[SDG]

Another excerpt from the James Littles article in the Herald:

Eight in ten Americans, including 68 percent of evangelicals, believe that more than one faith can be a path to salvation, which is most likely not what they were taught in Sunday school. One out of five respondents said he had switched religions as an adult. It is an age of great “depth of feeling” as people embark on their own personal “spiritual journey.” Popular New Age philosophies are influencing our culture’s leanings toward the spiritual. These quasi-religious ideas are replete with angels, astrological guidance, and pseudo-spirituality. This spiritual contagion for many has removed the apprehension of believing in modern day miracles. The receptivity of the age has birthed the emergence of a multiplicity of many hybrids and blends of Pentecostal/Charismatic churches. Collectively, these churches have done a thorough job of educating the Christian world about the work of the Holy Spirit. Churches that encourage spirited worship and the expectation of the miraculous are growing, while the staid churches are dying. But, in spite of this surge of growth, we are failing to teach people the fundamentals of the Christian faith. This lackluster emphasis on teaching and educating our constituents is pervasive and goes across denominational lines. A piece of this religious cultural shift is a diminished emphasis on Sunday school and Bible study. We have moved beyond the “age of reason” to the age of “feeling.” Many churches are putting much of their efforts into contemporary methods that major on fun, entertainment, socially interactive projects, and loads of froth and pizzazz. The “Christianity-lite” approach is appealing to the masses because it appeals to the sensual, omits duty and commitment, and promises answers toward personal fulfillment.

What happened to good old, consistent, informative teaching? I know education is not everything, but it is something! Education plays a significant role in enriching a person’s life and making himthem a better personople. Some think education is dangerous, but ignorance has caused far more problems for humanity than education. Getting a good education requires discipline, hard work, and can take a hit on the pocketbook. That may be the reason some are so critical of achieving it. Perhaps it is true—we can be educated beyond our intelligence! Some learning institutions have a disproportionate number of eggheads. The wrong kinds of education can be destructive. An overemphasis on education can be delusional. Nevertheless, remaining ignorant makes us vulnerable to all kinds of deception and will not enhance our witness or fortify our strength of resolve. The secular world tries to stereotype religious people as ignorant. We do not want to provide examples of their unfair analysis.

A few years ago a friend told me about his marvelous conversion experience. It had transformed his life! He said, “I know nothing about the Bible, but I have an experience!” I encouraged him to study and try to correct his vulnerability. He confidently assured me that was not necessary. His conversion was intense and life changing. He felt that was enough! I am sad to say, he is not serving God today! His lack of understanding left him vulnerable to failure, and it was ultimately his downfall. It is sad that so many depend upon experience alone to anchor their faith. We must have the Word of God salted away in our hearts like hard rock! We cannot live an overcoming life on experience alone. We must have reasons for our faith. We must be able to defend what we believe in ways that are persuasive and convincing to the unbeliever. We must be able to stand against the inevitable trials and temptations when the euphoria is gone.

Can we say "EMERGENT PARANOIA" has now set in?