But let’s go back
to what I believe is part of the problem with American Christianity- but
certainly not all of it. That is the altar call. The altar call never appeared
in Christianity until the 1820’s when introduced by a charismatic pastor,
Charles Finney. His contribution to American Christianity can be seen across
Evangelical churches everywhere. Every head bowed, every eye closed, slip up
your hand if you’ve never “accepted” Christ, make your way to the front, all
while “Just As I Am” plays in the background. People then believe they have
become Christians based on an impulsive decision they made one time following
the pastor’s play on emotions and tugging of the heart.
For a moment,
let’s look at who introduced the altar call, “the father of modern revivalism”,
Charles Finney. Finney has rejected almost every basic Christian doctrine since
the early Church. He denied original sin, he stated that Christ’s
substitutionary atonement “does not secure the salvation of any one”, and he
rejected God’s grace in our salvation. In addition, he stated that Adam’s sin
was his own and did not transfer to his descendants. He says that man is born
in a natural state, just as Adam was. Therefore, a morally perfect life is
attainable by our own will without any help from God’s grace.
Finney’s
heretical teachings go back to a 5th century monk, Pelagius. Virtually all of
Finney’s teachings were identical to Pelagius. Pelagius was condemned by three
church councils in the 5th and 6th century for these same heretical teachings
that Finney would claim in the 19th century. So one of the most prominent tools
in American Evangelical churches today was introduced by a man who was
undoubtedly influenced by Pelagian heresy.
So, back to my original point that we have produced
many who believe at one point in their lives they made a decision and said a
prayer and they have obtained salvation. All the while because they once walked
down the aisle and said a prayer they believe they can go on and live their
lives in any way, shape, or form they want because at one time they invited
Jesus into their heart. However, Jesus never said anything about inviting him
into your heart. In fact, Jesus preached radical ideas, especially in today’s
times. If Jesus preached American Christianity, he would have never been
crucified! Jesus called us to take up our cross and follow him.
“Do not think
that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace,
but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter
against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his
own household. Whoever loves father or
mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more
than me is not worthy of me. And whoever
does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and
whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:34-39)
While the overall message of the Gospel is peace with
God, the impact of the Gospel on Earth is often conflict, and at times
violence. Faithfully following Christ can result in relationships being damaged
and severed, families strained, persecution as we see throughout the world, and
martyrdom. In America, we think of persecution for Christ if we are teased for
faithfully following Christ. Elsewhere in the world, Christians are literally
losing their heads. But to truly and faithfully follow Christ, we must be
willing to endure any and all hardships that may come our way. That can mean
having the full weight of the United States government come down on you or it
could mean having your throat slit by Islamic terrorists for refusing to
denounce Jesus Christ as Lord. I am reminded of a quote from one of the great
Reformers, Martin Luther: “Chop off my head, and it won’t harm me. I have a God
who will give me a new one.”
Much of this seems at odd with American Christianity
today where it is taught that God wants you live your best life now. Jesus did
not advise us to see the best in ourselves or that we can fulfill our greatest
potential. He called us to take up our crosses and follow him.
People are dying everyday and folks who have lived
their lives believing they were Christians because they once walked the aisle
and said a prayer, are going to Hell at a high rate. But as long as membership
is up, we are having fun, and can be seen as the church that is lots of fun,
that’s okay, right?? No, it is not!! And every church that does this will be
held accountable. We must return to preaching the Gospel as written and an
understanding of what is expected of Christ’s followers.
