Moralism

Atheists "Just as Ethical as Churchgoers"?

By Aaron Blumer Thu, 02/11/2010 - 10:11am

“Atheists are just as ethical and have as strong a moral compass as churchgoers, new research shows.” Telegraph.co.uk

A Moratorium on Moralism, Part 2

By Josh Larsen Fri, 01/11/2008 - 2:00am

Leaving Christ Out of His Story

Read Part 1.

Antidote of Moralism

I feel that I have spent enough time pointing out the dangers of moralistic preaching. Now let us consider the antidote. Jesus Christ is the only solution to this epidemic that is sweeping our churches, camps, conferences, retreats, and moralism.jpgevangelistic crusades. In an article about the need for Christ-centered preaching, Phil Johnson writes, “The only remedy, and (I believe) the best recipe for revival in the church, is a powerful wave of biblical preaching and biblical theology in which we recognize and proclaim Christ as the center and focus of everything God’s word has to say.”[24] But this statement is where things get a little sticky. Many leaders in our circles are very hesitant to say that Jesus is “the center and focus of everything God’s Word has to say.” Either you believe that statement and you preach like you believe it, or you preach moralism. There is no middle ground. The only solution to ridding your messages of moralism is to make sure that Jesus is at the center of every one of them.
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A Moratorium on Moralism, Part 1

By Josh Larsen Wed, 01/09/2008 - 2:00am

Leaving Christ Out of His Story

Are morals overrated? Is it a waste of time and energy to lead a morally pure lifestyle? Should youth pastors exhort their students to obey their parents, to tell the truth, and to read their Bibles? Or are Christians somehow beyond those rules now? These types of questions are inevitably asked of those who speak out against moralistic preaching. But these Moralismquestions betray an underlying misunderstanding of the dangers of moralism. Please allow me to go on the record and state that, as a former youth pastor, I think morals are a good idea. I subscribe to the notion that I have a responsibility to advocate obedience, honesty, and sexual purity to those students who have been entrusted to my care. I also believe Christians should read their Bibles. Regularly.

However, I am growing increasingly dissatisfied with moralistic preaching. In fact, I have had quite enough of it. Over and over again, I have seen bits and pieces of it scattered among the wreckage of shipwrecked faith, too often in the lives of close friends. It masquerades as Bible preaching, but is hollow, shallow, and powerless. And at the end of the day, moralistic preaching has probably done more to destroy professing Christians than alcohol, tobacco, rock ‘n’ roll, and TV combined.
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