Lecture 2: Theology from an Evangelical Perspective

Question 1

What is Evangelicalism?

Answer 1

“gospel” “good news”
- to refer to something as evangelical is to say it is concerned with the gospel
- in this sense, all Christians are ‘evangelical’

Question 2

Changing Meanings of ‘evangelical’

Answer 2

1. 1st Century - pertaining to the Gospel of Jesus Christ - refers to all christians
2. 16th Century - protestant Christianity - synonymous with ‘protestant’
3. 19th Century - conservative protestant reaction against protestant liberalism - synonymous with ‘fundamentalist’
4. Mid 20th century - fundamentalists who embrace culture - originally called ‘neo-evangelicals’

Question 3

Protestant Liberalism

Answer 3

• liberal movement of the Protestant Christians heavily influenced by the 18th century Enlightenment
• The Enlightenment: a philosophical and intellectual movement emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism, and rejecting supernatural claims, tradition, and religious authorities
• Protestant liberals reject supernatural claims in Scripture, conforming it to Enlightenment rationality

Question 4

Fundamental Doctrines

Answer 4

• the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible (because the liberals saw it as mythology)
• the literal truth of the biblical narratives
• the deity of Christ
• the body resurrection of Christ
• Christ’s substitutionary atonement on the cross

Question 5

Fundamentalism

Answer 5

• reacts to Protestant Liberalism by emphasizing opposite beliefs
• Becomes known for opposition to secular culture and Enlightenment ideals, anti-intellectualism

Question 6

Problems Defining Evangelicalism

Answer 6

1) there are many possible definitions
2) Fundamentalists and culture embracing ‘neo-evangelicals’ both call themselves ‘evangelical’
3) There are many different streams within the movement with different and at times contradictory emphases

Question 7

What does it mean to be Evangelical?

Answer 7

• Evangelicalism is a movement, not a denomination or theological system
• there are four theological emphasis that can be said about ALL evangelicals. called the Bebbington Quadrilog

Question 8

Bebbington Quadrilog

Answer 8

• Biblicist (high regard for authority of the Bible)
  -Crucicentric (centrality of the cross as God’s saving action)
• Conversionist (emphasize a personally appropriae conversion experience manifested itself in personal piety and growth)
• Activist (insist on communicating this message to others for personal and societal change)

Question 9

Effects of Evangelicalism’s History

Answer 9

1) it tends to be reactionary (defensive theology, theology changes based on opponent)
2) It is often individualistic (individual becomes authoritative interpreter of scripture, distrust of religious leadership)
3) it is Fundamental -ist (new core of faith not based on ancient orthodoxy, no robust theological system; just a few “essentials” to unify the movement, no theological heritage)

Question 10

What does it mean to study theology from an evangelical perspective?

Answer 10

1. recognition that we are influenced by evangelicalism
2. evangelicalism is the lens through which we will analyze theology
3. most criticism will be directed at evangelicalism