Modern evangelicalism is a fulfillment of 2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Popular evangelicalism does not endure sound doctrine; it loves fables; it lives after its own lusts, being more concerned about “liberty” than holiness and obedience. Contemporary Worship Music is a path to the “broad church” of evangelicalism and once you enter those dangerous spiritual waters, there is no telling where you will end up. Many have landed in atheism. Consider some examples: In May 2019, DAVE GASS, with 20 years’ experience pastoring evangelical churches, including Grace Family Fellowship of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, made the following announcement on Twitter: “I am walking away from faith. Even though this has been a massive bomb drop in my life, it has been decades in the making.” He admitted that he never firmly believed in Christ and always had doubts. Further, he said, “my marriage was a sham, prayer was never answered, miracles were never performed.” In July 2019, JOSHUA HARRIS, author of the best-selling I Kissed Dating Goodbye who was considered an expert on marriage and child training, renounced faith in Christ, said he was divorcing his wife, and proclaimed that he is happy and at peace following his “heart.” In August 2019, MARTY SAMPSON, one of the worship leaders and song writers for Hillsong, announced that his Christian faith “is on incredibly shaky ground.” He is seriously entertaining atheism, and he “is so happy now, so at peace with the world.” In May 2020, JON STEINGARD, singer and guitarist of the Christian rock band Hawk Nelson and a pastor’s son, announced on Instagram that he is an agnostic. “I am now finding that I no longer believe in God. The process of getting to that sentence has been several years in the making. It’s been more like pulling on the threads of a sweater, and one day discovering that there was no more sweater left.” Steingard said that he enjoys his new “freedom.” In April 2021, PAUL MAXWELL, popular author, renounced his faith on Instagram. “I think it’s important to say that I’m just not a Christian anymore, and it feels really good. I’m really happy.”
CONCLUDING NOTE: I have the opposite experience as these men. I have never doubted God since I was converted in 1973, and my faith in the Bible as the infallible Word of God and in Jesus Christ as the only Lord and Saviour has grown stronger with each passing year. I have thousands of reasons to believe that God exists and that the Bible is His divine revelation to man. I have seen continual answers to prayer. For those who want to understand why “evangelicalism” is in such desperate straights, we recommend New Evangelicalism: Its History, Characteristics, and Fruit, available as a free eBook from www.wayoflife.org. “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).
(Friday Church News Notes, April 23, 2021, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org , 866-295-4143)