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Originally Posted by mizpeh
If these churches are stacked with teaching series and the leaders are highly educated then I don't believe this article is addressing them. But it is definitely trying to encourage and sustain an Apostolic identity in the next generation with a drive at education and experience not experience alone.
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I agree... and I dont see anything wrong with that at all.
And when I look at the article as a whole, I dont where it's addressing "relevant" churches in particular. I think permissiveness, slackness, and lack of sound teaching in general are worthy topics to be addressed. But we shouldnt assume they're speaking of "relevant" churches in particular every time those issues are addressed.
What they're saying, especially this part (below) could apply to a lot of Pentecostal/Charismatic churches & movements we've seen:
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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.
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