Is Faith Ever Risk-Free of Disillusionment?
As I read Losing Our Religion by Russell Moore, I was once again saddened by yet another book that broadcasts the state of the Evangelical Church at large. Moore speaks to those wounded and disillusioned evangelicals who have walked away or are thinking of walking away. One critique calls it “not only a memoir, but a lament, a jeremiad, and an indictment.”[1] I feel it is more of a call by a theologian and pastor for the reader to shift alliance from the futility of religion and poor role models to that of Christ and his grace, without losing his hope in the future of the local church.
Moore looks at three areas that we, as the church are losing: our credibility, our authority, and our identity. He speaks of the collective trauma that the church has inflicted in more ways than one and makes the powerful point that “if the body keeps the score, maybe the Body of Christ does too.” [2] He speaks to the church as it cries out for revival that perhaps we shouldn’t revive what we have[3] but seek a reformation that (as he quotes from A. W. Tozer) goes “to the root of our moral and spiritual maladies and deal with causes rather than with consequences, with the disease rather than the symptoms.”[4]
However, in addressing the present state of the Evangelical church, he asks the reader to not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Though the church is in crisis, Christ still saves and has the grace to redeem each one. He calls for repentance and a return to what is the true mission.
As I read this book, I fully agree that the Evangelical church at large in America is at a crossroads. There is much to repent over. As Eugene Peterson writes “the great weakness of American spirituality is that it is all about us: fulfilling our potential, getting the blessings of God, expanding our influence, finding our gifts, getting a handle on principles by which we can get an edge over the competition. The more there is of us, the less there is of God.[5]
There are many ways I could go with this post. I could advocate for how important it is for the church to adapt a Humble Leadership or Rare Leadership model. Or possible ways to disciple in ways that allow those who have past hurts to heal. All of these are important and viable areas to unpack. However, bear with me as I give thought from another angle regarding the great falling away of Christians that we are seeing. Lukianoff and Schlott’s book the Canceling of the American Mind speaks of our society as one that thrives on Cancel Culture by “expressing disapproval or exerting social pressure.” (Canceling…p. 29) Could it be that a cancel culture mindset has also fed into the great falling away that we are seeing? A person doesn’t only cancel a church where they have been hurt or disappointed but cancels God and all churches as a result? No doubt, we, as a church, have much responsibility to live out the mission of Christ. However, in the end, the responsibility is left to each one of us to choose to follow or not to follow Christ. I think of Edwin H. Friedman as he talks of our society as driven by immaturity and anxiety.[1] He speaks of a “rampant sabotaging of leaders who try to stand tall amid the raging anxiety-storms of our time.”[1] As we blanket blame on “all of Evangelicalism” might we be missing the mark by not seeing all those who are truly living out the mission of Christ or have carried the torch so that we could know Christ today?
As I read the Foxes Book of Martyrs earlier this semester, it was tragic to read of people killed for their faith. However, the most horrific accounts were when those deaths were not caused by the government, but rather by the church. Yet, these martyrs did not leave the faith, but rather held to it with tenacious conviction.
What has changed in how Christians respond to disappointment and disillusionment? Dr. Alicia Britt Chole states, “disillusionment can be a wise mentor toward intimacy with God “[6] and yet, today, it seems that it causes Christians to simply walk away from it all.
For us, I wonder what we, as leaders can do to aid in the healing as well as the maturing of those under our care without enabling the thought that there should never be hurt or disappointment? Could it be that a certain amount of healthy maturity and grit comes only from life and people not panning out to be what we had imagined? Is faith ever risk-free from disillusionment?
Even amidst my questioning, amidst the crisis all around, I have hope. Hope for the church. Hope for those who have fallen away. Hope for leaders, like myself, who are fallible. I have hope because when it truly is all stripped away, hope can only be found in the power of the cross. As Russell Moore states “perhaps what Jesus is saying to us is, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:5-6)[7]
REFERENCES:
[1] Micah Watson, “Losing Our Religion and the Fracturing of American Evangelicalism,” Public Discourse, January 16, 2024, https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2024/01/92391/.
[2] Russell Moore, Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America (Penguin Random House LLC, 2023). 211.
[3] Russell Moore. 221.
[4] Russell Moore. 212.
[5] Eugene Peterson, “Transparent Lives,” The Christian Century, November 29, 2003, 20–27.
[6] Alicia Britt Chole, “Disillusionment: An Unexpected Friend of Spiritual Formation” (George Fox University), accessed October 28, 2024, https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/dmin/105/. vii.
[7] Russell Moore, Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America.
About the Author
Esther Edwards
Esther has served in ministry leadership for over 35 years. She is an ordained minister, an ICF and CCLC certified coach, and licensed coach trainer. Her and her husband have launched their own coaching practice, Enjoy the Journey Leadership Coaching and seek to train ministry leaders in the powerful skill of coaching. Esther loves hiking, reading, and experiencing new coffee shops with friends and family. She enjoys the journey with her husband, Keith, their four daughters, sons-in-law, and their five beautiful grandchildren.11 responses to “Is Faith Ever Risk-Free of Disillusionment?”
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Hi Esther,
Thanks for including the other authors (I need to check them out).
I just came back from a talk about Ukraine. “I am happy to report that Ukrainian Christians are leaping towards the tasks that God has set before them.”
Hmmm….it takes a war? persecution? for the church to flourish? Is the greatest threat, 1st world concerns and distractions?
Sigh…..
Fortunately, where this election is concerned, “this too shall pass.” As one of my bible study brothers said, “Don’t worry guys, God is in control!” I guess I needed the reminder.
Great post.
Shalom.
Russell,
We all need that reminder. God is in control. You and I have lived long enough to see that the church does seem to thrive when the only thing they have is Christ. It wanes when, yes, perhaps, we have all we need and become utterly absorbed by self and continually distracted. I speak to myself as well.
I am curious. How do your Ukranian friends view the American elections?
There is a fear in Ukraine that Trump will try to parlay a deal with Putin. In short, giving up land.
NATO sees Trump as abandoning Europe/NATO leaving them wide open to further Russian advances.
The advent of North Korean Troops, starts NATO wondering, if/when they should send troops to support Ukraine. A WICKED Problem.
Hi Esther, great post!
You write, “Could it be that a cancel culture mindset has also fed into the great falling away that we are seeing?” I think you’re on to something here. Yes, I do think that cancel culture mindset has fed into some of the falling away we are seeing. However, I also wonder if many “younger” folk (you know what I mean) but really also older folks, are just not finding the value in church anymore. Like, they are busy all week and the Sunday morning gathering just doesn’t give them back what they need to feel like it’s worth it. I know that is a consumer culture mentality – and I despise the mentality of “What can the church do for me?” rather than, “We are a community and body together and sometimes I am fed and sometimes I do the feeding, etc.” but I also acknowledge that that is where many people are. I don’t have an answer – just some wonderings.
What makes following Jesus compelling to folks who are de-churched, un-churched? I don’t think it’s enough to tweak our worship services or even our theology. We’ve tried all that. Like I said, no answers, just a lot of wonderings.
Kally,
Another great point. The consumer mentality does render the church, often times, as just another option. Yet, as you ask, “what makes following Jesus compelling to folks who are de-churched, unchurched?” My answer would be genuine transformation. Seeing that Jesus makes a difference in who they are and is relative to life. And yet, churches are declining. I am just wondering as well…in Scripture, there were entire generations that simply forgot about God. Was it that God was not compelling or that it just fell on deaf ears? Maybe we, as pastors, take too much responsibility for the choices of others. Maybe we need a bit more joy for the now and less anxiety about how to grow a church.
Thanks for your wonderings. 🙂
Two thoughts came to mind as I read your post. First, I wonder if there is a subtle shift among some — not all — Evangelicals toward a more hopeful narrative on where the Evangelical Church could be headed (I think Moore ends his book with hope when he says, “Evangelical Christianity as we know it might not survive. American evangelism might not be there for the future. But someone will be.” (Moore, 253) I am consciously trying to shift my own thinking and speaking in a more hopeful, less pessimistic, direction, without ignoring facts and trends.
Second, I wonder how this book might have been written if Jonathan Haidt co-authored it (You mentioned The Canceling of the American Mind….Haidt wrote the Foreword in that book). After reading what Russ said in his post about Haidt and Smith exploring Moore’s writing, with them suggesting that Moore might be overlooking the psychological underpinnings behind group dynamics and why people join religious groups in the first place.
Travis,
Your response has me thinking about what someone said a few months ago. They mentioned how we may just need to move forward and detach ourselves from the Evangelical name. Here too, it would be interesting to explore the group dynamics of perhaps another group identity needing to form to shift away from the political identity that has taken hold.
Another great post, Esther. I am glad that you and Travis have highlighted Moore’s hope for the future. When I think about the dissolving of Evangelicalism, I get optimistic about “what could a new Church look like?” Without anything to back this up, I wonder if we will see important shifts coming from the Church of the Global South? In a way, they have fewer of the distractions that we do, maybe they also have some wisdom to pass to us?
Jen,
I am optimistic too. The hope I have is in the younger generations. Even amidst the deconstructing, there are more and more that are desiring to live much simpler than we did, they are turning away from social media, and they are digging into theology, gaining a love for ancient threads. One of our missionaries from Spain who has worked at some of the more prestigious universities here and in Spain once said that he believed that if an awakening would come to America, it would have to look very different than in the past. In fact, many in the church may miss it. He believed it would be steeped in discipleship and in the simplicity of following Jesus without all the fanfare. That seems refreshing doesn’t it?
You make a good point about the Global South. We could definitely learn from churches abroad. I always have fun talking about all this with Jenny Dooley. When I hear her process through the lens of Asian culture, it brings fresh insight.
Hi Esther,
Thank you for your post. I am getting a clearer picture of the phenomenon happening in your context. I find it very concerning. Similar things could happen in different contexts, including in our context here. Therefore, I intend to dig deeper into this issue. In your opinion, what are the leading causes of this spiritual chaos? Are there any effective strategies that can overcome it?
Hi, Dinka,
Thank you for your response to my post. In answer to your question, I believe there may be many causes. A society that is enamored by options and distractions, may cause less ability to spiritually reflect and delve deeper into one’s own spiritual life. Less commitment to the study of the Word and intimate conversation with the Lord, consistency in spiritual rhythms, and commitment to a local community of believers leaves much room for a nominal Christian faith that will not withstand the hurts that can come in any church when dealing with people. On the other hand, there has been a “celebrity culture” that pastors have a hard time sustaining health when they are put on such a high pedestal. We are all human. A healthy church is one where it is a working together of the leaders and the congregation to live out their love for Christ, with each other, and the community at large. When church becomes a spectator sport of just coming to get something from the service without active involvement and participation, there is often little depth and growth in their own relationship with Christ.
Those are just my own few thoughts. As far as strategies, perhaps greater authenticity and humble leadership from the top down would exemplify how congregants should be with each other. Also, perhaps examples of leaders simply, themselves, being in love with Jesus and His Word. This is contagious.
There are probably many more strategies to think about.