The Influence of Modern Trends on the Church (Part 2)

The Trendy Church 

Over the past several decades there has developed a growing mentality that the church is an outmoded organism.  We have lost touch with the “millennial” generation.  It is, therefore, imperative (they say) that we update the church.  We must make it more trendy.

This idea is rooted in a cultural phenomenon that may be figuratively described as “societal osmosis.”  Environmental influences silently and slowly move from one realm to another.  The trends of secular society to a significant degree have seeped into the religious fabric of our culture.

There is no better example of this than the current endorsement of homosexual unions in some of the historic Protestant sects.  That which once was an abomination is fashionable now.

Further, the contaminated elements of “Christendom” in differing proportions, ultimately trickle into the church.  Not a few citizens of Christ’s kingdom are like the Israel of Samuel’s day.  The lust to be like the nations [churches] round about (1 Sam. 8:5).

Consider briefly some of the major changes that have been observable in the church over the past several decades.

A New Call for Denominational Blending

Though a few radical “voices of concern” (e.g., Carl Ketcherside and Leroy Garrett) were being raised a third of a century ago, scarcely anyone would have dreamed that high-powered people in some of our major schools would be calling now for an ecumenical blending with denominationalists in the swaddling days of the new millennium.

And yet, voices as “sectarian” as anything imaginable are now frequent and unrestrained within our midst.  No longer is J.D. Tant’s quip “Brethren, we are drifting,” apropos.  We are rushing with a full head of steam towards a “Casey Jones” disaster.

Subjective Faith

We are progressively departing from a dependence upon the New Testament as the authoritative source of instruction in religion and ethics towards a subjective-style, get-in-touch-with-your-feelings philosophy.

Many congregations no longer have substantial Bible classes where the Word of God is explored deeply and taught powerfully, with solid application made to Christian living.  Rather, we have “sharing” sessions wherein we “testify” of exciting events we’ve experienced in the work-place.

Even some of our Bible class literature (not a little of which has been transported from denominational publishing concerns) is filled with people-centered scenarios.  “What would you do if you were in Johnny’s place?” – with only a thin biblical veneer.

At the same time, a “new hermeneutic” has evolved by which the authority of apostolic example is questioned, the concept of necessary inference is ridiculed, the matter of the silence of the Scriptures deemed to be a pure fabrication.

Incredibly, the notion is advocated that the issue of authority is, in the final analysis, irrelevant anyway!

Feminism in the Church

The influence of society’s feminists is being felt in the church.  As denominational groups ordain female “priests” and “clergy,” congregations of the Lord’s people from Connecticut to California are opting for an expanded role for women.

Church after church is announcing that Christian ladies will be progressively employed in leadership roles.  The New Testament subordination of women is viewed as a cultural oddity of the first century – with little, if any, application for today.

Again, some of our institutions of higher education are leading the way in this digression.

Erosion of Marriage

When Hollywood blazed the trail in serial “marriage,” many wondered if small-town America could be far behind.  It wasn’t.  Now, the same pattern is seen running rampant in the church.

“Single again” groups are in vogue.  Experts in “marriage enrichment” skills are in great demand, while the seminar directors generally are careful to throw a wide loop that avoids confrontation with the biblical law of divorce and remarriage.

Every sort of quirky notion imaginable, the design of which is to “sanctify” adulterous liaisons, has surfaced in recent years.  While we must have sincere compassion for those who are victims of divorce, the compromise of biblical truth is not a solution for these heartaches.

Wayne Jackson

Originally from The Christian Courier