Bebbington, Evangelicalism, and Climate Change
Journeying through ministry I am mindful of some of my ministerial mentors and those who taught me polity and liturgy. One such professor was Dr. Odinga Maddox. Dr. Maddox was a respected pastor, leader, and critical thinker. During one of his lectures, he reminded this novice group of emerging leaders to form ecumenical bonds. When asked about why the importance he briskly replied, “you will find there is more that unites us than divides us.
Taking a look at D.W. Bebbington writing this week resurfaced that quote as I thought about my Methodist upbringing and my introduction to the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. This method bases its teaching on four characteristics as the basis of theological and doctrinal development:
• Scripture: The Bible is the primary source of authority and standard for Christian belief and practice
• Tradition: How the church has historically interpreted Scripture
• Reason: The reasoning of Scripture and tradition through logical coherence
• Experience: How faith must be a personal experience
Bebbington in his definition of Evangelicalism also outlines four key components. [1]
• Conversionism:
• Activism:
• Biblicism:
• Crucicentrism
As Bebbington takes readers through the history of 19th—and 20th-century evangelicalism, one of the arguments he makes is the expense the church has incurred with the conflicting clash against culture. More specifically, he explains how evangelicalism changed as the culture and climate changed.
One point that resonated with me was the Lausanne Congress of 1974, which admitted that the shape of Evangelical religion is shaped by the environment. Something that Bebbington reaffirms, The basic trends in Evangelicalism were shaped by the shifts in cultural mood that eventually altered the orientation of the whole population.[2]
At heart is the question of identity, and how Evangelicals are viewed. Dr Jason Paul Clark, in his writing, brings map-making to the forefront, connecting Evangelicalism and capitalism and the lack of concrete definition. Capitalism is one of those terms people without necessarily being able to explain its technical meaning. [3]
Taking a look at Evangelicalism as a whole Clark adds that the church made it’s adjustment not on the basis of capitalism but conceptualization, Evangelicalism was not just a response to the trials and challenges of economic migration but was also a response to the wider changes in how human beings understood the world conceptually and their place within it.[4]
The period Bebbington highlights was a critical time in the denomination’s history it also serves as a taste of present reality. Churches are in conflict because changes are happening in response to the world and the church is caught in the crucible. I am mindful of the split in the United Methodist Church over equality rights and the church’s response or lack of response to issues of the LGBTQ community. Other denominations have seen an abandonment of congregants over political viewpoints and topics such as social justice.
An article that examined this dilemma within denominations uncovered a profound point. Since 1965, denominations that practice a softening of Christian doctrine have hemorrhaged the most members.
Since 1965 the Disciples of Christ) had 1.92 million members, dropping 67 percent to 625,000. In 1966 Episcopalian membership was near 3.6 million, by 2013 it saw a 50% decrease to less than 1.9 million. In 1967, Presbyterians (PCUSA) were at 3.3 million, but by 2013, they were 1.86 million, a decline of more than 45%. [5] A common denominator was found within these declining churches. denominations and congregations who believed to have lowered Scriptural integrity to appease the current cultural climate were the hardest hit.
I have often wondered how the church will navigate this ever-growing polemic. On one side we have esteemed scriptures so high we have allowed souls to perish. Conversely, we have also esteemed people and culture so high we allow the scriptures and biblical theology to perish. Admittedly, there is no silver bullet, but Bebbington carefully lays out how Evangelicalism hit this crossroad. The Liberal and Conservative wars have history.
Going back to the Lausanne Congress of 1974, a thought arises. How many denominations would publicly affirm today that their doctrine has been shaped in this sort? As this was a game changer of sorts, how many faith entities would dare make such a bold declaration? Bebbington asserts that the Evangelical church was able to balance relevance while adhering to the tenets of the faith.
This reading challenged me because I could readily see how the Evangelical movement was impacted by societal momentum. One thing is for certain societal momentum is at an all-time high with a plethora of issues. It remains to be seen in this era whether the church will persevere in holding fast to scripture, doctrine and tradition or will we capitulate to culture, and its demand for change?
[1] D. W. Bebbington, Evangelicalism in Modern Britain a History from the 1730s to the 1980s (London: Routledge, 1988), 5.
[2] Bebbington, 272.
[3] Jason Paul Clark, “Evangelicalism and Capitalism: A Reparative Account and Diagnosis of Pathogeneses in the Relationship,” Faculty Publications – Portland Seminary. (2018), 50 https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/gfes/, 50.
[4] Clark, 63.
[5] Phil Mitchell. “What’s behind the Decline of America’s Major Churches?” Home. Last modified March 1, 2023. Accessed October 18, 2024. https://www.the401stprophet.com/what-s-behind-the-decline-of-america-s-major-churches.
About the Author
Daren Jaime
16 responses to “Bebbington, Evangelicalism, and Climate Change”
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Hi Daren,
From a Pastor’s perspectives, while reading Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A History from the 1730s, were there any aspects you wished David Bebbington had addressed more thoroughly?”
Daren,
I was also really drawn to the idea that there is history between the conservative and liberal ideals that go a way back. On one hand this is discouraging but on the other hand it helps explain things a bit better.
You write, “On one side we have esteemed scriptures so high we have allowed souls to perish”. I was a bit confused by what you mean by this. Can you explain it a bit?
Hey Adam! Thanks for asking. I have witnessed how many can become legalistic in our perspectives so much that we neglect people. There is a disconnect between what the word says and how it is interpreted, and consequently, we are lost.
Example: We can attack people for their dress, tattoos, and appearance and miss connecting with our brother and sister in Christ.
And on a liberal sense, some think that because God is loving and just and forgiving it is an entitlement to allow sin to abound. Paul corrcets this thinking.
Hi Daren, thanks for the stats on the decline of church membership. Do you think there is any positive to being post-Christian? In my city (which leans more liberal), I have noticed that Christians here are usually more engaged and authentic than in more ‘Christian’ towns. What has been your experience with the decline of evangelicalism in America?
Christy much the same here. There is a hunger to become more spiritual and less religious. I cannot speak to Evangelicalism in total because Im Methodist, but churches are surely reaching a decline and the example you cited is happening more and more across America.
Hi Daren, Being someone who has been in a PCUSA church for a long time, I see what you are saying. It is interesting because during our sermons, I specifically listen for the gospel to be preached. Since our current pastor arrived, I have put aside my urges to pull up stakes because is intentional about preaching the gospel in a way to draw people to Christ. Do you feel any pressure from your denomination on what you preach?
Hi Diane. Thankfully there is no pressure on the preaching. We are given the latitude to preach the bible. Context is important,and a church location may require a different gospel focus. For example, a community that is ridden with violence may hear more about peace, love and salvation. The only uniformity we are tasked with is to preach THE GOSPEL. And preach in season and out of season.
Thanks Daren. I’m wondering, do you think there is ever a time when bending like a reed is acceptable? Or should evangelicalism always remain tall and straight like a tree, without bending?
Hi Debbie. In my own opinion i think bending is ok to reach someone as long as it without compromise. Jesus look like he was bending some of the ways he reached people. Jews and Samaritans had no dealin gs but he bent to bless that woman and bring her to salvation. The issue comes when we are bending with compromise that God’s word, will and way become diluted for the sake of bending. Just my thoughts.
HI Daren,
Thank you for your reflections. How do you navigate cultural trends and theological integrity in today’s world?
Hi Kari! I fell like culture is ever changing and evolving.
A mentor. once told me look at some real boxes. The packaging and the pictures may reflect the culture, but whats on the inside does not change. There are some ways we can become more culturally competent and relevant but we should never compromise what is inside our 66 books.
Hi Daren, Thank you for your thoughtful post. Thank you for highlighting some specific data regarding churches losing membership when softening their positions in response to culture. I am curious if your reading brought forth anything of comparison to an overall decline in church membership/attendance? How do the leaders of the mentioned denominations view their decline?
Hi Julie. Sadly some are in denial about the decline and the role the church has played and have assigned blame to people when the fact is the church can be found equally negligent and culpable.
Some cite they are standing on God’s word and the wheat and tare are being separated. I heard this at a conference, and I shook my head because this particular person was negligent in leadership for reaching people. He was a leader and a scholar and he was so heavenly high he was no earthly good..
Others notice the decline are passionate to reclaim the lost and hurt.
Hi Daren, I appreciated your mention of the Lausanne Congress 1974, as it emphasized the importance of proclamation and demonstration of Christian faith. Where do you see congregants most conflicted between Evangelicalism and culture in the church you pastor?
Elysee where I am the question is does the church even understand the culture and do they have the practical skills to reach them. We are eager to clean the fish before we catch the fish. Congregants are sometimes prone to be non receptive to the culture feeling as though there is a compromise to the word.
This conflict over what is compromise and what is not and how we respond is a dominant theme.
Hi, Daren, thank you for your post, I enjoyed reading it. One question I would like to ask you. As a pastor, how would you balance between ‘esteeming’ the Scripture and the ‘pershing souls’? Thank you.