In the midst of my on-going dialogue with Malcolm Yarnell, I would like to direct your attention to the following post by Mark Dever: Togetherness and the Real Front Line. Since I started blogging, I have encountered more and more the term "evangelical ecumenism." To be honest, I don't remember hearing that term before all of the controversy that led to the "blogging revolution" within the SBC. Probably just shows how out of touch I was...
In any case, I have had the sneaking suspicion that the term "evangelical ecumenism" is used primarily by those who are in opposition to it, in order to associate it with WCC-style "conciliar ecumenism," and those who promote denominational mergers and "ecumenical dialogue" with the Roman Catholic Church. I have always had a strong belief in the trans-denominational practical unity of the Body of Christ around the world. I have been unsure, though, how to respond to those who have "accused" me of supporting "evangelical ecumenism." I believe Dever's post goes a long way, though, towards helping clear up some possible misconceptions.
7 comments:
Dr. Dever said:
"Wherever we may mail our checks for missionary support, a Free Methodist evangelist in Brazil, an Assembly of God pastor in the Philippines, an Bible-believing Lutheran pastor in Ethiopia or a conservative Dutch Reformed Christian in South Africa, an evangelical Church of Scotland grandmother, a conservative Anglican in London, and a Southern Baptist deacon in Dallas, when they sit down next to someone on the bus or the plane, and share the Gospel with them, will all share the same Gospel--the good news about the Holy God who sent his Son to die and be raised for the justification of sinners."
Amen, brother. We are united by the same gospel. We love and respect one another. We send our checks for missionary support to different places for the planting of churches according to our primary and secondary convictions.
I agree with Dr. Dever's post completely.
I am a bold, Spirit filled and evangelistic Calvinist and recently returned to Tennessee to the college where I earned my degree in Biblical Education with a minor in missions. It was clearly an Armininian institution with Fuller Theological CGM emphasis. I received anti-calvinism instructions!
I was a minister in that denomination for over 25 years, thirteen of those years in Turkey, Italy and Germany.
My evolution into Calvinism led me to leaving the ministry. However overseas I was exposed to the American military chaplaincy with its diverse denominations and also various missionary ministries in several countries.
At one of the Churches near this college I met one of the premier scholars and historian who has since retired. I looked him in the eye and stated my "bold, Spirit-filled and evangelistic calvinism" and he dropped his eyes figited with his tie, not looking up he said, "well, Charles, it dosen't really matter what you believe as long as you worship Christ!"
I thought, why did I bother getting an education at all if in the final analysis it doesn't matter what you believe as long as you believe in Jesus. There is no ecumenism between Calvinism and Armininianism. They share the same gospel but the distortions of Armininianism are not compatible with Calvinism.
I am an armchair theologian and am not scholarily but I am tired of the idea that being anti-calvinistic is cool but anti-arminianism is cold and hard.
Bart,
Just curious. On the basis of what Dever says here, would you say he is a proponent of "evangelical ecumenism"?
David,
I would not.
Bart,
Still trying to understand. Where, then, do we cross the line over to "evangelical ecumenism"? Can you remember somewhere specifically in what I have written, for instance, where you believe I have crossed that line?
David,
I had checked out for my blogging vacation without replying, but somebody let me know that I had an unfinished question with you. Sorry about the delay.
I not only support the idea of cooperation across denominational lines to share the gospel in the abstract, but I also have been involved in the pursuit myself (Billy Graham meeting in Dallas, local ministerial alliance activities, etc.). But as a Baptist, when it comes to the planting of a church, I'm going to work and give toward the planting of Baptist churches. The idea of seeking to plant "baptistic" rather than Baptist churches, the idea of pursuing the development of a "city church", and the idea of compromising tier-two doctrines in the pursuit of Christian unity are concepts that I believe belong to evangelical ecumenism. Dever's article, if I read it correctly, does not advocate any of those things. Your blog, if I read it correctly, has demonstrated an openness to these things.
Have fun with Dr. Yarnell. Lord willing, we'll soon meet in the air. But, if Jesus tarries, I'll be back into the online fray in August.
Yours in Christ,
Bart
Bart,
I don't know if you'll make it back to read this comment. But, first off, I plead innocent to the charge of advocating "compromising" on any biblical doctrine--be it 1st, 2nd, or 3rd tier. Next, the ideas of "baptistic" as over against "Baptist" churches, and the "city church" are perhaps ideas that can easily be misinterpreted and misconstrued, given the present milieu in which we all live. I am unsure what Dever might have to say regarding my own thoughts on these issues. I have not read his other works yet, but look forward to doing so relatively soon.
In any case, I certainly resonate with what he writes here. The spirit I detect leads me to think he may perhaps be sympathetic to my views on related topics. But, I'll have to leave that up to him to say so for himself (or read more of what he has written, in case he has already expressed himself on these issues).
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