I want to invite all my web site readers to follow along and contribute to a new electronic conversation that I will be hosting, starting on May 1, on the topic \u201cAmerican Evangelicalism: Present Conditions, Future Possibilities.\u201d I am guessing that the views that will be expressed on this topic will range from \u201cthere is no viable future for Evangelicalism\u201d to \u201cEvangelicalism can have, and should have a vibrant future\u201d. Allow me to conjecture as to why such a wide range of viewpoints may emerge.<\/p>\n It may depend on how one defines some key words and phrases. I will illustrate by reflecting on what are often taken to be three of the pillars of Evangelicalism (drawing on the work of Christian scholar David Bebbington).<\/p>\n The Centrality of the Biblical Record: <\/em>\u00a0Mark Noll has referred to this pillar as \u201ca reliance on the Bible as ultimate religious authority.\u201d But there are narrow and broad views as to what that means. The narrow view is a \u201cBiblicism\u201d that views the Bible as the only <\/em>source of authority and understanding for the Christian. A broader view, which I embrace, is that whereas the Bible is the primary source and ultimate authority for my understanding of the Christian faith, it is not the only source and authority. Other sources include the Christian tradition, reason, and experience, and knowledge that is uncovered by study in the various academic disciplines.<\/p>\n The Centrality of Personal Commitment to the Christian Faith: <\/em>Once again, this phrase can be interpreted narrowly or broadly. The narrow view can be called \u201cconversionism;\u201d the view that you aren\u2019t a Christian unless you can point to a time and place when you made a decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior (being \u201cborn again\u201d at that time). A broader view, which I embrace, is that a Christian is one who aspires to be a \u201cfollower of Jesus\u201d by personally appropriating the gift of grace made possible through the person and work of Jesus Christ, and that there is no one prescribed means for such personal appropriation (e,g., it can emerge gradually).<\/p>\n The Centrality of Evangelism: <\/em>Christians are called to share the \u201cgospel\u201d (the \u201cgood news\u201d of restoration made possible by Jesus Christ). A narrow view of such \u201cevangelism\u201d is that the only message we are called to share with all peoples is that God \u00a0intends to restore individual persons to a right relationship with God. A broader view of evangelism, which I embrace, is that the \u201cgood news\u201d applies to all of God\u2019s creation, not only <\/em>individuals. The person and work of Jesus Christ are decisive for the restoration of all aspects of the created order, including the natural world and societal structures.<\/p>\n So, whether you think that Evangelicalism can, and should have a vibrant future may depend on whether you embrace the narrow or broad views of the \u201cpillars of Evangelicalism\u201d that I have summarized above, or something in-between.<\/p>\n Of course, what I say above could be all wrong. Thankfully, I have recruited \u201cprimary contributors\u201d for this upcoming conversation who have much more expertise on this topic than I do. I can hardly wait to read what they will have to say about present conditions and future possibilities for American Evangelicalism. I invite you to will follow this conversation and contribute your own reflections by submitting comments.<\/p>\n To give you a sneak preview of what is to come, the seven sub-topics that our primary contributors will address (one topic per month, from May through November 2013) are as follows (in the order presented)<\/p>\n I am pleased that over 20 Christian scholars have committed to being \u201cprimary contributors,\u201d including Vincent Bacote (Wheaton College), Randall Balmer (Dartmouth College), Amy Black (Wheaton College), Jeannine Brown (Bethel Seminary). Peter Enns (Eastern University). John Franke (Yellowstone Theological Institute), Stanton Jones (Wheaton College), Richard Mouw (Fuller Theological Seminary), Soong-Chan Rah (North Park Theological Seminary), Sandy Richter (Wesley Seminary), Sarah Ruden (Wesleyan University), Corwin Smidt (Calvin College), Theodore Williams (City Colleges of Chicago), John Wilson (Books & Culture), <\/em>and Amos Yong (Regent University). Anytime after May 1, you can contribute to the conversation in a moderated forum by submitting a comment on any posting.<\/p>\n [For an elaboration on the above reflections, including the citations for the scholarly works noted above, see my essay \u201cWhat Can the Evangelical\/Interdenominational Tradition Contribute to Christian Higher Education\u201d under the \u201cPublications\u201d icon on this web site<\/a>]\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/peteenns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/HeiePictureColor-1.jpg?ssl=1\" "\\"HeiePictureColor\\"")
<\/a>Today\u2019s post is by Harold Heie,\u00a0Senior Fellow at the Center for Christian Studies at Gordon College (full bio here<\/a>). He is the author of Learning to Listen, Ready to Talk: A Pilgrimage Toward Peacemaking<\/a>,![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=inspirandinca-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0595455468\")
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