{"id":943,"date":"2013-02-28T15:40:42","date_gmt":"2013-02-28T15:40:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/beta.dminlgp.com\/the-light-to-our-path\/"},"modified":"2013-02-28T15:40:42","modified_gmt":"2013-02-28T15:40:42","slug":"the-light-to-our-path","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/the-light-to-our-path\/","title":{"rendered":"The Light to our Path"},"content":{"rendered":"
Evangelicalism in Modern Britain by D.W. Bebbington was an interesting read for me because it gave me a broader perspective as to the origins of evangelicalism and it shed some light on the evangelical movement in America. \u00a0Bebbington pointed out, early in his book, that he notes four characteristics that branded evangelicalism. \u00a0They were conversion (life change), activism (expression of the gospel), biblicism (particular regard for the bible), and crucicentrism (stressing the sacrifice of Christ on the cross). \u00a0Over\u00a0the\u00a0course of the book he relates the development of the evangelical movement to these four characteristics. \u00a0He has accomplished detail historical work in recorgnizing the various social dynamics that pushed and pulled on the movement. \u00a0In Wesley’s days, preaching of the gospel was regarded as very important to evangelicalism. \u00a0The Bible also took a place of prominance since in those early days “all Protestants held the scriptures in high esteem.” \u00a0pg 3. \u00a0Activism then became a priority as\u00a0social issues came to the forefront, like slavery, for instance. \u00a0However, by the end of the 19th century it seems\u00a0that the Bible was often regarded as a primary defining issue for evangelicals. \u00a0This is the focus of my post.<\/div>\n
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Having been born into a Roman Catholic family, we regarded\u00a0the\u00a0Bible with high esteem though we did not have a Bible in the home and I cannot remember any encouragement at Sunday mass or Saturday catechism that we should have one, let alone read it. \u00a0To me, it was a mystical book that was to be regarded as a holy thing but not touched by those unable to unlock its mystery. \u00a0When my brother began to engage me for the cause\u00a0of\u00a0the gospel he used\u00a0the\u00a0Bible. \u00a0He knew that I enjoyed reading and bought me a contemporary version. \u00a0I read it with enthusiasm he and I talked much about the truths it espoused. \u00a0I soon embraced the living word and began following Him. \u00a0So, the Bible has always played an important role in my walk with Christ. \u00a0It has\u00a0become my compass.<\/div>\n
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It was the compass for the evangelical movement in Britain as well. \u00a0Even the various issues regarding\u00a0the\u00a0Bible, like inspiration or literalism, kept it at the forefront of what it meant to be an evangelical. \u00a0I would argue that even the other three characteristics of evangelicalism were in fact subservient to the biblical characteristic. \u00a0Obviously, defense of those characteristics was almost always supported by scripture! \u00a0It is surprising then, that Bebbington should make\u00a0such\u00a0a comment, “The Bible was no longer treated as a simple unifying force in the Evangelical world. \u00a0It had become a bone of contention” \u00a0pg. 269. \u00a0This comment was made in the context of the controversy over hermeneutics in\u00a0the\u00a01980s. \u00a0Is Bebbington saying that whereas the Bible was once one of four characteristics of Evangelicalism, it is no longer one of the four? \u00a0Or, could he be forthtelling the demise of the movement?<\/div>\n
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In his\u00a0closing\u00a0paragraphs he argues that it is wrong headed to equate fundamentalism with evangelicalism. \u00a0He points out the focus of fundamentalists on the inerrancy of the Bible and also how their role has been only one among many in the greater context of evangelicalism (pg. 276). \u00a0If indeed, it is only one voice that is holding up the Bible as a key issue, then perhaps not only is fundamentalism dead, but also evangelicalism. \u00a0How does that bode for evangelicalism in America? \u00a0Who is holding forth the Bible as the compass for faith and practice? \u00a0Does it claim for itself that role? \u00a0<\/div>\n
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It is my observation that there is no longer one evangelical movement. \u00a0It has grown and splintered such that arguements to put the various extremes under one umbrella would be a stretch. \u00a0And, further, I do not think it is important that there be such clear and defining movement to take its place. \u00a0It could be that various expressions will find unification around common practices and not only common doctrines. \u00a0Hopefully, the Bible will remain as one of the key aspects of many of the various expressions of the Christian faith.<\/div>\n
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It causes me to look at my own journey. \u00a0The Bible has always been a compass, a light unto my path. \u00a0If the Bible ceases to be that compass, that light, what will become of my journey? \u00a0I fear, with the fear of God, that if that were to happen I would be walking away from God. \u00a0There are a number of movements that have emerged and are now sprouting. \u00a0What is their relationship to the Bible? \u00a0Is that\u00a0even\u00a0a fair question?<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Evangelicalism in Modern Britain by D.W. Bebbington was an interesting read for me because it gave me a broader perspective as to the origins of evangelicalism and it shed some light on the evangelical movement in America. \u00a0Bebbington pointed out, early in his book, that he notes four characteristics that branded evangelicalism. \u00a0They were conversion […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"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":[1],"tags":[12,2],"class_list":["post-943","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-bebbington","tag-dminlgp","cohort-lgp3"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/943","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\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=943"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/943\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=943"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=943"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=943"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}