Considering a Michael Horton Interview

ByFaith Magazine interviewed Michael Horton about his recent book Christless Christianity.  The subtitle is The Alternative Gospel of the American Church.  Dr. Horton is assessing a growing problem in the American Church which his book The Gospel-Driven Life: Being Good News People in a Bad News World seeks to answer.

Rather, it’s motivated by a concern that there’s this creeping fog of what sociologist Christian Smith called “moralistic-therapeutic-deism.” This has turned God into a tool we can use rather than the object of our faith and worship. I’m concerned that the gospel is being taken for granted, that Christ is a sort of life coach, but not the Savior. With the general shallowing within the culture, there is a shallowing of Christian faith and practice. We don’t really know what we believe and why we believe it.

I see this problem in a number of different ways.  You see it in the Word Faith movement and the related Prosperity (false) Gospel.  A minor theme of Scripture is treated like the main theme of Scripture at the expense of the real main theme of Scripture (redemption & restoration).  Jesus helps you get what you want rather than does whatever it takes to make you like Him.

But, as Dr. Horton rightly notes, this is not a “them” problem.  This is a problem in churches that find themselves in the Reformed community where Scripture is used to provide moral examples instead of pointing to Christ and His great work of salvation.

We need to be asking the question—when it comes to outreach, evangelism, worship, the songs we sing, the visitation we do, even diaconal ministries: How is Christ being delivered to sinners—even lifelong Christian sinners—in this time and place?

We are to explore this great theme and all its implications from Genesis to Revelation.  And it should be holistic- how we do ALL that we do.  Too often churches are more concerned about the style of a song than the message of a song.  There are traditional and contemporary songs that are sung every week in normal churches that have little to nothing to do with Christ and Him crucified.

I love the line from Martin Luther. He was asked what’s the place of good works if all is of grace. Luther replied, “God doesn’t need your good works, your neighbor does.”

This comes in the context that we come to worship to be served, not to serve.  We are not consumers, nor are we slaves.  Just as Jesus came not to be served but to serve, He continues to show up on Sundays seeking to serve because He has given His life as a ransom for many.  He continues to pour out grace purchased on the Cross upon His people.  This is the only proper foundation for our obedience and service.  This is the point of the children’s catechism I use with CavDaughter- We love and serve God because He made us, saved us and keeps us.

I might not agree with Michael Horton on all things, but we are in synch here.  It is time that more pastors, elders and Christians begin to ponder what it is we are doing and why.  We need to weigh what we are doing in light of Scripture which contains (is) the sound doctrine in accordance with the gospel (1 Timothy 1).