Thursday, March 12, 2009

Galli on the Lasting Evangelical Survival

Mark Galli offers a perceptive article in light of Michael Spencer's much-discussed prediction on the collapse (by which he means shrinking, not death) of American evangelicalism.

Here's one paragraph in particular that I really appreciate:
What we know as evangelicalism is a temporary cultural expression of the Christian faith. It comes with idiosyncrasies, good and bad. It has produced the populist Religious Right activist Jim Dobson and the careful, moderate scholar Mark Noll. Out of its publishing houses come books like Left Behind and books like Knowing God. It has proven itself to be small-minded, judgmental, and legalistic, as well as generous, sacrificial, and heroic (I think especially of evangelical work with HIV/AIDS and sexual trafficking today). It has at times been totally out of touch with contemporary culture, and at other times on the cutting edge (for example, we have consistently been early adopters of new technology — radio, TV, the Internet).
Read the whole thing.