Evangelicalism: The “How” But Not The “Why”

Parents who tell their children what to do but don’t explain why - are parents who breed rebellious children. A lot of evangelical churches have done the same.

Matt Chandler explained in a recent talk at the Resurgence conference that evangelicals decades ago, in response to the liberalism that was growing, started to retreat from culture and vigorously study systematic theology. Thus, truth began to outweigh grace by a hefty margin.

Now days, churches will preach exegetically through big books of the bible, drawing out hundreds of applications (the “how” of the Christian life) without ever unpacking the person and work of Jesus Christ (the “why” of the Christian life).

When parents give commands to their kids, the kids usually respond, “Why?” And then the parents usually respond back saying, “Because I said so.” This command and control method, which a lot of evangelical churches have adopted, breeds big heads and shriveled hearts. And as we have tried to re-engage the culture the past few decades, we have found ourselves in the midst of a very rebellious people, still angry at the church.

Only by unpacking the person and work of Jesus will we be able to regain the trust of those people who have been burned by the church. Focusing in on who Jesus was and what he did will inspire us to live for God’s glory and align us to his Kingdom purposes.

I am very convicted by Matt’s talk and am re-thinking how and what I’m teaching the students I work with. Am I preaching moralism? Or am I preaching Christ?