Page 421 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

NEW EVANGELICAL

Dialogue has also become a major aspect of Cry, October 1992).
evangelicalism. The late Harold Ockenga said that the In 1994 Moody Press published Roman Catholicism:
New Evangelicalism differs “from fundamentalism in its Evangelical Protestants Analyze What Divides and Unites
repudiation of separatism and its determination to Us. Thirteen Evangelicals contributed. Michael Horton
engage itself in the theological dialogue of the concluded his chapter, “What Still Keeps Us Apart?” with
day” (Ockenga, foreword to Harold Lindsell’s The Battle these words: “I do not suggest that we should give up
for the Bible). trying to seek visible unity, nor that we refuse to
There is dialogue between EVANGELICALS AND dialogue with Roman Catholic laypeople and
ROMAN CATHOLICS. theologians, many of whom may be our brothers and
On the side of the Roman Catholic Church, the sisters” (p. 264). He does not explain how someone
Second Vatican Council, in its “Decree on Ecumenism,” committed to Rome’s false sacramental gospel could be
called for “dialogue with our brethren” and said that a born again child of God.
“dialogues and consultations ... are strongly In 1997 InterVarsity Press published Reclaiming the
recommended.” Great Tradition: Evangelicals, Catholics and Orthodox in
Evangelicals have responded to this call. Following Dialogue. It was edited by James Cutsinger and
are a few examples: contained articles by Harold O.J. Brown, Peter Kreeft,
From 1977 to 1984 Evangelical-Roman Catholic Richard Neuhaus, J.I. Packer, and others. The book is a
Dialogue In Mission was conducted in Britain. John R.W. collection of material from an ecumenical dialogue held
Stott was at the forefront, and one of Stott’s co-workers, at Rose Hill College, May 16-20, 1995. The objective of
Michael Harper (formerly assistant curate at All Souls the dialogue was to answer the question: “How can
Church where Stott is pastor), wrote the 1977 book, Protestants, Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox
Three Sisters, which contends that the “Three Sisters” -- Christians talk to each other so as together to speak
Evangeline (the Evangelicals), Charisma (the with Christ’s mind to the modern world?” (p. 8).
Charismatics), and Roma (the Roman Catholic Church) There is also dialogue between EVANGELICALS AND
-- are part of one family and should be reconciled. MODERNISTS.
In 1986 Kenneth Kantzer called for dialogue with In about 1976 Pentecostal David du Plessis became
Roman Catholics. chairman of dialogues with the World Council of
“How does all this affect the Evangelical? First, we Churches’ Secretariat for the Promotion of Christian
should continue to dialogue. To refuse to dialogue Unity. Du Plessis was long at the forefront of promoting
would be to say two things no Evangelical wants to ecumenical dialogue between Pentecostals, Roman
say: (1) We are not interested in our Lord’s desire to Catholics, and liberal and evangelical Protestants. Fuller
have a united church, and (2) We Evangelicals have Theological Seminary made du Plessis its “resident
nothing to learn from anyone” (Kantzer, “Church on consultant on ecumenical affairs.”
the Move,” Christianity Today, Nov. 7, 1986). In 1983, after attending the Sixth General Assembly
This statement is predicated upon an unscriptural of the World Council of Churches in Vancouver, some
view of “the church” and Christian unity and the strange prominent Evangelicals signed an open letter
notion that Bible believers should “learn” from heretics. encouraging dialogue with the exceedingly liberal WCC.
In 1992 Chuck Colson, in his book The Body, called The signers included Richard Lovelace of Gordon-
for closer relationship with and dialogue between Conwell Theological Seminary and Arthur Glasser of
evangelicals and Catholics. Colson said, “...the body of Fuller Seminary. The letter rebuked those who practice
Christ, in all its diversity, is created with Baptist feet, separation and said:
charismatic hands, and Catholic ears--all with their eyes “Is there not the possibility that evangelicals have not
on Jesus” (World, Nov. 14, 1992). [Colson was either only much to contribute but something to receive
ignorant of the fact that there are false christs, false through ecumenical involvement? Do evangelicals not
gospels, and false spirits, or he ignored the fact.] The also have the obligation along with other Christians to
Body was endorsed by many well-known Evangelicals, seek to overcome the scandal of the disunity and
including Carl Henry, J.I. Packer, Pat Robertson, Bill disobedience of the churches that the world might
Hybels, and Jerry Falwell. believe (John 17:21)? Should evangelicals not seek to
In 1992 Catholic priest Thomas Welbers announced receive all who confess Jesus Christ as Lord, even
though they may seriously disagree on theological
in the Los Angeles diocese paper that a four-year issues apart from the core of the Gospel?”
dialogue between InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and A three-day dialogue was held October 22-24, 1986,
the Catholic Campus Ministry had resulted in an at Fuller Theological Seminary, involving Pentecostals,
agreement to seek “mutual understanding” and to
“refrain from competition in seeking members” (Battle

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