One of my favorite historical theologians, Roger Olson, has just written a fine piece on “How American Evangelical Christianity Has Changed During [His] Lifetime.” As a 70-something year old who was born and bred in and through the evangelical hay-day, it’s a piece that leaders and interested Christians alike should read.

From Olson’s perch, there are ten things that have substantially changed in American evangelical Christianity over the past 70 years. These are solid observations I’d like to comment on myself, as most of these things that Olson almost never hears or reads about anymore concern me as much as him.

Consider these 10 changes in American Evangelical Christianity.

Are these good changes? Bad changes? Are you indifferent to them?

First, when I was growing up and well into my early adult years evangelical Christianity in America focused much attention on the return of Jesus Christ. I almost never hear or read anything about that anymore.

Second, and related to “first,” when I was growing up and into my early adult years evangelical Christianity in America focused much attention on heaven and hell. I almost never hear or read anything about that anymore.

Third, when I was growing up and well into my early adult years evangelical Christianity in America focused much attention on missions and evangelism—including “witnessing to the lost.” I almost never hear or read anything about those anymore.

Fourth, when I was growing up….evangelical Christianity in America focused much attention on “separating from the world.” That did not mean physical separation but lifestyle separation…It’s been a long time since I heard the word “worldly” uttered in an evangelical church. The line between us and the secular world and its forms of entertainment (etc.) has just about disappeared.

Fifth, when I was growing up…evangelical Christianity in America frowned on “conspicuous consumption.”…Today evangelicals drive the finest cars, live in “McMansions,” and take luxury cruise vacations.

Sixth, when I was growing up…evangelical Christianity in America frowned on all forms of government welfare including subsidized home loans…Today evangelicals are just as likely as anyone else to rely on government financial help.

Seventh, when I was growing up…evangelical Christianity in America loved “America” but was suspicious of politics.We were as patriotic as anyone (and extremely suspicious about communism and “creeping socialism”) but generally stayed out of politics…Our task was to win souls for Jesus and get people ready for the inevitable and imminent world conflagration that would precede the return of Christ to earth. I have not heard anything like that from any evangelical pulpit or mouth or pen in many years.

Eighth, and related to “seventh,” when I was growing up…evangelical Christianity in America prepared its people, especially young people, for persecution and expected it…I haven’t heard any talk of persecution among evangelicals for many years (except in other countries).

Ninth, when I was growing up…evangelical Christians knew their Bibles forward and backward…The vast majority of evangelicals, in my experience, know very little about the Bible and never memorize any portion of it. Evangelical sermons are as likely to quote Dr. Seuss as Paul the Apostle.

Tenth, and finally, when I was growing up…evangelical Christians talked a lot about “the blood of Jesus.”…I haven’t heard “the blood of Jesus” mentioned in an evangelical setting in a long time.

Before I comment in a separate post, here is what Olson concludes:

So what conclusions do I draw from all this change? Some of it may be for the better. We 1950s evangelicals had obsessions that were probably unhealthy. However, on the other hand, taking it all together, I suspect we American evangelicals have become “comfortable in Zion”—a phrase that we used about mainline Christians (who weren’t really Christians at all) to describe how their religion was non-threatening to themselves or anyone else. And by “threatening” I don’t mean we thought Christianity ought to be physically threatening, but we did think authentic Christianity should shake people’s comfort in this world and focus their attention on sacrifice and separation.

Again, are these 10 changes in evangelicalism good or bad changes? Or are you indifferent to them?

Here’s my score card:

• Bad Changes: 1-4, 9-10
• Good Changes: 7…sort of
• Indifferent: 5,6, 8

What say you?