Further Evidence of an Evangelical Shift

Bill Hybels, Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church

There is perhaps no better measure of the state of American Christianity than the evangelical churches, which grew spectacularly beginning in the 1960s and have fundamentally changed the religious landscape in the U.S.  As I've reported before, there seems to be something of a shift going on among evangelicals. Their numbers are no longer growing rapidly. More of them seem to be nominal rather than enthusiastic in their faith. And they are demonstrating changes in their attitudes, ones that have led to a good deal of criticism from more traditional evangelical commentators.  Now comes further evidence from one of evangelicalism's most prominent megachurches,  Willow Creek Community Church, located in a suburb of Chicago.

Earlier this month, the CEO of Starbucks, Howard Shultz, backed out of a speaking engagement at Willow Creek under pressure from the LGBT community, which considers Willow Creek "anti-gay."  The specific criticism was that Willow Creek is associated with Exodus International, a ministry aimed at converting gays to a straight life style.  It turns out, however, that Willow Creek had quietly severed its association with Exodus International some time previously.  When Pastor Bill Hybels of Willow Creek addressed the issue (here), he stated in no uncertain terms, "Willow Creek is not anti-gay...It is not anti-anybody."  In his statement, Hybels walked a fine line because, on the one hand, he believes that marriage is between a man and a woman and that, biblically speaking, everyone else has to lead a celibate life.  On the other hand, Willow Creek seems to follow a "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which in effect acknowledges that everyone who comes in the door is imperfect.  Hybels stated that the church honors the journeys of every person who attends worship at Willow Creek.

This is not, I think, Hybels merely talking out of both sides of his mouth.  Rather, it is a thoughtful, even prayerful attempt to balance his understanding of the Bible with an openness to those who are not like him.  He is trying to stay true to the Bible and practice Christian love.  It is not an easy line for evangelicals to walk sometimes, and in this case his attempt at a balanced approach has left him open to criticism from both the LGBT community and other evangelicals.  Members of the one are unhappy because he still discriminates against gays by defining marriage as being between a woman and a man, and the other is critical because he doesn't follow a hardline on homosexuality.  He is tolerant and thus "unbiblical."

The point here is not who is right, who is wrong but rather to see in these events the way in which one of the most influential evangelical pastors in the U.S. has shifted away from hardcore evangelical thinking to views that are more balanced and that leave open the possibility of dialogue and understanding.  Hybels struggle for balance is not classical my-way-or-the-highway evangelicalism, and it is important to recognize that fact.  It is further evidence that elements of the evangelical movement are shifting toward moderation.