Page 432 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

NEW EVANGELICAL

PHILIPPIANS 1:27 -- “Only let your conversation be as than separating from them.
it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and Aiming to influence the nation. This was the goal of
see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority and The Faith and Values
ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together Coalition. It is the goal of a new ecumenical political
for the faith of the gospel.” movement in Australia led by the Hills Christian Life
This is another key verse on Christian unity, but Centre in Sydney.
consider the following observations from the context: Aiming to build a big church. In 1986 Carl Henry
Biblical unity is practiced particularly in the local warned, “Numerical bigness has become an infectious
assembly. This instruction was addressed to the church epidemic” (Confessions of a Theologian, p. 387). This
at Philippi. True Christian unity is not a parachurch or explains the amazing popularity of visibly successful
interdenominational issue. pastors such as Bill Hybels and Rick Warren. This type
Biblical unity means having one mind, not a “unity in of pragmatism has also characterized a large segment of
diversity.” Compare the following: the fundamental Baptist church movement. In the
“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to 1970s, the goal of building a big church was achieved
be likeminded one toward another according to Christ by creating an exciting atmosphere with “special days,”
Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth aggressive promotional campaigns, large bus ministries,
glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus stirring but typically shallow motivational preaching,
Christ” (Ro. 15:5-6). and such. This was what I was taught at Tennessee
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Temple in the mid-1970s, and it was what was modeled
Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that at Highland Park Baptist Church. The men that were
there be no divisions among you; but that ye be exalted were men that had built big churches, men who
perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the were “successful” by the standard of big numbers.
same judgment” (1 Co. 1:10). Things that did not fit into the objective -- such as solid
Biblical unity means total commitment to the one faith. Bible teaching, plain refutation of error that includes
The New Testament faith is not many separate doctrines naming the names of influential false teachers, and an
but one unified body of truth. There are no “secondary” emphasis on ecclesiastical separation -- were omitted or
doctrines that we can ignore for the sake of Christian downplayed, because it caused controversy and didn’t
unity. The choice is between a “limited fellowship or a “build a church.” It is not a dramatic shift to move from
limited message.” If one is faithful to the New Testament this type of pragmatism to that of Rick Warren and Bill
faith, it is impossible to have a wide fellowship, and if Hybels in the 1990s. The goal remains the same, which
one is committed to a wide fellowship he must limit his is a big church, but the methods have changed. Instead
message to something less than the whole counsel of of promotionalism, they use contemporary worship
God. music and the lowering of standards and the watering
5. New Evangelicalism is characterized by a pragmatic down of the preaching to draw the crowd. In neither
approach to the ministry. case is the preeminent goal to obey the Scriptures and
“We want to retrieve Christianity from a mere eddy of be committed to the whole counsel of God at all cost,
the main stream into the full current of modern whether the church is big or small.
life” (Harold Ockenga). What the Bible Says:
Pragmatism is to aim at achieving some stated First, we are commanded to have only one goal, and
human objective rather than simply being faithful to that is to obey God’s Word. “Let us hear the conclusion of
God’s Word and letting “the chips fall where they may.” the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his
Following are examples of the pragmatic objectives that commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecc.
New Evangelicals aim for: 12:13).
Aiming to influence the world for Christ. This is the Second, we are to keep all things that Christ has
goal of Graham’s ecumenical crusades. It is the stated commanded. “Teaching them to observe all things
aim of Christian rockers and rappers. It is the aim of the whatsoever I have commanded you...” (Mt. 28:20).
megachurch growth principles. A world of compromise Third, we are to respect the whole counsel of God (Acts
and disobedience is excused today for evangelism’s 20:27) and to keep God’s Word “without spot,” which
sake. refers to seemingly small and inconsequential things (1
Aiming to influence liberal denominations. This was Ti. 6:13-14).
one of the original goals of New Evangelicalism. Harold Fourth, when King Saul obeyed only part of God’s
Ockenga said he wanted to recapture the command, he was severely rebuked (1 Sa. 15:22-23).
denominational leadership. This is a reason evangelicals
give for staying within liberal denominations rather

432 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity