Continuing To Be A Vital Force
I always knew evangelicals were a strange group. DW Bebbington’s Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A History from the 1730s to the 1980s just affirmed it. I enjoy history and Bebbington does a great job explaining core beliefs Evangelicals can unite around. Bebbington also does a good job explaining how we are different and have morphed throughout the decades.
In Bebbington’s concluding sentence he states, “Evangelical religion has been a vital force in modern Britain.[1]” That is not just a statement that was true in the past but it is still true today. Just this morning Krish Kandiah wrote an article in Christianity Today titled, “Evangelicals Could Swing the General Election for Good.[2]” Krish’s point is that Evangelicals are still a vital force and he is hopeful that evangelicals can rally around social issues and still have the ability to mold and shape culture. Even if evangelicals seem to be losing a foothold on culture, if history truly repeats itself, then we will see evangelicals continue to morph in such a way that they will remain a vital force.
I was hooked with Bebbington’s introduction. I loved how he described the four qualities that have been the special marks of Evangelical religion: conversionism, activism, biblicism, and crucientrism[3]. I identify with these qualities and I consider myself an evangelical. What is so interesting is how the four qualities are general enough that we indeed see many different forms, shapes, and practices of evangelicalism. We could spend hours talking about each of the four qualities and how they play themselves out differently through diverse moments in time, different cultures, or denominations. But that’s the beauty of it right? Bebbington spends 274 pages describing how evangelicalism has been a vital force for 250 years in Britain, changing and morphing, yet still uniting around core qualities.
While reading Bebbington I kept being encouraged by the Spirit. I currently believe evangelicalism is out of touch with culture. We are a step behind and don’t seem to know how to catch up. But I’m an optimist and as I kept reading Bebbington I kept being reminded by the Spirit that for decades/centuries believers have been wrestling with these same questions. Believers have been praying and thinking through the four qualities of an evangelical and have been doing what they can, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to impact culture. And for decades/centuries evangelicals have remained a vital force. Do I really think that’s going to end with my generation? While sometimes I doubt, in general, I’m hopeful that we as evangelicals we hold strong to our core beliefs and find new ways to impact the culture for the sake of the Kingdom and remain a vital force. I’m hopeful that one day the DMINLGP 30 cohort will read about it in the history books.
[1] David W Bebbington, Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: a History from the 1730s to the 1980s (London: Routledge, 1989), 274.
[2] Krish Kandiah, “Evangelicals Could Swing the General Election for Good,” Christianity Today, February 19, 2015, accessed February 19, 2015,
[3] David W Bebbington, Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: a History from the 1730s to the 1980s (London: Routledge, 1989), 2.
About the Author
Nick Martineau
Nick is a pastor at Hope Community Church in Andover, KS, founder of ILoveOrphans.com, and part of the LGP5 cohort.7 responses to “Continuing To Be A Vital Force”
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Wow the DMin LGP30 group. I like what you said about Evangelicals being a vital force. I think some how some way we keep coming back strong when it appears we are on the decline. In everything that happens in life and in the church my faith is that Christ will keep us through it all. After seeing the beheading of those Egyptian Christians i realize that when persecution comes the church grows. No matter what the enemy does or the world does the church of Jesus Christ will grow and will be vital.
Your statement: “I always knew the evangelicals were a strange group” makes me laugh. I’ve so often wanted to disown my identity of being an evangelical because of what I consider strange. What do you consider strange?
As you close with the question of whether evangelicalism will end with your generation, that’s where I wonder if Bennington does a bit of a disservice. By delineating out the distinctiveness of evangelicalism, we almost lose the connection to what has gone before and what will occur ahead. In other words, is not this journey of church-history- made-present part of a grand narrative that creates a place for all of us to participate?
I see us as a strange group because of our great diversity. Conversionism, activism, biblicism and crucicentrism play out in so many different ways among evangelicals. My upbringing highlights different weights to place on those qualities but I also know I’m just trying to figure this out as I go so the way I do it doesn’t mean it’s the right way.
“My upbringing highlights different weights to place on those qualities but I also know I’m just trying to figure this out as I go so the way I do it doesn’t mean it’s the right way.”
That is an interesting thought. Could it be that different denominations can be used by God in different ways emphasize each of these points?
Nick, I am looking forward to reading Kirsch’s article. I believe Evangelicalism has been and can be a powerful force that shape culture. I think I have always thought of it that way, especially in the US, but there was something coming across in the reading that made me see another angle. I can see where, I am sorry to use this phrase again:), a reflexive-contextualizing of our theology does have a cause and effect, give and take, dimension that I might not have been seeing before. The elections will definitely be interesting to watch and better yet I look forward to figuring out a way to play a role beyond my vote. Great post bro!
Phil,
I’d love to hear more about the reflexive-contextualizing of our theology and the cause and effect you are starting to see. I think I really have something to learn there that I’m currently missing.
Nick, So maybe it’s not all bad that we’re out of step with culture? Sure if the church is blind to the culture it’s not going to do any worldly good and the church is a real entity in a real tangible America (for example). But on the other hand, cultural relevance and our Christian actions need to be driven by or in step with our theological underpinnings. For example Bebbington’s four Evangelical characteristics can continue to shape who we are and how we respond to the culture and that purposeful response might put us out of step with the culture and thereby providing the necessary contrast.