Roger Olson has a lengthy two-part post up about the future
of Evangelicalism (see here and here). The gist is that
evangelicalism as an ethos can still carry on according to five basic concepts
based on the Noll/Bebbington quadrilateral of biblicism, conversionism, crucicentrism and activism, to which Olson adds a respect for historic orthodoxy.
But Olson thinks evangelicalism as a movement is dead. It has fragmented into three basic
groups.
One he describes as "conservative, neo-fundamentalist" and identifies the Gospel Coalition as an example. The second group he describes as "conservative, mediating evangelicals" and lists Christianity Today as one example. Finally he identifies the "postconservative evangelicals" and includes Scot McKnight and Sojourners magazine as examples.
I have to say I generally agree with him on this one. As a movement, evangelicalism is at war with itself, particularly in relation to biblicism and activism, for conservatives and progressives define those terms very differently. For progressives, the cross is increasingly about Christ identifying with the oppressed and is less an less about atoning for sin. For progressives activism is increasingly about rejecting conservative concerns about the sanctity of life, individual responsibility and preservation of the nuclear family - activism is increasingly about grievances of oppressed groups, liberal definitions of social justice, radical inclusion and eradication of boundaries including advocacy of same-sex relations in some form. Even the Noll/Bebbington quadrilateral fails to unite evangelicals these days. (More)
