Some people have called the modern, post-World War II American evangelical movement a new “Great Awakening.” But if that is so, why does the church seem more asleep than awake? The First Great Awakening, called sinners to repentance and sound doctrine by the expository preaching of scripture. Unfortunately, today we seem to be following more in the path of the “Second Great Awakening,” which emphasized big rallies and emotional fervor. Today’s preachers want to make your life better now, rather than call dead men to life. In this presentation, based on his book “A Lover’s Quarrel With The Evangelical Church,” Warren Smith diagnoses the current mess we’re in, explains how we got here, and provides some direction for the road home.
Join us for the final lecture in our Charlotte Thursdays series on May 1 beginning at 7pm.
Since World War II, there has been a flowering of evangelical activity and parachurch organizations. But something troubling has happened in spite of this growth - and the political and financial power it has created. Overall church attendance is not growing. America’s high divorce rate is just one of many melancholy cultural indicators. Is it possible that the “evangelical movement” has not been an antidote for this decline, but has actually caused this decline in the health and vigor of the true body of Christ? Using solid research and original interviews with some of America’s leading Christian thinkers, journalist and editor Warren Smith examines the condition of the evangelical movement, offering an assessment of what’s gone wrong as it has grown in power and size - and what must be done if it is to be “salt and light” in a culture in need of redemption.