Repenting of Positivism

Another degree of Soteriological Reductionism was introduced into Evangelicalism in 1965. It has come to be known as Positivism. Positivism is a radical philosophical and rationalistic psychological approach to the presentation of the Gospel. This psychological approach understands that people psychologically resist negative statements and even statements that they view as being critical. Reductionism progressively empties Bible words of their meaning and therefore of their dogmatisms.

Positivism as a psychological approach to preaching taught preachers to simply avoid or deemphasize any Scriptures or teaching that might carry a negative or critical connotation. It was not long before people were mentally (psychologically) conditioned to view any negative comments or critical teaching as offensive and judgmental. As a result of this psychological conditioning, people immediately closed their spirits to anything that was being said in that their mindset categorized the negative preacher as a radical not deserving to be heard or considered.