{"id":33196,"date":"2023-10-04T19:16:29","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T02:16:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=33196"},"modified":"2023-10-04T19:16:29","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T02:16:29","slug":"let-it-be-ratified-in-heaven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/let-it-be-ratified-in-heaven\/","title":{"rendered":"Let it be Ratified in Heaven"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a recent conversation with a volunteer in one of my buildings, the word evangelical was tossed into the conversation.\u00a0 The person was commenting on a former leader of the United States using uncensored language and many expletives to describe the leader and her overall disgust at the person\u2019s leadership style. We shared similar disappointments.\u00a0 In the next breath, she asked \u201cAre you one of THOSE evangelicals?\u201d\u00a0 With little time to inquire about her understanding of evangelicalism, I was able to share that I follow the teachings of Jesus.\u00a0 She wasn\u2019t quite sure what that meant and quickly changed the subject to something else.\u00a0 Why do I share this story?\u00a0 Because much of her perspective reflects much of the culture in which I work, viewing Christians as evangelicals who are characteristically defined as right-wing, gun-owning, confederate flag-flying bigots who love their rights, care little about creation, and don\u2019t look anything like the Lord they proclaim to follow. Their words, not mine.\u00a0 It saddens me.\u00a0 In no way do I wish to excuse the behavior of the Body of believers, globally known as \u201cThe Church\u201d, the bride of Christ, nor do I wish to engage in bashing the bride either.\u00a0 I grieve the position that the bride of Christ is in, actually, more importantly, the people that make up the Body, the people made in His image, whom Christ gave up his life for.<\/span><\/p>\n

The term “evangelical” indeed holds within it the idea of promise and good news. It is derived from the Greek word “evangelion,” which means “good news” or “gospel.” [1] Bebbington\u2019s Quadrilateral outlines the key characteristics of evangelicalism: biblicism, crucicentrism, conversionism, and activism. This framework helps us understand the core beliefs and practices of evangelicals and their historical impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

Biblicism:<\/b> Evangelicals regard the Bible as the ultimate source of authority, shaping their theology and ethics.<\/span><\/p>\n

Crucicentrism:<\/b> The cross of Jesus Christ holds a central place in evangelical theology, emphasizing redemption and salvation through Christ’s sacrifice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conversionism<\/b>: Evangelicals emphasize personal conversion experiences, marked by a transformative encounter with God’s grace.<\/span><\/p>\n

Activism:<\/b> Evangelicals are committed to evangelism and social action, seeking to bring about spiritual and societal change.<\/span><\/p>\n

Evangelicals are individuals who are committed to spreading the good news of Christianity, particularly the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. This commitment to sharing the promise of salvation and the transformative power of faith is a central aspect of evangelical identity and theology.\u00a0 However, the world views the idea differently.\u00a0 Through our readings, it becomes apparent that evangelicalism may have inherent challenges. By conducting a comprehensive analysis, including a diagnosis of potential issues within the relationship between evangelicalism and capitalism, as proposed by Dr. Clark, we can identify ways to address these concerns and work towards creating a more equitable and just society.<\/span><\/p>\n

After reading David Bebbington’s historical analysis of evangelicalism and Dr. Clark’s exploration of the relationship between evangelicalism and capitalism, my eyes were opened to how Evangelicalism has played a pivotal role in shaping the religious and social landscape of modern Britain (and the US).\u00a0 My mind considered all of the shifts in thinking, as well as changes in structures and methodologies that were integrated into the formation of evangelicalism, historically.\u00a0 I became more aware of the complexities, not to mention \u201cimpurity\u201d of religion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bebbington noted that, \u201cReligion, as Edward Gibbon once remarked with tongue in cheek, has never existed in the pure form in which it descended from heaven. It has always been affected by its surroundings at the same time as influencing those surroundings.[2] Another reason why the words \u201cThy kingdom come\u201d captivates me, longing for His restored kingdom in all of its fullness and flourishing.\u00a0 Let it be ratified in Heaven!\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Bebbington mentioned that sadly religious change was followed by moral change. He mentioned the decline of traditional values In the 1960s, based on the Christian ethic disintegrated noting shifts such as the pill which he states \u201cheralded the permissive society in the field of sexual morality\u201d and \u201chomosexual practice and abortion ceased to be crimes in 1967 and divorce by consent was permitted from 1969\u201d. [3]\u00a0 He distinguishes the connection between the decline of traditional values and the effect that modernism had on evangelicalism.<\/span><\/p>\n

As I read about Wesleyan-Arminiansim, the early foundations of my religious upbringing, I developed a greater understanding for what John Wesley endured in his years of ministry.\u00a0 I was aware of his zeal for discipleship, the Holy Clubs, and ministry to the poor in the UK, but was unaware of the mobbing that took place when he first preached in Staffordshire in the 1740s.\u00a0 Bebbington states that His followers were violently assaulted. Wesley follower, Christopher Hopper, was the victim of \u2018invectives and lies, dirt, rotten eggs, brickbats, stones and cudgels\u2019, along with Peter Jaco who was struck so violently with a brick on the breast that the blood gushed out through my mouth, nose,<\/span><\/p>\n

and ears.\u00a0 As well as the beating of John Nelson\u2019s wife, beaten by a crowd of women so cruelly that they killed the child in her womb, and she went home and miscarried directly.\u00a0 Such horific treatment for bodly proclaiming the gospel.\u00a0 Knowing some historical context illuminates some of the struggle behind the words John Wesley penned in Wesley\u2019s Covenant Prayer:<\/span><\/p>\n

I am no longer my own, but thine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.<\/span><\/p>\n

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,<\/span><\/p>\n

exalted for thee or brought low for thee.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let me be full, let me be empty.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.<\/span><\/p>\n

I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.<\/span><\/p>\n

And no, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,<\/span><\/p>\n

thou art mine, and I am thine.<\/span><\/p>\n

So be it.<\/span><\/p>\n

And the covenant which I have made on earth,<\/span><\/p>\n

let it be ratified in heaven.<\/strong>\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Amen.[4]<\/span><\/p>\n

[1] <\/span>https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/politics\/archive\/2015\/12\/evangelical-christian\/418236\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

[2] Bebbington, David. <\/span>Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A History from the 1730s to the 1980s<\/span><\/i>. Transferred to digital printing. London: Routledge, 2005. Vi<\/span><\/p>\n

[3] Ibid, 244.<\/span><\/p>\n

[4] <\/span>https:\/\/www.cslewisinstitute.org\/resources\/a-covenant-prayer-in-the-wesleyan-tradition\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a recent conversation with a volunteer in one of my buildings, the word evangelical was tossed into the conversation.\u00a0 The person was commenting on a former leader of the United States using uncensored language and many expletives to describe the leader and her overall disgust at the person\u2019s leadership style. We shared similar disappointments.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":168,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2310],"tags":[2489,12,467],"class_list":["post-33196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-doctor-of-leadership-3","tag-dlgp02","tag-bebbington","tag-clark","cohort-dlgp02"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33196"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33196\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33197,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33196\/revisions\/33197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}