If we are Christians, we must believe that revival is needed everywhere and always. Revival brings to life that which was dead, or at the very least, infuses new life into that which was dying. This world can never have too much love, too many servant hearts, or too much devotion to almighty God. One result of revival is that people who experience it listen to God more closely, want to do His will, and allow His Holy Spirit to help change them
There are many evangelicals who work HARD every day to change social policies, fight injustice, work to alleviate hunger, and fight for equality. To say that evangelicals sit around praying for revival and do little else is just inaccurate. Revival is needed among Evangelicals and among every Christian group. Everywhere and always.
Comment by Loren J Golden on January 31, 2022 at 8:15 pm
In an event recorded in all four Gospel accounts except Luke, the twelve Disciples were together in a boat, crossing the Sea of Galilee, when the waters became rough, and the winds began blowing against them. To top it all off, it was sometime between three and six in the morning, meaning that it was really, really dark—except, of course, when the winds produced lightning, which did little to calm the Disciples’ frayed nerves.
Then they saw Him—Jesus of Nazareth, their Master (likely illumined by the lightning flashes). Of all things, He was walking on the water. Already at wit’s end, they thought He was a ghost (who else would be walking on the water?). They were terrified. And when it seemed that He intended to walk right on past them, they cried out to Him. Of course, He answered, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
At this point, Simon Peter, the lovable, bumbling, self-appointed spokesman of the Master’s Dozen, called out, “Lord, if it’s you—if it’s really you—then tell me to come to you on the water.” And so He did. Then Peter did what was possibly the bravest thing he ever did (and, from a purely natural point of view, the most foolhardy), he got out of the boat—and walked on the water toward his Master.
But when Peter saw the wind, he began to sink into the stormy sea. Of course, to have done that, he had to have taken his eyes off of Jesus. At least he had the presence of mind to call out, “Lord, save me!” Naturally, the Lord did what it has always been in His nature to do: He reached down and pulled him out of the water, chiding him even as He was saving him, saying, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
And then you have the other eleven Disciples, who didn’t even have enough faith to get out of the boat themselves. They, too, saw the wind and the waves, and, forgetting just who it was that calmed them just a few chapters earlier, thought them too daunting to dare getting out of the boat, like Peter did.
But aren’t we just like that? We see, hear, smell, taste, and feel the wind and the storm-tossed sea in the negative world around us, and we huddle in our churches, like the Disciples in their boat on that dark and stormy night. We have taken our eyes off our Master.
The Apostle Paul wrote to His young protégé, Timothy, saying, “I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (II Tim. 1.6-7) If Timothy needed to hear this word of encouragement, how much more must we! We are not called to be mice, cowering in our little holes, while the cats are prowling around outside, poking their noses in, hoping for a quick morsel. No! We are called to be as brave as lions! With the psalmist, we are called to confidently proclaim, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Ps. 118.6, Heb. 13.6)
We do need a revival, beginning in the Church, in the midst of this dark, negative world. We ought not be paying so much attention to all these voices of hate that surround us, claiming that we Christians are the root of all evil. Rather, we ought to be out there, proving them wrong, not boastfully or proudly, but humbly and quietly, by (peaceable) word and by (charitable) deed. And by always, always, ALWAYS keeping our eyes fixed upon our Master.
“Even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered (notice, he did not say if you are slandered), those who regard your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” (I Pet. 3.14-16)
And remember, if Peter’s words seem hard for us to bear, we have it easier today than he did 2000 years ago. After all, no one today (though tomorrow might be a different matter) is seeking, on the account of our testimony, to crucify us upside-down.