Lesson 13. The New Evangelical Philosophy
2 John 9-11″whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
There are some fundamental things in the Christian life. The Bible. Deity of Jesus Christ. Virgin birth. Sinless life of Christ. Substitutionary blood atonement. Bodily resurrection from the dead. Fall and sinfulness of man. Bible plan of salvation, grace of God.
That is what John refers to as the doctrine of Christ.
The basic difference between the fundamentalist and the new evangelical is obedience to verses 10 and 11 of 2nd John.
New evangelicals are mostly saved people.
Many new evangelicals on a personal level are good Christians.
In some ways it’s the most dangerous trend that faces fundamentalists today. Why?
Many fundamentalists have a hard time putting a finger on what’s wrong with new evangelicals. It is so subtle what’s wrong with it.
Because they are so tricky it attracts the backslidden fundamentalist. Where they can live a worldly lifestyle comfortably but not be in total heresy
The one word that summarizes the difference between the fundamentalist and the new evangelical is separation, especially religious or ecclesiastical separation.
Modernism became popular in Germany from mid-late 1800s. religious professors denied basic Christian doctrine. Denied many things. Spread among church leaders in 1900s in Europe rapidly. Started going to america. As it began to spread, saved Christian leaders who believed the Bible opposed it, became know as fundamentalist-modernist controversy. Bible believers wrote a series of books called “the fundamentals” these books expounded fundamental doctrines of the Bible and opposed modernism and roman catholic church, socialism, communism, cults. Published over a 5 year period 1910-1915. sent to many workers in the U.S. and other countries. As modernism increased many Bible believers began to separate from denominations and schools, founded new churches, schools etc. Those who did were called fundamentalists or evangelicals. in 1920s and 30s were fundamentalists and modernists. in the late 1940s, early 50s. Another group came along between modernists and fundamentalists. Became known as New Evangelicals. Term came into the popular use in 1948 by Harold Ockenga. One of the most influential men in new evangelicalism. Affirmed doctrinal position of fundamentalism, but refused the practice of separation. Evangelical now means new evangelical in these times. Most Christian organizations are new evangelical.
New Evangelicals say about themselves -displeased of narrowness of fundamentalism. want recognition from liberals and modernists, disdain doctrine of separation, their position would be more neutral than narrow
Christian life magazine-8 points of position of NEs.
1. More friendly attitude toward science (accept evolution more)
2. Willingness to reexamine the work of the Holy Spirit (accept charismatic movement)
3. More tolerant attitude toward views of eschatology (believe what you want about the second coming)
4. Shift away from “extreme dispensationalism”
5. Increased emphasis on scholarship (recognize modernists as Christians if they call them scholars)
6. More defined recognition of social responsibility (Social gospel instead of getting people saved)
7. Reopening on subject of biblical inspiration
8. Willingness to converse with liberals
Six statements:
1. The point of difference between the fundamental and the new evangelical is the doctrine of separation, particularly ecclesiastical separation.
We are to be separated from religious unbelievers. The NEs replace it with infiltration (“instead of separating, we should stay with them and try and sway them to our side”) The Bible says to separate.
2. The new evangelical has largely repudiated the negative aspects of Biblical Christianity for the sake of only the positive. Generally ignore the don’ts in the Bible. (10 commandments, 2nd Peter 1:21, John 1:13, 1 Peter 3:21, Romans 1&2) Negatives come before the positive.
3. The thing that’s wrong with new evangelicals preaching is not what he says, but what he doesn’t say. One can make nothing but true statements and still mislead others. What one does not say. All the ingredients in the food are true but you forgot to say that you added some poison. The Whole Truth
4. If the new evangelical opposes error at all, it will usually be general, not specific.
5. As a smokescreen to cover their compromise the new evangelical will use pious sounding words and phrases. “legalist” “unconditional love” Jesus said that He is the way the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father but by Him. There is a condition to that.
6. The longer a person remains a new evangelical the farther they go from the Bible position he goes. Billy Graham and Jack van Impe use to be in the fundamentalist camp, but stayed new evangelical so he went farther into compromise.