An evangelical manifesto
Michael points us to a fascinating new document, The Evangelical Manifesto. I’ve only read the summary, but it looks as though the manifesto is specifically trying to rescue evangelicalism from the politics of the Religious Right. Signatories include Miroslav Volf, Kevin Vanhoozer, Darrell Bock, Justo Gonzalez, Mark Noll, Alvin Plantinga and Amos Yong.
what was delightfully funny was the hubbub that certain 'right-wingers' made about it really being a product of the 'liberal media' to bring down conservative, right wing christianity.
I thought this bit was of interest:
"Too many of the problems we face as Evangelicals in the United States are those of our own making."
I guess they want more. ;)
[-M-]
Which door are they going to nail this whole thing to?
I was left somewhat dumbfounded after reading it. I suppose I was most suprised at the miracle that they kept it to 20 pages. ;)
But, somehow I think the "Evangelical Manifesto Press" isn't far behind.
Theologians, get your ink and quills ready. :D
It's interesting that the document defines "Evangelicalism" over against "fundamentalism", yet several of the signatories are undeniably fundamentalists. I wonder if some see this document as an opportunity to say to the world, "See, I'm not a fundamentalist (even though I look like one, think like one, talk like one . . .)."
I welcome the Manifesto as an attempt to define the evangelical movement against the biblical evangel. Also, good to see gospel values being brought to bear upon public life, while avoiding identifying evangelicalism with party politics. As a UK observer I have never really understood American evangelicalism's attachment to neoconservatism.
What door are they going to nail this on? I don't know now. Apparently Erwin Lutzer is a signer, so where I'd suggest "apparently" wouldn't work. *zing*
Hi everyone,
worth checking out Jamie Smith's insightful comments about this at http://www.generousorthodoxy.net/
thinktank/2008/05/an-evangelical.html, especially point 3 about the Manifesto's simplistic hermeneutic.
Rob
Exiled Preacher: As a UK observer I have never really understood American evangelicalism's attachment to neoconservatism.
It has to do with the lack of obvious miracles in the world except one, the rise of the secular State of Israel, which they identify with the religious Kingdom of Israel prophesied to have a rebirth under the Messiah. The problem with that, of course, is that the verses predicting the return of Israel also predict the return of animal sacrifices in the temple, which would undermine the finished work of the cross and the doctrine that believers are now the temple of the Spirit of God.
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