|
Many answers have been given for the numerical decline in mainline American Protestanitism during the second half of the twentieth century. While a variety of changes in both the churches and the society might account for this decline, the author insists that the place to look is the first half of the century, when new approaches to the study of the Bible questioned and relativised its claims on the beliefs and behavior of God's people. Deprived of a powerful message based on an authoritative text, Protestant preaching lost its ability to inspire, motivate, and draw people into a relationship with God in Christ. The result has been the promulgation of watered down personal opinions disquised as preaching. Little wonder that people stay away from our churches.
|
