Page 436 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

NEW EVANGELICAL

“Just because people do not have your narrow minded the hypocrite (Ga. 2:11-14).
legalistic view on Scripture does not mean that people Second, spirituality and carnality is a personal matter,
are not Christians. ... I write contemporary praise not a positional one. There are carnal and ungracious
music, music that is used in churches in worship of New Evangelicals and carnal and ungracious
God. It’s not for your approval or anyone else no
matter what denomination or off the wall sect of a Fundamentalists. Of the thousands of New Evangelicals
denomination they are.” who have written to me through the years, most have
“The reason I am writing to you is because I would like treated me with a complete lack of Christian grace.
to caution you (though I doubt you ever listen to Third, it is not wise to judge a movement by the
anyone other than yourself) against the type of failures of individuals. We agree with Rolland McCune’s
extremism that I constantly see on your web site. I do statement: “It is true that some Fundamentalists have
not disagree with most of what you say; however, I said unkind things, but Fundamentalism is not unkind.
believe that you have become so blinded by your self- It is true that some Fundamentalists were intemperate,
righteousness that you are being used of the devil for but Fundamentalism is not a free-for-all. Some
his own purposes.” Fundamentalists may have been vindictive, but
“You, sir, are a legalist that the Pharisees would have Fundamentalism is not vengeful” (Fundamentalism in
been mighty proud of.” the 1980s and 1990s).
After Evangelical leader Stephen Olford delivered a
strong sermon on the authority of Scriptures at Fourth, New Evangelicals who treat Fundamentalists so
Amsterdam ’86, Dennis Costella of Foundation magazine sharply, do not level the same criticisms at true heretics. In
had an opportunity to interview him. Costella asked, a letter to the Sword of the Lord in July 27, 1956,
“You emphasized in your message the dangers of Chester Tulga, who had often born the brunt of the New
liberalism and how it could ruin the evangelist and his Evangelical’s barbed tongue, “brilliantly exposed the
ministry. What is this conference doing to instruct the evangelicals’ duplicity of ‘condemning fundamentalism
evangelist as to how to identify liberalism and the by the disreputable device of caricature’ while handling
liberal so that upon his return home he will be able to the liberals ‘very respectfully and objectively--no
avoid the same?” Olford replied: “That’s the wrong spirit wisecracks, no sneers, no generalizations that reflect
—avoid the liberal! I love to be with liberals, especially upon the men in any way’” (Bob Whitmore, The Enigma
if they are willing to be taught, much more than with of Chester Tulga, 1997).
hard-boiled fundamentalists who have all the Fifth, New Evangelicals constantly judge the motives of
answers. ... Evangelicals should seek to build the Fundamentalist. He labels the Fundamentalist mean-
bridges” (Costella, “Amsterdam ’86: Using Evangelism to spirited, ungracious, fear-driven, jealous, and unloving,
Promote Ecumenism,” Foundation magazine, Jul.-Aug. yet it is impossible to know the motives of another
1986). man’s heart. In this, the New Evangelical is more truly
This is pure New Evangelicalism. It appears to be “judgmental” than the Fundamentalist he criticizes.
zealous for the truth and bold against error, but in Sixth, correction and strong preaching against sin and
practice, it turns its fiercest guns upon the error always seem to be harsh and unkind to those who
Fundamentalists. refuse to repent. We see this from the beginning to the
What the Bible Says: end of the Bible. One preacher wisely advised, “If Bible
preaching rubs your fur the wrong way, turn the cat
First, even the very strongest believer is but a sinner around!”
saved by grace (Ro. 7:18). We hold the treasure in
earthen vessels (2 Co. 4:7). All men, including those Cain was lovingly warned by God, but he ignored the
who are zealous for the faith and for separation, are warning and murdered his brother (Ge. 4:6-7). When
weak and have foibles. The believer’s stand for the truth God pronounced judgment, Cain complained bitterly
will always be imperfect. Consider Noah, who stood (Ge. 4:13-14).
boldly for righteousness in his generation, but who also Israel constantly complained about her prophets and
got drunk and thereby brought shame upon his family. demanded that they preach “smooth things” (Is. 30:10).
Consider David, who esteemed all of God’s precepts The Jews of Jesus’ day who rejected His preaching
concerning all things to be right and hated every false said He was preaching “hard sayings” (Jn. 6:60, 66).
way (Ps. 119:128), which is certainly a Fundamentalist’s If the following words from the Bible were preached
testimony, but who also committed adultery and murder today in a New Evangelical setting, the speakers would
and proudly numbered Israel. Consider Peter, who stood doubtless be judged as hateful and mean-spirited.
for righteousness in his generation and was zealous for Enoch: “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands
the truth and warned boldly of damnable heresies (2 Pe. of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to
2), but who also cursed and denied the Lord and played

436 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity