Page 427 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

NEW EVANGELICAL

deny it. He is for everything and therefore against the best way to communicate his faith is “not to preach
nothing. fire and brimstone.”
When Graham held a crusade in wicked Las Vegas, An ad for “Fuel on the Fire” by Morgan Cryar says the
the infamous gambling haven, he said: “I did not come song is “a good pop/rock sound for the teenage
here to condemn Las Vegas; I came here to preach the audience” because the “songs deal with youth issues and
gospel” (Christianity Today, Feb. 24, 1978). But the situations WITHOUT BEING PREACHY.”
gospel begins with the bad news of God’s condemnation The lyrics to Donna Summer’s music is described as
of our sin before it gets to the good news of forgiveness being “UNPREACHILY AS POSSIBLE, the approach most
through Jesus Christ. likely to win the attention of an intelligent non-Christian
Graham’s refusal to preach anything beyond the most audience” (Contemporary Christian Music Magazine, Oct.
basic aspects of the gospel (and even that much is 1984, p. 40).
questionable) is why he is acceptable both to Roman Randy Stonehill says: “I DON’T WANT TO PREACH
Catholics and Modernists. Charles Dullea, Superior of AT PEOPLE. What I want to do is communicate the truth
the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, said: “Because in the most compelling, fresh, and challenging way I
he is preaching basic Christianity, he does not enter into can” (“Kicking Around with Uncle Rand,” Christian
matters which today divide Christians. He does not Music Review, April 1991).
touch on Sacraments or Church in any detail. ... The Michael W. Smith says, “MY SONGS ARE NOT
Catholic will hear no slighting of his Church’s teaching PREACHY -- at all” (Michael McCall, Contemporary
authority, nor of Papal or Episcopal Prerogatives, no Christian, June 1986, p. 19). Smith described his non-
word against the mass or sacraments or Catholic judgmental philosophy in an interview in the May 1998
practices. GRAHAM HAS NO TIME FOR THAT; he is issue of CCM Magazine.
preaching only Christ and a personal commitment to
Him. The Catholic, in my opinion will hear little, if In reviewing Steve Taylor’s music, the Seattle Post-
anything, he cannot agree with” (Dullea, “A Catholic Intelligencer noted that “THERE IS LITTLE PREACHING
Looks at Billy Graham,” Homiletic & Pastoral Review, IN HIS SONGS” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Oct. 11,
Jan. 1972). 1984). Taylor admits that people like his concerts
because there is no preaching: “Our concerts attract
The Church Growth and Megachurch philosophy is people because THEY KNOW THEY WON'T BE
another example of New Evangelicalism’s non- PREACHY or insult their intelligence” (Peters Brothers,
judgmentalism. What About Christian Rock, p. 138). Taylor was quoted
Consider this description of church growth guru C. as saying: “I DON’T THINK PEOPLE REALLY LIKE TO BE
Peter Wagner: “Wagner makes negative assessments PREACHED AT. ... I THINK IT’S INSULTING TO
about nobody; he has made a career out of finding what PEOPLE’S INTELLIGENCE TO PREACH AT THEM. No
is good and affirming it without asking critical one likes to be told what to believe” (Seattle Post-
questions” (Christianity Today, Aug. 8, 1986). Intelligencer, Oct. 11, 1984).
The preaching at Willow Creek, the megachurch P.O.D. (Payable on Death), a hard rock group from
pastored by Bill Hybels is described in this way: “There California, also subscribes to the positive-only
is no fire and brimstone here. No Bible-thumping. Just philosophy: An interviewer with Pollstar observed:
practical, witty messages.” “While THEY DON’T PREACH or try to ram their
Robert Schuller, who influences many through his spirituality down anyone’s throat, they hope that their
Church Growth Institutes, epitomizes the New POSITIVE MESSAGE will have an influence on rock
Evangelical positive-only philosophy. He says, fans” (Pollstar, March 20, 2000).
“Essentially, if Christianity is to succeed in the next The Chinese CCM group For You advertises their
millennium, it must cease to be a negative religion and music as “SPIRITUAL BUT NOT PREACHY” (The Straits
must become positive” (Schuller, Self-Esteem the New Times, Singapore, May 18, 2001).
Reformation, p. 104). Jason Wade of Lifehouse says, “I think we have a
This New Evangelical judge not philosophy permeates positive message of hope. WE’RE NOT TRYING TO
Contemporary Christian Music. BLATANTLY PREACH. It all comes down to love” (David
Consider these statements against old-fashioned Wild, “The Rock & Roll Gospel according to Lifehouse,”
preaching: Rolling Stone magazine, June 7, 2001, http://
Steven Curtis Chapman says he tries to communicate www.rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?
a Biblical world view in a way that WILL NOT BE nid=13983&cf=13773270).
“ABRASIVELY PREACHY” (Huntsville Times, Oct. 30, What the Bible Says about the Positive Approach:
1994). He says his quest for relevance has shown that

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