Please forgive the ramblings below. I have not organized the thoughts in this post and though I may choose to do so later, I will just let the floods poor, drown in them and sort it out another day.
The turn of the 20th century saw committed Christians as outcasts, the "remnant" of a population of Christians who believed in more than the human condition. They are called Fundamentalists.
For many reasons I do not agree with Fundamentalism, but I can sympathize with Fundamentalists of the early 1900's. They were crowded out by the Social Gospel movement, a seemingly powerful understanding of Christ that eliminates Christ all together. I am biased, and though I will take principals of this movement to my grave, I find it in practice a humanist approach with some Jesus make-up.
Fundamentalists saw the center of their faith waning in the world. The empirical Christians, at the time, the mainline denominations, were collapsing the elements of faith.
I have posted sometime earlier that Fundamentalists switched their "remnant" self-identity to achieve the Kingdom of God as a massive population, mostly brainwashed by very specific and narrow doctrines established by white middle-aged men with something to lose.
So what comes next? I see a trend of Christian activism for social concerns. I am thrilled by the increase in humanitarian aide. Christians are again discussing issues of the Kingdom that go beyond number of conversions. They are seeking to adhere to the requests of Christ - to feed, clothe, bathe, visit - to love. I hope that this trend can go on, gain greater momentum and people will no longer be hungry, naked, dirty, lonely - unloved.
But I predict that this is not so. As any movement goes, a counter movement will take fashion. It scares me to think that again we will find top leaders of Christianity claiming that evangelism has been subordinated to the cause of humanitarian aid and that the push will move back to the already heavy evangelistic conversion model.
As a quick disclaimer, I do not intend to play down evangelism, for I do believe in its necessity. I do believe that goodness comes from God and I do believe in the Holy Spirit's work within the world, compelling Christians and non-Christians alike to press forward and cultivate the Kingdom of God. I believe Christians have a charge put forth to take active responsibility in this.
So what comes next in Christianity? When post-modernity changes, the Emergent movement has reached its Zenith? Will we again look to establish Empire rather than Kingdom? Will Christians seek to dominate the world again, or serve with Godliness and devotion the oncoming Kingdom of God?
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