Russell Moore: From Moral Majority to 'Prophetic Minority'

Wall Street Journal ^ | August 16, 2013 | NAOMI SCHAEFER RILEY

[LucianOfSamasota]

'The Bible Belt is collapsing," says Russell Moore. Oddly, the incoming president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission doesn't seem upset. In a recent visit to The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Moore explains that he thinks the Bible Belt's decline may be "bad for America, but it's good for the church."

Why? Because "we are no longer the moral majority. We are a prophetic minority."

The phrase is arresting coming from such a prominent religious leader—akin to a general who says the Army has shrunk to the point it can no longer fight two wars. A youthful 41, Mr. Moore is among the leaders of a new generation who think that evangelicals need to recognize that their values no longer define mainstream American culture the way they did 50 or even 20 years ago.

On gay marriage, abortion, even on basic religious affiliation, the culture has moved away. So evangelicals need a new way of thinking—a new strategy, if you will—to attract and keep believers, as well as to influence American politics.

The easy days of mobilizing a ready-made majority are gone. By "prophetic minority," he means that Christians must return to the days when they were a moral example and vanguard—defenders of belief in a larger unbelieving culture. He views this less as a defeat than as an opportunity.

[LucianOfSamasota]

As in the days of the earliest church, Christians are once again salt and light in the pagan world.

[TheRobb7]

1 Timothy chapter 3

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

[Hattie]

What all this means is the old idea that there is no right or wrong and that every man can do what is right in his own eyes.

[Theodore R.]

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Today, it's "non-learning" but still unable to come to the knowledge of truth.

[Fast Moving Angel]

So evangelicals need a new way of thinking

Uh, no.

[HarleyD]

I’m still not clear as to what a “Prophetic Minority” happens to be. Perhaps the declining church is simply a way for God to weed out the wheat from the tares.

[Boogieman]

“So evangelicals need a new way of thinking—a new strategy, if you will—to attract and keep believers, as well as to influence American politics.”

Seeing as those are two things that the church was never instructed to do by its founder, I don’t see why they need a new strategy.