What Makes Evangelical Theology "Evangelical"?
What makes evangelical theology “evangelical”? More basically, what is “evangelicalism”? Is it important to know what makes evangelical theology “evangelical”? If theology is of any real value to evangelicalism, what should it look like? Is theology itself important?
Though Alister McGrath contends that evangelicalism today is concerned with theological purity,[1] it seems that
It is not that the elements of the evangelical credo have vanished; they have not. The fact that they are professed, however, does not necessarily mean that the structure of the historic protestant faith is still intact. The reason, quite simply, is that while these items of belief are professed, they are increasingly being removed from the center of evangelical life where they defined what that life was, and they are now being relegated to the periphery where their power to define what evangelical life should be is lost.[2]
Despite the disagreement upon evangelicalisms current state, the consensus of scholars agree upon the importance of theology. However, none puts it quite as well as
We all have our theologies, for we all have a way of putting things together in our own minds that, if we are Christian, has a shape that arises from our knowledge of God and his Word. We might not be conscious of the process. Indeed, we frequently are not. But at the very least we will organize our perceptions into some sort of pattern that seems to make sense to us. The question at issue, then, is not whether we will have a theology but whether it will be a good or bad one, whether we will become conscious of our thinking processes or not, and, more particularly, whether we will learn to bring all of our thoughts into obedience to Christ or not.[3]
Understanding the nature of evangelical theology is important primarily because evangelicalism is a movement within Christendom, not a specific denomination defined by creeds. Those within evangelicalism must understand what they believe and therefore what makes them evangelical. If they fail to comprehend this, evangelicalism as a movement will be void. Since those known as evangelicals are some of the main proponents of the furtherance of the gospel of
When seeking to understand what makes evangelical theology “evangelical,” one is faced with endless views and differing understandings of the history and origins of evangelicalism. Understanding the history and origin of the movement is what leads to the final conclusions drawn by each party. As
One view, advocated by J.I. Packer and
Evangelicals are those who believe in the unity, distinction, and equality of the Triune God, and believe that He is sovereign over all, creator of all, infinite, uncreated, loving, and the judge of all. They believe humans are created both male and female in God’s image, yet are
sinful and face the wages of sin, death and separation from God. Humans are rebellious and lost in a depraved state of sin in which they are unable to please God, and they under God’s condemnation. In this state of sinfulness, humankind transgresses God’s holy standard.[7]
They also hold that evangelicals believe in the full deity and humanity of
Evangelicals believe that the Holy Spirit is coequally God and applies the work of
Believers are to fellowship corporately in the unity of the Gospel as the Church, the body and bride of
Another view is one that takes a more minimal approach to who is defined as evangelical. In this view, the evangelical audience holds that Scripture is the final arbitrator of theological truth, though not necessarily the inspired, authoritative, inerrant word of God. However, evangelicals can have disagreements on God’s providence and foreknowledge, whether Christ relinquished His divine prerogatives when He became human, whether hell is unending torment or annihilation, and on the atonement of Christ (penal substitution, the destruction of Satan and his work, or moral government atonement).[12]
This view appears to stem out of the National Association of Evangelicals’ attempt to facilitate unity among conservative Protestants. It seems to work merely off of
A third view is that of
As has been demonstrated above, it is extremely hard to develop a clear definition of evangelicalism for a number of reasons. One reason is that there is no consensus among leading scholars as to what issues are important for evangelicalism to define and require for membership. A second reason it is so hard to clearly identify evangelicalism is that there is no official membership that makes a person or a group evangelical. Though there are many groups within the bounds of evangelicalism, such as the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals and the Evangelical Theological Society that meet to discuss issues facing modern Christianity, there is no unifying governing body that decides and enforces the standard for evangelicalism.[17] Rather, evangelicalism is a movement, a “coalition”[18] of people, groups, and denominations that claim to be conservative Christian. Since it is a movement, as
Because evangelicalism is not a denomination held together by creed, but a movement, a multi-denominational/interdenominational fellowship held together as a loose confederacy, evangelicalism is not concerned with issues of church polity, how the sacraments are observed, the role of women in ministry, eschatology, or traditional Arminian and Calvinist topics. Rather, in accordance with what seems to be the modern usage of the word “evangelical” by pollsters, [20] I have concluded, on the basis of the many views of evangelicalism (rejecting
How one defines evangelicalism comes out of two presuppositions. The first is what is considered to be the accepted history of evangelicalism. The second is how we should view evangelicalism today, or what etymological evolution has occurred. According to
I however, believe that evangelicalism needs to be defined further if it is to be a movement that has any theological thrust behind it and is not merely superficially cohesive. There is much debate and disagreement today in evangelicalism about issues such as open theism. Issues such as this could cause great divisions in evangelicalism that could keep evangelicals from supporting one another when it comes to proselytizing. If such occurred, evangelicalism would fail to be “evangelical,” since the movement was developed for the purpose of defending and propagating “the essential truths of the Bible.”[22]
It seems to me that evangelicalism needs to be defined by the view held by Packer, Oden, and Boice outlined above. Evangelicalism needs to reform its theology if it is to continue with its task. It needs to not only make merely converts to Christianity, but rather disciples, “teaching them to observe all” that
Objections:
The first objection is that Alister McGrath, a proponent of this view, “suggests that correct evangelical theology can only be found in the Reformation and consequently, it is this theology that will preserve evangelicalism.”[23] However, such a view would force many evangelicals to denounce their theologies or to no longer be included as evangelical. “The assertion that evangelicalism is tied to the Reformation suggests that all evangelicals everywhere should share the same convictions.”[24] “McGrath’s version of evangelical identity would include among the core commitments a Reformed accent that stands in some tension with… transdenominationalism (which really seems to mean “transconfessionalism”).”[25] This view would make it difficult, if not impossible for there to be any significant diversity within evangelicalism.
A second objection is that if evangelicalism is to survive postmodernism, according to Stanley Grenz, it must leave its “epistemological foundationalism” views. Grenz defines foundationalism as “the acknowledgment of the seemingly obvious observation that not all beliefs (or assertions) are on the same level; some beliefs (or assertions) anchor others.” Foundationalist theology conceives human knowledge as being built upon a foundation and built up like a building.[26] In Grenz’s view, an evangelical theology that is based upon foundationalism, such as the theology of the reformation, should be rejected. Citing
In Grenz’s view, there are three determining factors which evangelicalism must use to develop its theology: the community,
A third objection is raised by
Hart’s view seems to coincide with that of
Defense:
In reply to the first objection, “The assertion that evangelicalism is tied to the Reformation suggests that all evangelicals everywhere should share the same convictions. This assertion simply cannot be supported since the Reformation was a response to the context of its time. Simply rooting evangelicalism in the Reformation negates the fact that evangelicals share the same history as the rest of Christendom.”[32] By rooting evangelicalism in the Reformation, it is given a strong foundation upon solid, classical orthodox Christian beliefs. The Calvinistic assertions of the Reformation do not have to be criteria for defining evangelicalism, as Packer’s and Oden’s assertions do not consider such issues as how far God’s sovereignty in salvation extends.
Evangelicalism needs a solid Biblical framework from which to grow and mature. As Alister McGrath himself says, “Christian theology is under an obligation to pay respectful and obedient attention to the biblical testimony and allow itself to be shaped and reshaped by what it finds expressed there. Theology therefore has both catechetical and apologetic facets, just as it has immense relevance to spirituality and ethics.”[33] The theological precepts that have been put forward above by Packer, Oden, and Boice set up a feasible basis in which evangelicals can confidently work toward these ends.
This basis for evangelicalism gives a good framework in which evangelicals can converse about theological issues with a clear understanding of what is acceptable and unacceptable. Such conversation could help both sides of doctrinal issues to get a better rounded view and to gain a holistic Biblical theology. As
In response to objection three, the movement of evangelicalism is not really the problem. Evangelicalism is “rooted in Reformational theology, Puritan-type pietism, and eighteenth- and nineteenth-century ideals of evangelistic outreach,”[35] to which it needs to return.
It seems that
It seems that Wells, Mohler, and Boice are correct that evangelicalism has let down its “theological defenses,”[37] theological concern has disappeared in modern evangelicalism and “has been dislodged from its center,”[38] and the void that has formed is being filled by everything from postmodern thought to feminism. Evangelicalism needs to be well defined, not eliminated. It needs to allow for imaginative theology, [39] but it does not need to be held captive by ill-definition and heresies.
“Evangelicals have always been ‘Bible people.’ Evangelicalism typically has championed excellent preaching, personal Bible study, general biblical literacy—all in the name of the unique authority of the Bible for our belief and practice.”[40] For evangelicalism to continue in this great tradition, it needs to have a well defined theological framework. Evangelicals need to be clear and in agreement with one another on central issues dealing with God,
[1] Alister McGrath, “Evangelical Theological Method: The State of the Art,” in Evangelical Futures: A Conversation on Theological Method, ed.
[2]
[3] Ibid, 3.
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7] Packer and Oden, 58-70.
[8]ibid. 71-92, 130-146
[9] ibid. 93-110
[10] ibid. 111-129, 147-159
[11]
[12] Body and
[13] D.
[14]
[15]
[16] Ibid. 6-12.
[17]
[18] Ibid. 186.
[19] Modern Reformation Magazine, “The Nature & Future of Evangelicalism: A Dialogue Between Michael Horton and
[20] Hart, 176.
[21] [21] Modern Reformation Magazine, section 3.
[22] Hart, 30
[23]
[24] ibid., Weaknesses of an Evangelical Identity Based Upon the Reformation.
[25]
[26]
[27] Ibid., 115-120.
[28] Ibid., 120-121, 130, 134.
[29] Hart, 16-17.
[30] Ibid. 187-88.
[31]
[32]
[33] Alister McGrath, “Engaging the Great Tradition: Evangelical Theology and the Role of Tradition,” in Evangelical Futures: A Conversation on Theological Method, ed.
[34]
[35]
[36] R.
[37] Ibid. 36
[38] Wells, 106
[39]
[40]
[41]
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS
Boice,
Grenz,
Hart, D. G. Deconstructing Evangelicalism: Conservative Protestantism in the Age of
Knight,
McGrath, Alister E. “Evangelical Theological Method: The State of the Art.” In Evangelical Futures: A Conversation on Theological Method, ed.
McGrath, Alister E. “Engaging the Great Tradition: Evangelical Theology and the Role of Tradition.” In Evangelical Futures: A Conversation on Theological Method, ed.
Mohler,
Packer,
Packer,
Stackhouse,
INTERNET
Modern Reformation Magazine, 2003. “The Nature & Future of Evangelicalism: A Dialogue Between
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