Evangelical Protesant trends

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It’s been over three years since I converted to Catholicism from evangelical Protestantism. I am still very humbled and happy that the Lord helped me and my husband find our way to the Catholic Church.

We continue to read several evangelical denominational magazines, but we haven’t actually attended an evangelical church in those three years.

I can’t help but be curious. What’s happening in the evangelical world?

When we left, all kinds of things were happening–getting rid of communion and baptism, “seeker services,” trashing organ music and hymns, more theatrical worship services (with professionals running the lights and managing the stage), preaching by video, etc.

From what we have read, many evangelicals are going one of two ways. Either they are totally trashing ALL man-made tradition and holding church services in bars and shopping malls OR they are returning to ancient traditions such as lectio divina and candle-lit contemplative worship.

Contemporary music (rock) still seems to be the predominant music force in evangelical churches.

Rick Warren is trying to force the evangelical church to step out of their buildings and into the world. So is Franklin Graham. Beth Moore is preaching Bible study to thousands of women at her rallies. And good ol’ John R.W. Stott has supposedly retired, but I don’t believe it!

The evangelical church is reeling from the exposure of several leaders who were caught in sexual sins. Evangelicals are trying to figure out how to deal with this sin in their leaderships.

Evangelicals are also trying to deal with politics, but the trend seems to be to get away from the PACS like Moral Majority and go with “personal holiness” at the local level as the best way to restore morality in our nation.

These are just a few things that we have caught a whiff of. What are we missing?
 
Hi,

LOL I am so sheltered I dont pay too much attention to the rest of the evangelical world:o

The churches in my area still sing hymns. We also have a praise band. We still have communion, baptisms and baby dedications. HMMM I dont think we are realing over sins anymore then any other denom including the CC.🤷

We dont have any of those big mega churches in our area. Too bad though I would love a coffee bar:p :coffeeread: A christian book store would be nice so I wouldnt have to drive down the highway.:o

I LOVE BETH MOORE!! We offer one of her bible studies.

We are still sending out missionaries all over the world.

Im not sure what else. I heard something about the evangelical world seeing a surge of new believers. I dont know if that is true. I know our church is growing.😃
People seem to like our church because we do not run crazy through the isles but we are not liturgical. I think we are right smack in the middle actually with an emphasis on evangelizing to the community.
This is my report from my small corner of the world;) 😃
 
Cat said:
It’s been over three years since I converted to Catholicism from evangelical Protestantism. I am still very humbled and happy that the Lord helped me and my husband find our way to the Catholic Church.

We continue to read several evangelical denominational magazines, but we haven’t actually attended an evangelical church in those three years.

I can’t help but be curious. What’s happening in the evangelical world?

When we left, all kinds of things were happening–getting rid of communion and baptism, “seeker services,” trashing organ music and hymns, more theatrical worship services (with professionals running the lights and managing the stage), preaching by video, etc.

From what we have read, many evangelicals are going one of two ways. Either they are totally trashing ALL man-made tradition and holding church services in bars and shopping malls OR they are returning to ancient traditions such as lectio divina and candle-lit contemplative worship.
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Yes, and sometimes they are doing a bit of both!

I think your summary is basically correct. The praise-band-seeker-sensitive stuff has rapidly become the status quo. My students assume it as normal, and many of them couldn’t live without it. At the same time, several of the Bible and Religion and/or Ministry and Missions majors to whom I’m currently teaching systematic theology seem very dissatisfied with this status quo. They are asking why their churches simply disregard tradition. And they speak casually of giving things up for Lent as if it’s a normal practice (this may be due to the influence of two of the ministry professors in particular, one of whom goes to a former Charismatic Episcopal church and the other is very interested in “emergent worship”).

Edwin
 
Denominations are on the way out. Too bad, because they have exerted an enormously positive influence in our culture over the past 200 years. We are seeing more and more independent nondenominational churches spring up. It seems that people are seeking fellowship more than sound doctrine and they are not attracted to denominational churches. Many Baptist churches are dropping “Baptist” from their name and they seem to be thriving because of it.

Perhaps the most significant, and dangerous, new phenomenon is the “Emerging Church” movement. You can read about it here:
christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/february/11.35.html
 
All these “trends” are ultimately leading to less Christianity in the U.S. Don’t think that makes sense? If the Mass, or concert/motivation speaking session, does temporarily drive numbers - they are temporary. Much like a business will change its marketing, or products, all these “trends” will temporarily drive numbers. Christianity shouldn’t be handled as a product, because it should serve a purpose in your life - not be made entertaining to draw numbers.

If peple don’t understand how replacing the solemnity/reflection/ritual/intellegence/contemplation of a Catholic Mass, with the emotion/entertainment/motivational speaking of an Evangelical Mass, is a mistake: I fear its too late.

I think of a Catholic Mass, where your 5 senses are GENTLY interfaced with (water: touch, hyms: hearing, art/statues/etc: sight). These practices evolved over thousands of years to help us in our journey to experience Gods grace. They are gentle as to help us, without bombarding and getting our attention away from that goal. Then I see an Evangelical Mass, and I sigh. Big emotion is temporary, and worse: it doesn’t help you when we need to develop our “interior life” more than ever.

**CNN just did a two hour program called God’s Warrior’s: Christianity. Every example they used was of evangelicals in the U.S. Anyone who watched that, had to think: “Christians are nuts!” ** Worse, for me as a Catholic, we don’t believe or teach any of the ridiculous things they were using as examples.

I’ll give you one example. How about this “creationism vs. evolution” stuff (the vatican embraced “the Big Bang” theory in the 1930’s. They’re not in opposition - unless you dumb it down.) I could give you many more issues that make Christians look foolish, and there not even true stances, but for space sake I won’t.

It hurts because your kids will end up on college campuses getting hammered because they have been taught a fun, simple, and sometimes incorrect version of Christianity. They can argue in the secular setting, but the seeds of doubt will grow into a more secular country.

Evangelical Protest. has opened Christiantiy up to criticisms for which there is no answer. I recently heard Joel Osteen on T.V. talking about his wifes prayers for a beautiful home (like one they always drove past) being answered. “We have a home, just like that today!” (Crowd applauds.) No one seemed struck that it really isn’t consistent w/ Christian theology to pray for a better house? I no - harmless example.

Grab Osteen’s or T.D. Jakes (why does he dress so outrageously - his cuff links cost more than my Priests whole outfit? Again, is this consistent w/ Christian humility?:confused: ) and you find motivational books. Read one of Pope Benedicts many books, and you find brilliant, humble, Christian messages. His book on Jesus is moving - his book about culture in the western world is brilliant! Pick up “Invitation to Love”, by a Catholic monk (Keating) and you get a very intellignet intro to contemplative prayer. Of course, who would want to meditate when they can listen to rock music!:rolleyes:

I’ll stop here, and I hope I didn’t offend anyone. I’ve just seen members of my own family leave the Catholic Church for reasons - all based on NON-CATHOLIC false premisses - go to Evangelical Churches, and eventually after years - QUIT. Rather than search for the strength and the faith, they went where someone promised them praying would take away there problems.
 
Zenas said:
Denominations are on the way out. Too bad, because they have exerted an enormously positive influence in our culture over the past 200 years. We are seeing more and more independent nondenominational churches spring up. It seems that people are seeking fellowship more than sound doctrine and they are not attracted to denominational churches. Many Baptist churches are dropping “Baptist” from their name and they seem to be thriving because of it.

Perhaps the most significant, and dangerous, new phenomenon is the “Emerging Church” movement. You can read about it here:
christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/february/11.35.html
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Why is it dangerous? Or perhaps more relevantly, what is it dangerous to?

Edwin
 
thegame said:
I recently heard Joel Osteen on T.V. talking about his wifes prayers for a beautiful home (like one they always drove past) being answered. “We have a home, just like that today!” (Crowd applauds.) No one seemed struck that it really isn’t consistent w/ Christian theology to pray for a better house?
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How would you respond to this article by a Catholic? I know it’s not as outrageous, but I found the dismissal of “simplicity” rather disturbing–particularly the implication that seeking a simpler life is just as likely to be idolatrous as the pursuit of wealth. That is not the impression I get from the Gospels or from Christian tradition. I point this out only to say that Catholics are not immune from the temptations of our culture. However, you do on the whole have stronger antibodies!

Edwin
 
Contarini said:
Why is it dangerous? Or perhaps more relevantly, what is it dangerous to?

Edwin
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They have no orthodoxy, but rather claim we cannot know absolute truth.

They teach primarily a social gospel.

Rather than trying to change the world (being salt), they embrace the culture in which they live.

What is it dangerous to? It is dangerous to lost souls who will not be taught, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
 
Zenas and others, do you think it’s possible that we will eventually see the end of all denominations and that all non-Catholic Christian communities will be independent?

Wow, that’s quite a thought! But I can certainly see the trend towards this. I have two pastor friends who recently quit the denomination that they have been part of since childhood to become part of independent churches. (One pastor started his own church.)

Twenty years ago, that would have been unimaginable. Now it just seems normal.

Hmmm…really interesting. Could it really happen? And if it does, is that a good thing or a bad thing for Protestantism?
 
Cat said:
Zenas and others, do you think it’s possible that we will eventually see the end of all denominations and that all non-Catholic Christian communities will be independent?

Wow, that’s quite a thought! But I can certainly see the trend towards this. I have two pastor friends who recently quit the denomination that they have been part of since childhood to become part of independent churches. (One pastor started his own church.)

Twenty years ago, that would have been unimaginable. Now it just seems normal.

Hmmm…really interesting. Could it really happen? And if it does, is that a good thing or a bad thing for Protestantism?
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We may see the disappearance of denominations but if it happens it will take several generations. It’s a bad thing because it can only lead to greater fragmentation.
 
A number of similar things are going on in Catholicism. There have been a number of pictures of Cardinal Mahoney’s kind of odd (forgive the judgement) Masses with liturgical dancing, streamers and so on. Many Catholic masses have Rock bands and folk services, etc.

I like contemporary music and some of the masses I have attended with it have been among the most vibrant. I think that we just need to enusre that we do not lose the theological depth in superficality. I must admit that I found Card. Mahoney’s Masses a little much.

Protestantism evolves too. Mainline churches are dying out and often filled with older liberals who are left over from the 60’s. The growing churches are those that are seeking to meet needs from offering Latte’s after service to large churches with many programs. When these tend to superficality that is bad…when it engages families in a Christian lifestyle throughout the week from children’s programs to men’s bible studies and accountability groups that is good for them and society.

Some of the most successful Catholic Churches I have seen have blended this to a Catholic way that engages youth and offers services from traditional to contemporary (while staying within the bounds of Church teaching). In a sense this is beating Protestants at their own game.

Rev North
 
RevDrNorth said:
A number of similar things are going on in Catholicism. There have been a number of pictures of Cardinal Mahoney’s kind of odd (forgive the judgement) Masses with liturgical dancing, streamers and so on. Many Catholic masses have Rock bands and folk services, etc.

I like contemporary music and some of the masses I have attended with it have been among the most vibrant. I think that we just need to enusre that we do not lose the theological depth in superficality. I must admit that I found Card. Mahoney’s Masses a little much.

Protestantism evolves too. Mainline churches are dying out and often filled with older liberals who are left over from the 60’s. The growing churches are those that are seeking to meet needs from offering Latte’s after service to large churches with many programs. When these tend to superficality that is bad…when it engages families in a Christian lifestyle throughout the week from children’s programs to men’s bible studies and accountability groups that is good for them and society.

Some of the most successful Catholic Churches I have seen have blended this to a Catholic way that engages youth and offers services from traditional to contemporary (while staying within the bounds of Church teaching). In a sense this is beating Protestants at their own game.

Rev North
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Liturgical dancing. :eek: :mad: :eek: :mad: I prefer traditional hymns in the vernacular. “Holy, Holy, Holy”, “Amazing Grace” and “Be Thou My Vision” are the most contemporary that I will go.
 
I’d recommend subscribing to the daily newsletter at Christianpost.com. They cover all aspects of protestant Christianity. They only report on Mother Church when it’s something bad, of course…😦 But I have learned a lot about current protestant trends from them…
 
lak611 said:
Liturgical dancing. :eek: :mad: :eek: :mad: I prefer traditional hymns in the vernacular. “Holy, Holy, Holy”, “Amazing Grace” and “Be Thou My Vision” are the most contemporary that I will go.
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I agree.

What I am seeing in my own little neck of the woods in the Tulsa diocese is a growth in Non-denominational and in Pentecostal churches. Many Pentecostal churches are having to build bigger churches to support their growing congregations. These are the Holiness Pentecostals for the record, not Assembly of God. We have a number of small Non-Denominational churches popping up all over the rural areas. It doesn’t appear that any of the other denominations are growing enough to need new churches.

The only Mega churches that we have are over on the other side of Tulsa from us. We don’t have any over here. I have no clue what they are doing.

As far as Catholic parishes go, I’m seeing a growth there as well as a return to orthodoxy. That is a good thing, of course! Many parishes are getting back to adding Adoration. Our own parish has started having Adoration on Wednesdays. :heaven:

I think Pope Ben is going to end up being right on the money as far as the Church being smaller and stronger. However, like someone else said this will take several generations.
 
I will find out soon what is driving people to the Catholic Church. As this year we have the largest group ever. They are going to do a study based on the enrolled this year to see if there is an area that we should focus on more in outreach. I met 3 of them so far, in the parish office and one is former pentecostal to nondenom, and the couple is Lutheran. I am curious what the others backrounds are.
 
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