How evangelicals are making their unpopular beliefs more palatable

During interviews with church leaders in England and Canada, Dr Sam Reimer uncovered a number of “softening strategies”, used by Christians to try and bridge the gap between traditional church teaching, and an increasingly liberal culture

The idea of ‘following your heart’ is one of the most important sociological changes in Western society in the last century. But as I previously said, I think it’s extrememly bad for our Christian faith. The shift from an external locus of authority (marked by deference to religious, political and parental authority) to an internal locus of authority – has huge implications for changing orthodoxy or religious belief.

If what we believe is based primarily on whether it resonates with our own inner feelings, should expect beliefs to deviate from the traditional creeds or doctrines of institutional religiosity. And they do, even among committed evangelicals.