The Problem with Evangelicals

"Evangelicalism is a many-splintered thing with more denominational expressions than one can count, and like much of the rest of the church is to a large extent biblically illiterate or semiliterate" (The Problem with Evangelical Theology, ix) - Ben Witherington

Evangelicals are very fad-oriented with their spiritual formation primarily revolving around the latest book by one of the latest charismatic speakers. You have a plethora of micro-denominations that seem to have no objective or physical unity with other Christians from different denominations and theological traditions. Most evangelicals do not have a connection with the saints and "cloud of witnesses" that have gone on before them. They are "reinventing the wheel" so to speak with great frequency.Evangelicals quote the Holy Spirit inappropriately with abandon. They seem to be fond of saying, "GOD is leading me to do" [fill in the blank], or "GOD is not giving me a peace about" [fill in the blank]. I am not denying that the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts, gives us discernment or even words of knowledge but in my 25-years of experiencing Christianity the majority of the time GOD had not told them anything at all. What is really going on is that Christians like to bring in the Holy Spirit into the conversation as kind of a trump card to stop what could have been a good discussion on what both Holy Scripture and common sense may have to say about the subject.

Evangelicals rely on the amount of time they spend practicing spiritual disciplines (prayer, fasting, going to church, being involved in a small group, and reading the WORD) as some kind of litmus test of their spirituality, when their obedience to GOD is in shambles. These spiritual disciplines (prayer, fasting, reading the WORD) are means of grace in which we pursue to be closer to the heart of GOD so that we might live our lives in such a way to be a fragrant aroma to HIM.

GOD is concerned with how we are walking in the Spirit and showing the fruits of the Spirit in all of life. HE is interested in how we are "doing to the least of these" to our family and friends that GOD has in our life. HE is also interested in our external unity and love for all Christians whether they be charismatic, Roman Catholic, mainline Protestant or Eastern Orthodox.