"vying"? Why should this be so? Why does it matter? Over issues like whether the movement should get involved in the debates over global warming and immigration? Or Whether evangelicalism should be a big tent, open to more divergent views, or a smaller, purer theology?
According to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, evangelicals can be separated into three camps, traditionalist, centrist and modernist.
But as Donald A. Carson pointed out, "There are many people today who call themselves evangelical whom no person would call an evangelical 40 years ago." So, I suppose the categorizing by Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life is just a rough guide to helping us what's happening in evangelicalism.
Maybe, this is why some " vying to define its center" is really needed!! ... so that evangelicalism would remain orthodox!?
After the reading the article, I had this question: Which of the following issues do you think Jesus would be more concerned with? ... for me, I have no answers. It's really hard to decide! Anyone have His email, fax number, mobile phone number?? ... oops, not "mobile phone number", God is suppose to be transcendent.
- Climate change (global warming)
- Immigration issues
- fighting poverty and AIDS (such as in Africa)
- Abortion Issues
- Gay marriage
- The orthodoxy of the "emerging church" movement
- Theological liberalism in the mainline Protestant denominations
- The cultural separatism of the fundamentalist movement
... though I do not know which above issues Jesus would be more concerned with, I don't think He would be very concerned whether what we call ourselves evangelical, classic Christians or historic orthodox Christians.
2 comments:
Imho, the debate on the 'center' of evangelicalism is so hot now because the movement has finally gained the upper hand in the 'culture war'...
But its a frail advantage that can be squandered in a generation by either confusing church and state, or by giving in to cultural relativism... I hope we'd not be too quick to forget wat the 20th century lessons of the evangelical story :)
gained the upper hand in the 'culture war'... ? Not really sure. ...maybe only in the US? how about Europe? Asia leh?
Think there's still a long way to go. But guess you're right, it's really a 'frail advantage'. yes, think one should never be complacent when we work for the Kingdom of God!
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