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Paul is one of the Staff Editors at Matthias Media. He is married to Cathy and has three fantastic kids. He loves student ministry, reading, writing music and playing the saxophone, and is looking forward to meeting Jesus face to face.
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Thanks Lionel for raising this subject.
I’d like to add what I think is another element in the effects of Nowism on us.
There is a much greater pressure on preachers in our time to accentuate only the positive in what they preach. Whilst holiness preaching of the type you mention is now very rare, preaching on ‘values’ is very common and growing in popularity. Values to help my family, to help me make ethically sound choices at work and at the supermarket, etc. Preaching on values is seen as positive preaching.
However, refuting error is increasinly being criticised as divisive and unnecessary. Nowism means we lose sight both of the wonder of our future inheritance and of the horror of the final judgment on those who do not turn to the Lord Jesus in faith and repentance. As a consequence, Nowism places less emphasis on warning against false teachers and more emphasis on good Christian values.
In my view, this is a very serious problem we face within many churches right now. This trend is very deeply disturbing. We need to pray that our Father in heaven may deliver us from the insidious effects of Nowism and keep us steadfast in teaching both what is true and against what is false and misleading.
I agree Lionel, Christian distinctiveness is required, not just the polite, charitable sort, but also the loss-enduring, distinguishable value system, etc, so people will be able to see the hope that we have, which is beyond their understanding unless we explain to them.
Good post!
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