Roger Olson, professor of theology at Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary, recently blogged about something he calls Precious Moments Christianity (a term he borrows from Charles Colson). The term is intended to lead readers to think about Precious Moments figurines or paraphernalia, and to view Christianity through that lens. Olson identifies ten characteristics of Precious Moments Christianity:
- No or few expectations of members;
- Promotion of what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called “cheap grace;”
- God, Jesus, portrayed as resource for feeling good about oneself and achieving success in life;
- Church presented as support group whose primary purpose is therapy;
- Doctrine shunned as too difficult and divisive;
- Little or no emphasis on the cross—either Christ’s or his followers’;
- Worship practiced as entertainment;
- No church discipline;
- Spiritual formation, discipleship, presented as optional and beneficial for feeling good;
- Christianity treated as a warm blanket of comfort and/or as a platform for personal achievement.
So What?
What Olson terms Precious Moments Christianity is a form of low commitment Christianity. This form of the faith is something that is far from ideal. It is also something that is relatively new. Surprisingly, Olson suggests it didn’t exist in church history before the 1960s.
- Have you ever attended a Precious Moments church? If so, what was your experience like?
- What percentage of Protestant congregations in America do you think might be Precious Moments churches (as defined by meeting at least 7 of the characteristics above)?
- Do you think the number of Precious Moments congregations is increasing, flat, or decreasing? Explain.