The following responses come from the column outlined the major events since the Evangelical coup in American religion in 197. We asked readers what lessons they thought should be learned from these two decades. Some interesting selected responses:

From: Richard Perkins It seems that the "main thing" that evangelicals have been stressing all this time (namely, the Gospel) isn't the "main thing" after all.

I have--for the past 5 years--been asking my students what "the Gospel" is in their minds--and have asked them to write out a brief synopsis. The overwhelming percentage of these papers state just what you would expect them to state--that Jesus came to earth to die for our sins, and that belief in this constitutes a response which will insure our personal salvation in heaven.

Almost no one mentions anything other than this assemblage of ideas. Certainly no one has ever mentioned what seems to be The Gospel according to The Gospels: namely that Christ came to proclaim that [1] the Messiah has finally arrived, and [2] that God's Kingdom is at hand.

That appears to be the Gospel...not all that stuff about death, resurrection, and eternal life in Heaven.

Indeed, the apostles were sent out to preach the gospel well before they were even told about Christ's death and resurrection. Furthermore, when they finally were told about all this stuff, they didn't understand it. And Jesus had little to say about "heaven," but a great deal to say about what "The Kingdom" is all about. Just about every parable is all about what the Kingdom is all about.

The Kingdom of God is in your midst...it is among you right now. That's what Jesus said to the leaders of his day...but most evangelicals prefer to render it "the kingdom is within you" (as if Jesus could have said THAT to the Pharisees--the sons of Satan!) As if the Kingdom is a "heart condition," and not a state of existence between a community of followers...as was the case with Jesus and his disciples...and later in Jerusalem after Pentecost.

No, evangelicals (and just about all other brands of Christians) have done a pretty good job of losing sight of "the main thing" all along--namely, that The Kingdom of God is near, and that we should give up everything in order to get it. "It" (the Kingdom) consists of the loving and vital relationships which we share with others who are called according to His purpose. If we believed this, then we would do all we could to build this sort of relationship right now...and not wait until Jesus does it for us in the bye and bye.

All the rest (death, resurrection, heaven) is vital to us as believers...but it is NOT "The Gospel."

Too bad we've missed the main thing. So, in its absence, what else is there but fads and endless rounds of going off to church to spend a few hours with each other before getting back to what is really number 1 in our lives--our private lives.

To most Christians, The real Gospel is not good news. It means we have our priorities all fouled up, from God''s perspective.

Of course, far be it for me to say what "God's perspective" really is--even though I just did. Let those who have ears to hear and eyes to see read it for themselves...hopefully with new eyes.

From: COVBC@aol.com
We should have learned that those yell loudest about relevance will often be found irrelevant in a short time. "Preach the word." I recommend the book "No God but God," edited by Os Guiness & John Seel. They are two men who have learned. Howard

From: CraigWads@aol.com
It appears that if Christians calm down, then Satan will calm down. If the Christians get on fire again, Satan will start a false revival. Maybe this is why the fire went out so easily while no one was watching for the false fire.

From: danr@injoy.com
Wow, what a great ride through evangelical history! Thanks for your investment of time to communicate your thoughts. Dan Reiland

From: Dick Wynn <76511.2757@compuserve.com
A GREAT SYNOPSIS OF THE PAST TWO DECADES !!!!

From: Jim Morgan
You left out one very important fact. The last time I checked Jesus was still in charge of His church. Not you or the hate mongers you seem to represent. It is God's will that will prevail not yours and not mine.

From: James J Lake
The Messengers come and go but The Message still remains the same. The Message is clear-I have come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly. This has to come from God or we would have destroyed it all by now. Thanks for once again getting us to see how God has used even our foolishness at times to work out His purposes. ---Jim--

From: PstrBob@aol.com
I think some of your history is "revisionist"! ;)

From: Rick LeBlanc
Hey, what about home schooling!! We've not done too bad as a force in the past few years. Heck, even Hollywood is now making fun of us (LA Vacation-Chevy Chase) and all major newspapers regularly report on the movement. -- Carolee LeBlanc

From: tsmith@Perigee.net (Tim Smith)
As I read through your time line I saw how many of those bandwagons I've been on. I understand about "life is a symphony" but what is the main theme of all this. I have a hunch that the main theme of the "Evangelical Coup" is not the main theme of the "Kingdom Koup." Tim
The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.


From: "Mark C. Doll" <74152.1772@compuserve.com I am convinced that Evangelicals, today, have become swept up in the rage of fadism, or accepting whatever is in style. We no longer approach issues with our reason and intellects, but rather by how it makes us feel. We are no longer grounded in doctrinal or even Biblical teaching, but whatever makes us feel good, is good, regardless where it will lead us. We are driven by the search for the next emotional "fix" or "high" instead of what the Word of God says on a specific issue.
As missionaries in Mexico, with World Gospel Mission, we see the "fads" sweep through Mexico a year or two after it really takes hold in the States. Many times, by the time it gets to us, it is no longer an issue in the US. May God deliver us from the US fad culture in our churches and our own spiritual life! -- Mark Doll

From: Larry202@aol.com
What I've learned form 20 years of evangelical history is that I'm getting old. I remember all that stuff :-) -- LW