This many believe to be a true statement. Yet, today, we have many laws forcing Christians to obey and thereby violate their own morals. There are no more commonly agreed-upon restrictions on human behavior. With the majority of people living with a huge vacuum in the heart, the only thing to fill it is the wickedness that is the world, that rules the world, and will ultimately bring destruction of the soul unless it is breached by the Christ of the Cross of Calvary.

I believe the manifesto is a reaction to the recent scandals sorrounding personalities identified with the evangelical church, the public political activities of renowned church leaders, and the tendency of some local evangelical churches so stay away from political issues altogether.

The most recent scandal involving an evangelical personality is that of Ted Haggard, former president of National Evangelical Alliance. Haggard was implicated in drugs and gay sex scandal and has publicly admitted having committed “immorality.” There’s also the congressional investigation of tele-evangelists Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer and Kenneth Copeland concerning their luxurious lifestyles and anomalies in the use of funds of their ministries.

The political face of the evangelical church represents division and extremism in the public eye. Pat Robertson, James Dobson and Jerry Falwell have taken on the persona of political kingmakers closely identified with right wing of the Republican Party. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, both Reverends, are known mostly for political activism and closely identified with the liberal Democratic Party. These are probably the persons being referred to in the Manifesto as the “useful idiots” of the political parties, whose Christian faith have become ideologies, and whose Christian beliefs have become weapons of political factions.

The Manifesto criticizes as in error those Christians who “privatize faith, applying it to the personal and spiritual realm only” and states that “such dualism falsely divorces the spiritual from the secular and causes faith to lose its integrity.” I’m sure there are Christians who privatize their faith and apply it to personal and spiritual realm only. I’m not sure though if such attitude necessarily divorces the spiritual from the secular or that such attitude causes faith to lose integrity. I think what really diminishes faith’s integrity is our public church leaders’ too much entanglement with the secular.

Historically, there are differences between Evangelicals and Fundamentalists. Fundamentalists are marked by a separation from culture, a separation from denominations, inerrancy over inspiration, a negative view toward mass evangelism (crusades), premil/pretrib, and unwillingness to cooperate with theological liberals on social work. Evangelicals, historically, were more willing to influence the culture, work w/in denominations, view inspiration as more important that inerrancy, work with mass evangelism, tolerant of other eschatological views, and to work with liberals on social issues.

Neither word is perfect for today’s generation, as most people probably are like you—fundamentalist toward doctrine, but a sympathy toward an evangelical approach to working outside the church. I confess that Grace Community Church does not fit either mold well, and probably would not identify with either list.

This is partially why I think this manifesto was written—to try and reclaim the word “Evangelical.”

This might be a topic for a future post though…

Jesse

The terms “Evangelical” and “Fundamentalists” took on a new meaning in the 20th century, especially as they relate to each other. The 20th century saw the terms define two different elements inside of Christianity. Prior to that though, the concept of what it means to be an Evangelical has been there. And I think the Manifesto’s point is that others, such as Wilberforce and Jay would have identified themselves with the essence of the Manifesto itself. In other words, they may not have called themselves “Evangelicals”, but the did identify themselves with the beliefs that make a 20th century Evangelical.

Jesse

I have heard that objection from others, but I don’t have it myself. It does not use the word “inerrancy” but my memory is that the concept was there. If you read it, let me know what you think.

Jesse

A wonderful and clear review! Well thought through and well written.

Thanks