Evangelicalism Then and Now: Crucicentrism
Looking out the main window of the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona, AZ
Out of all 4 of the skewed definitions, this is the one that is most firmly entrenched in Evangelicalism, I think. The idea that the atoning work of Christ is simple fire insurance is the greatest disservice to Christianity that we (in North America especially) have come up with. But what about it?
The atoning work of Christ has been thoroughly dialogued about throughout the centuries, by the greatest Christian thinkers in our history. By reading Genesis 3, we see that the fall affected our relationship with God, each other, and all of creation, which brought death into the game. Christ’s atonement is the focal point of Christian history, because it brought us reconciliation with God, each other, and all of creation. Death was beaten and the Kingdom of God was victorious in the Cross. The amazing story that envelops Christians into the story that leads their lives.
And then a bunch of over-zealous preachers came along, threw out 1900 years of thought about the atonement and decided that Christianity’s number one goal was to get people out of Hell. Out goes creation stewardship. Out goes loving your neighbour. Out goes an ever-deepening discipling by God. That’s right, Christianity is now going through the Roman’s Road and saying the Sinner’s Prayer. That’ll be just swell.
Does anyone else think this is absolutely freaking ridiculous?
Without even coming to a consensus with what Hell even is, to cheapen the atonement is to cheapen the whole of Christ’s incarnation. It angers me that thousands of people see only the shallowest puddle of what the Trinity is doing in each of our lives.
So what is the solution? We have to start to looking at new ways to see evangelism. Maybe goes as far as putting a moratorium on Hell for awhile. I don’t know. Maybe it’s as simple as gagging certain preachers long enough to reboot the congregations into thinking for themselves.
Thinking for themselves? That’s the next Then and Now.
WK
This entry was written by , posted on November 7, 2008 at 1:04 am, filed under Christianity, Church and tagged Atonement, Bebbington, Christ, Evangelicalism, Hell. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.