The Vanishing Evangelical

Saving the Church from Its Own Success by Restoring What Really Matters

by: Calvin Miller

• Format

  E-Book

  ISBN

  9781441242297

  Pub. Date

  Sep 2013

  SRP

  $19.99

  Buy

About

The future of evangelical faith begins today, with you

Evangelicalism faces an uncertain future. In this book, written just before his death, Calvin Miller takes a critical and prophetic look at the movement he loved, believing we can shape the future only if we understand the present. American evangelicalism, he warns, has largely adapted to the culture and as a result is waning in its vitality and influence.

The Vanishing Evangelical looks at the broad cultural influences that are shaping the whole movement, and Miller's sage counsel challenges us to confront these forces and take steps to develop a personal, vital spirituality.

"Calvin Miller's amazingly insightful work is written for such a time as this, calling a sedated church back to her first love and to her rightful place."--Wayne Cordeiro, founder and senior pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship, Honolulu, Hawaii

"Calvin Miller was a pastor, professor, artist, apologist, evangelist, and writer of renown. This is the last book he wrote, and it's well worth the read. We are still tracking with you, Calvin!"--Timothy George, founding dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University; general editor of the Reformation Commentary on Scripture

"Dealing with challenges such as a declining interest in worship and discipleship, postmodern thought, wavering orthodoxy, and more, the book nevertheless points to factors that indicate the potential for a more promising future. Church leaders should take seriously both Miller's concerns and his prescriptions for the future of the church."--Michael Duduit, executive editor of Preaching magazine; dean of the College of Christian Studies at Anderson University, Anderson, South Carolina

"Calvin Miller's crowning work sizzles with prophetic zeal. Like Jesus, Miller had a passion that increased as his life on this planet ebbed. That passion comes through in the pages of this book."--David Murrow, author of Why Men Hate Going to Church


The evangelical church is in flux--and not for the better. Rather than speaking to our culture with a unique, prophetic voice, we have adapted to the culture and lost our vitality. With a pastor's heart, Calvin Miller examines some of the influences contributing to this state, including an obsession with size, the individualizing of belief, a "small commission," lifeless worship, weakened orthodoxy, and the deadening effects of technology. In response, he calls each of us to a personal recovery of spiritual passion and spiritual discipline, zeal for the mission of God, commitment to community, and staying rooted in biblical orthodoxy.

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Endorsements

"The Vanishing Evangelical is not only a fitting epitaph of Calvin Miller's well-lived life but also prophetic trumpet blast to the church given to us as he entered eternity. Upon reading his visionary summons, I was duly convicted, then encouraged; challenged, then affirmed; guilty as charged, then exonerated with grace. Calvin Miller's amazingly insightful work is written for such a time as this, calling a sedated church back to her first love and to her rightful place."

Wayne Cordeiro, founder and senior pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship, Honolulu, Hawaii

"Calvin Miller was a pastor, professor, artist, apologist, evangelist, and writer of renown. He was also my friend, colleague, racquetball mate, and discussion partner. This is the last book he wrote, and it's well worth the read. I wish Calvin were still here so that I could take him to Starbucks to chat about several things he wrote in this volume, but I'm sure he is occupied with higher things in a better place. We are still tracking with you, Calvin!"

Timothy George, founding dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University; general editor of the Reformation Commentary on Scripture

"Calvin Miller knew the evangelical world from many perspectives--as a pastor, church planter, bestselling author, and teacher. In The Vanishing Evangelical, he summons his decades of experience and his considerable talents to craft a powerful indictment of the current state of the evangelical church. Dealing with challenges such as a declining interest in worship and discipleship, postmodern thought, wavering orthodoxy, and more, the book nevertheless points to factors that indicate the potential for a more promising future. Church leaders should take seriously both Miller's concerns and his prescriptions for the future of the church."

Michael Duduit, executive editor of Preaching magazine; dean of the College of Christian Studies at Anderson University, Anderson, South Carolina

"Calvin Miller's crowning work sizzles with prophetic zeal. Like Jesus, Miller had a passion that increased as his life on this planet ebbed. That passion comes through in the pages of this book."

David Murrow, author of Why Men Hate Going to Church

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