{"id":28130,"date":"2022-02-01T22:22:20","date_gmt":"2022-02-02T06:22:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=28130"},"modified":"2022-02-01T22:22:50","modified_gmt":"2022-02-02T06:22:50","slug":"has-the-church-capitalized-too-much","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/has-the-church-capitalized-too-much\/","title":{"rendered":"Has the Church Capitalized Too Much?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The readings this week were centered around the birth and progression of Evangelicalism and its relationship to capitalism. D.W. Bebbington\u2019s historical Evangelicalism in Modern Britain<\/em> provided a broad context of the formation and expansion of Evangelicalism throughout Britain. A history professor by trade in both Scotland and in the U.S., Bebbington articulates what an Evangelical is, how Evangelicalism has impacted society, and how it has changed over the course of several hundred years.[1]<\/a> In conjunction with Bebbington, we took a first look into Evangelicalism and Capitalism<\/em>, the dissertation work of Dr. Jason Clark which balances historical and philosophical views on the subject. The highly esteemed faculty member of Portland Seminary provides social science and theological perspectives on the relationship between Evangelicalism and capitalism, utilizing Bebbington\u2019s work as a foundational text in his own.<\/p>\n

The authors define Evangelicalism as a \u201cmajor development of modern Protestantism that emerged in the early 1730s in the United Kingdom,\u201d not having any specific denominational connection.[2]<\/a> Additionally, Bebbington and Clark give significant attention to what is referred to as the quadrilateral of priorities that is the foundation for Evangelicalism. These four components are conversionism, activism, biblicalism, and crucicentrism.[3]<\/a> This quadrilateral of priorities coupled with the belief in justification by faith alone launched Evangelicalism as a radical force of its time that significantly impacted the larger society around it.[4]<\/a> Bebbington would continue that the quadrilateral, \u201chave formed a permanent deposit of faith. Each of the characteristics, however, has found expression in many different ways,\u201d which I believe we still see to this day.[5]<\/a> Clark\u2019s specific focus on the interconnectedness of Evangelicalism and capitalism must be understood within the context that Bebbington provides. In understanding the emphasis on activism in which they utilized every means to spread the gospel, its no wonder that capitalism aided many Evangelicals in that vein.<\/p>\n

There are two key learnings for me from the reading this week, the first of which was just one sentence in Clark\u2019s work, stating, \u201cBebbington himself, in response to critiques of his work Evangelicalism in Modern Britain, notes that the nature of assurance is more complicated than he had proposed.”[6]<\/a> I immediately thought of Being Wrong<\/em> by Kathryn Schulz which focuses on the importance for owning and communicating when we have made a mistake. Perhaps it is just from my vantagepoint, but it is not often in todays society that I see those in leadership positions openly communicate when they may have not been correct in a specific viewpoint, action, or communication unless forced by outside pressures. The willingness for Bebbington, one of the key scholars within theological circles, to hear and respond to critique in a posture of humility and transparency only makes me want to heed his voice more as an expert in the field. There is somehow more trust in a voice that admits imperfection.<\/p>\n

The second learning are really focuses on the concept of entrepreneurial Evangelicalism. Clark describes how prominent theologians of the time were able, “through the new freedoms of trade routes, publicity (print media), and communication, to bring this inner world to life for the masses. Evangelicalism was thus able to bring resources to the psychological and social needs of people who found themselves in a rapidly changing world of broad dissenting thought.\u201d[7]<\/a> While I\u2019m sure this was spurred by the energy found in the quadrilateral of priorities, specifically through activism, I cannot imagine that at the time they would understand the significant impact that would begin by leveraging capitalism in this capacity. While it is undeniable the ways that the gospel has spread through capitalism over the centuries, I can\u2019t help but consider how Jesus would view just how entrepreneurial the church has become. Consider these recent statistics:<\/p>\n