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Retreating into combat
P. Andrew Sandlin: Why cultural retreat will never work
08.11.2003

A.W. Tozer, one of the most insightful Christian thinkers of the 20th century, once lamented that Christians have a habit of backing into their convictions. His point was that too many Bible-believers form their beliefs by reacting against some other beliefs. They believe and practice things not because they know them to be right, but because they are afraid not to. Like many of his other comments, it was scintillating.

Reaction is the soft underbelly of the conservative temperament. Conservatives have seen non-conservatives take the lead in Church, family, theology, society, and culture for so long, that all they can do is react -- never act . The other (bad) guys set the agenda, and we dutifully respond to it. We never make any gains, of course, because reaction never gains anything, except, perhaps, temporary protection. (As Winston Churchill wryly reminded his euphoric countrymen at the massive evacuation of Dunkirk, “Wars are not won by evacuations.”)

Today, whenever the non-conservatives bring up a creative (though usually deeply flawed) idea or program, a spate of conservative books and conferences normally ensues. “How are we going to deal with this?” When conservative theologians like John M. Frame write creative theology, or conservative pastors like Steve Schlissel preach creative sermons, or conservative itinerants like John Armstrong develop a creative ministry, they’re crucified by their deeply conservative fellows: “It’s new, and thus cannot be good.” (Jesus dealt with the same line of criticism.)...