Idle Evangelicals

I keep finding things written by Christopher Idle at the moment. It's purely co-incidence: Looking for something unrelated and stumble upon it. First some comments on the poem Death is Nothing at all, and now this.

Idle wrote a short article in New Directions magazine. I'm not particularly wanting to endorse or plug the publication – I've never seen a copy – I stumbled upon his article online.

What is an Evangelical? is a short article (so, reader, click through and read!) whose title partly defines what he's writing about. He's actually not seeking to define us evangelicals historically, doctrinally or in any other sense of what we should be. Rather he offers “a snapshot of what today's evangelical looks like. Or rather, a brief slice of fuzzy film where we have been caught on CCTV for a few minutes one Sunday.” And, yes, Idle and I are both evangelicals. This is a slightly satirical depiction from within.

In a nutshell, we've sold out, holding onto sound doctrine, or trying to, but losing a sense of the majesty of the God we worship. Our worship is cheap and hollow. He depicts an evangelical arriving for church, “a little late, in carefully-selected clothes which may include gardening trousers and a rugby shirt or something with a snappy slogan like JCUK (signifying 'John Charles [Ryle] - UnKnown').”

“A chatty introduction of jokes for the in-crowd” is followed by “a series of unconnected and rather silly songs” If anyone wants to know what posture is appropriate: “The rule then is, hands in pockets, please - follow the preacher.”

What content will there be in this service? “And you do have to follow the preacher. Your evangelical will listen with exemplary patience to a number of gossipy mini-sermons slotted in to explain the confession, intercession and creed (if any), before the maxi-sermon for which he will need his Bible. Sometimes this is all the Bible he will get; for Psalms, Canticles, Lord's Prayer and responses are usually omitted. The Ten Commandments may get an occasional mention (see also 'Prayer Book', '39 Articles') but are never read. He may not hear much about Advent, Epiphany, Lent, Maundy Thursday, Ascension Day, Trinity Sunday or All Saints. So you need not expect any Collect of the Day. Who needs a book when you can do it all yourself and make it up as you go along?”

There's more: As I say, it's short so go ahead and read it. As with all caricature, there will not even be one church which exactly fits what he describes. And yet, I suspect, there are many churches for which what he writes is slightly too close to the bone for us to laugh.

Friends: We have work to do, for mankind was created to “glorify God” as well as to “enjoy him forever.”

Chris Idle's article is at http://trushare.com/0117FEB05/FE05IDLE.htm

Hat Tip: http://confessingevangelical.blogspot.com/2005/05/what-is-anglican-evang...