Page 441 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

NEW EVANGELICAL

Commission to pursue socio-political projects is like a necessary to guard carefully against this “new mood.”
man sent by the governor to deliver a pardon to a As Evangelist John Van Gelderen observed, “If you
condemned prisoner, who is stricken with compassion at compare modern fundamentalism to modern new-
the man’s physical needs and sets about to make his evangelicalism, there is still a gap. But if you compare
prison room more comfortable while forgetting to modern fundamentalism to early new-evangelicalism,
deliver the pardon which will deliver the man out of the the similarities are alarming” (Preach the Word, Jan.-
prison. Mar. 1998).
Fourth, the reason that the apostles and first churches Wayne Van Gelderen, Sr., who wrote about “A NEW
were so diligent in preaching the gospel and fulfilling the SOFTNESS WITHIN FUNDAMENTALISM,” said:
Great Commission was their conviction that the return of “In the 50s and 60s, the Conservative Baptists were the
Jesus Christ was imminent (Mt. 25:1-13, “Watch Fundamentalists--the Separatists among Baptists in the
therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour North. They had fought a noble battle, but finally had
wherein the Son of man cometh”). This same motivation to come out of the old Northern Baptist Convention in
keeps churches today committed to the Great the 60s. Soon after the separation and the formation of
Commission instead of turning aside to worldly projects. the CBA, there began to emerge a strange spirit. Many
It is unregenerate false teachers who “mind earthly began to feel that we needed to be more ‘Christian,’
things” (Ph. 3:18-21), because they look at life from a more practical, more communicative, MORE GENTLE
in our stand for God. The terms ‘SOFT CORE’ and ‘hard
natural perspective rather than a biblical one. core’ were used to describe the two camps that
11. New Evangelicalism is characterized by a mood of emerged. The soft policy was to be practical at the
softness, a desire for a less strict Christianity, a weariness expense of being righteous. The results sought for were
with fighting, a neutrality toward spiritual warfare. more important than the means. These compromisers
New Evangelicalism is a subtle thing. At its heart it is believed that part of the movement was too hard. Over
a mood, an attitude, a tendency, a direction. 400 churches left in a division in the 60s. These real
fundamentalist churches blossomed and multiplied in
In 1958 William Ashbrook wrote Evangelicalism: The the 70s. Now, in the 90s, some of us see a reenactment
New Neutralism, which began with the following of the past. There is a new emphasis on methodology
warning: and P.R. to grow churches. This new methodology is
“One of the youngest members of Christendom’s fold is market-oriented and geared to please the people. NOT
called The New Evangelicalism. It might more properly OFFENDING IS THE CARDINAL VIRTUE. Personal
be labeled THE NEW NEUTRALISM. This new separation and holiness are pushed back into the dark
‘Evangelicalism’ boasts too much pride, and has ages. In spite of greatly increased open sin, THE
imbibed too much of the world's culture to share the CONDEMNATION IS SOFTENED. ... In every
reproach of fundamentalism. It still has enough faith generation our battles must be refought. The
and too much understanding of the Bible to appear in generation that does not follow the old paths will die
the togs of modernism. IT SEEKS NEUTRAL GROUND, as did evangelicalism in England” (Calvary Contender,
being neither fish nor fowl, neither right nor left, May 1, 1995).
neither for nor against--it stands between!” What the Bible Says:
In A History of Fundamentalism in America, Dr. First, Christianity that is not strict is not biblical. It is
George Dollar observes: strict in doctrine (1 Ti. 1:3) and strict in Christian living
“It has become a favorite pastime of new-evangelical (Ep. 5:11). It contends earnestly for the faith (Jude 3)
writers, who know so little of historic fundamentalism, and is unmoving and uncompromising, dogmatic and
to call it offensive names, as if to bury it by resolute. Simply open the New Testament to any page
opprobrium. The real danger is not strong and begin reading, and it will not be long before this
fundamentalism but A SOFT AND EFFEMINATE will be evident.
CHRISTIANITY--exotic but cowardly. It is sad that these Second, strictness and zeal for the truth does not mean
men would not heed the warning of W.B Riley about
the menace of ‘MIDDLE-OF-THE-ROADISM’” (Dollar, A unloving and uncompassionate. Jesus was strictness
History of Fundamentalism in America, 1973, p. 208). Personified and was also love and compassion
At its inception, particularly, New Evangelicalism can Personified. To the woman caught in adultery He said,
be difficult to detect. It does not necessarily start with a “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (Jn.
zeal for dialogue or some of the other things we have 8:11). What great mercy and yet what great strictness,
looked at. New Evangelicalism starts more with a as well! Paul demonstrated the same combination. He
changing mood, a new attitude that dislikes a strict was strict and unbending about doctrine and practice,
approach to the things of God. but he was tender “even as a nurse cherisheth her
Since it is the tendency of any church or movement children” (1 Th. 2:7). [See Fundamentalism,
Modernism.]
to grow weaker and softer rather than stronger it is

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