Writing for USA Today, Oliver Thomas wonders, “Where have all the Protestants gone?” By this, he means mainline Protestants. Thomas acknowledges the undisputed membership declines in mainline denominations and seems to think some of this has to do with government taking over roles that were once the provence of the church.
But Thomas isn’t hopeless. In fact, he sees an opportunity for the mainlines to continue “celebrating” diversity and “reinvent” themselves along theological lines and, thus, capture the next generation of “seekers.” For example, one way for the mainlines to become relevant again is by continuing to reject biblical authority:
As I survey the religious landscape (for more than a dozen years I served as counsel to some of America’s largest Protestant groups), I sense a growing energy — if not membership rolls — among these more liberal Protestant churches. Part of that energy could be because Protestants are developing an identity that jibes with what matters to young people. Take the issue of gay rights, for example. Lutherans, Episcopalians and the United Church of Christ have broken down the barriers for openly gay and lesbian clergy. Presbyterians and Methodists are likely to follow suit. This willingness to reject the authority of biblical passages condemning homosexuality — as Protestant churches did with similar passages on slavery and the role of women — will appeal to a younger generation who see gay marriage as a non-issue and accept their gay and lesbian classmates for who they are — not what some Christians want them to be.
Not only, according to Thomas, should the mainlines continue to celebrate the rejection of biblical authority, but to reach the next generation (with what I’m not sure), mainline Protestants should engage in “theological exploration”—or the rejection of orthodoxy. From the column:
Religion professor and Presbyterian elder Peggy Cowan sees something else — something that could help churches connect with a generation of seekers who might consider portions of the Apostle’s Creed on par with Harry Potter. “Theological exploration,” she calls it. With Jesus as their tutor, successful churches in post-modern America must be willing to affirm that all theology is provisional in light of the mystery of God.
I’m sure it comes as no surprise to those people who frequent this blog that I think Thomas’ recommendations are disastrous for the sake of the gospel. What the church needs is precisely the opposite of what Thomas prescribes: a return to a humble submission to biblical authority and a robust orthodoxy.
Now, I need to get Mr. Thomas a copy of David Wells’ The Courage to Be Protestant.
Is there enough evidence for us to believe the Gospels?
In an age of faith deconstruction and skepticism about the Bible’s authority, it’s common to hear claims that the Gospels are unreliable propaganda. And if the Gospels are shown to be historically unreliable, the whole foundation of Christianity begins to crumble.
