American evangelicalism is in crisis, writes Mark Galli, former editor and chief of Christianity Today. Beginning as the Great Awakening in the 1730s and 1740s, with George Whitefield and John Wesley, American evangelicalism has been in decline since the ‘60s, when “the social gospel” took root in mainline dominations. In the early 20th century, evangelicalism further declined, when “the missional church” took root in churches across America.¹
Galli writes in depth how “the social gospel” and “the missional church” have contributed to the church’s decline. The reader may wonder how the church doing mission has contributed to its decline. Isn’t mission a good thing? Doing mission is not the problem. The problem is when the church does mission, at the expense of loving God, our first priority.²
How can this misplaced priority be corrected? Galli’s premise is, as individual Christians desire God above all else, wrong priorities will be made right. The thoughts shared in the section, “Deepening Desire” could be a book in itself.³
When Did We Start Forgetting God is a clarion call to the Church of Jesus Christ in America. Can this decline be stopped? Can “let it begin with me” fix things? When the prophets of old saw Israel and Judah in decline did anything they wrote or said stopped the inevitable collapse? At the same time, the prophets did not stop their work of warning and voicing the solution.
In the book’s introduction Galli writes, “If evangelicalism fades away, he [God] will in his mercy raise up another movement that will revive his people. The future of the church in America does not hinge on the health of evangelicalism, it hinges on the power of God. I’d say we’re in good hands.” † Amen!
If you are concerned about the Church in America today this is a GREAT READ. When Did We Start Forgetting God by Mark Galli will give you much to think about.
Be Ye Glad!
¹ Galli, Mark. When Did We Start Forgetting God? Tyndale; 2020: pg. 28-31, 45-51.
² Galli, When Did We Start Forgetting God? pg. 53-82, 83-134.
³ Galli, When Did We Start Forgetting God? pg. 137-235.
† Galli, When Did We Start Forgetting God? pg. 8.
Copyright © 2020
Lena Rae
All Rights Reserved
Be Ye Glad! 
Truly it seems we live as in the days of Noah, when the vast majority of people are spiritually deaf to hearing where their salvation and eternal life lies… in Christ. And on top of that, it is very evident much of The Church has succumbed to a lesser gospel for purposes it feels is justified – but that is a lie too. Leaders of the organized church need to read the letters to the churches written in Revelations and be honest enough to hear what is being warned of there.
It all boils down to what you wrote above Linda, what the church of Philadelphia did not forget. When we respond to Jesus the Christ’s love, and in return love Him above all else, in that is the triumph.
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Yes, I thought of that verse as I wrote this post. We have left our first love, the Lord Jesus, for things we think more important. Thanks for you comments. They are always welcomed. 💗
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Let’s hope that the way this year is going people will remember their first love, the Lord Jesus!
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Ahhh yes we certainly have to trust in the power of God!! He is able!! In a world where it seems He’s forgotten we as Christians know that He’s working in the midst of the mess… pandemic or not we actually just had nine baptisms this past Sunday morning… Praise him!
Seems like an eye opening book, thanks for sharing!!
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Thank you for commenting! I appreciate your thoughts — how would we ever be able to do God’s will apart from His power? The book is eye opening. I highly recommend it. 😊
What a blessing, Nine baptisms in the middle of a pandemic. WOW! How wonderful. 💗
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Yup if God wasn’t powerful the good that we do see in this world wouldn’t even exist. Can’t even imagine.
The baptisms, yes so awesome!!!🙏
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I can’t imagine it either! What a sobering thought if God removed His hand. Well … the world would stop to exist. We take God’s goodness and power for granted.
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Amen!!
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