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, \u201cyou will find there is more that unites us than divides us.<\/p>\n
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:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Scripture: The Bible is the primary source of authority and standard for Christian belief and practice
\n\u2022 Tradition: How the church has historically interpreted Scripture
\n\u2022 Reason: The reasoning of Scripture and tradition through logical coherence
\n\u2022 Experience: How faith must be a personal experience<\/p>\n
Bebbington in his definition of Evangelicalism also outlines four key components. [1]<\/p>\n
\u2022 Conversionism:
\n\u2022 Activism:
\n\u2022 Biblicism:
\n\u2022 Crucicentrism<\/p>\n
As Bebbington takes readers through the history of 19th\u2014and 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.<\/p>\n
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]<\/p>\n
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]<\/p>\n
Taking a look at Evangelicalism as a whole Clark adds that the church made it\u2019s 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]<\/p>\n
The period Bebbington highlights was a critical time in the denomination\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
[1] D. W. Bebbington, Evangelicalism in Modern Britain a History from the 1730s to the 1980s (London: Routledge, 1988), 5.<\/p>\n
[2] Bebbington, 272.<\/p>\n
[3] Jason Paul Clark, \u201cEvangelicalism and Capitalism: A Reparative Account and Diagnosis of Pathogeneses in the Relationship,\u201d Faculty Publications \u2013 Portland Seminary. (2018), 50 https:\/\/digitalcommons.georgefox.edu\/gfes\/, 50.<\/p>\n
[4] Clark, 63.<\/p>\n
[5] Phil Mitchell. \u201cWhat\u2019s behind the Decline of America\u2019s Major Churches?\u201d Home. Last modified March 1, 2023. Accessed October 18, 2024. https:\/\/www.the401stprophet.com\/what-s-behind-the-decline-of-america-s-major-churches.<\/p>\n
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