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Can Evangelical - Postevangelical interfaith dialog bear fruit?

Autor: nic paton
Fecha: 14.10.2010
Category: Verdad y Pluralismo

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To many in the evangelical fold, certain expressions of contemporary faith, be they "missional", "post-modern", "emergent" or "post-evangelical", may appear irrelevant at best and downright heretical at worst.

But what does it mean to have "transcended" the evangelical fold? Is dialog even possible between those who have left and those who remain?

Let me suggest that a post-evangelical is someone who was formed, transformed, or deformed by evangelical culture and its assumptions, but has moved beyond these assumptions. They may harbour a range of sentiment, from anger to fondness, and hold a great plurality of new beliefs, but can evangelicals see them as remaining relevant to the classic causes: evangelization, mission, discipleship and Christ like character formation?

What is the shape of mission, what are the questions that appear in this space? What theological implications apply, and what practical outworking might a post-evangelical worldview have?

Could it be that post-evangelicals, instead of being excluded from an evangelical point of view, might have traversed the very territory that evangelicals must inevitably follow?

All this is right now is nothing more than a question, for those who might be interested.

Palabras clave: post-evangelical, post-modern, interfaith, dialog, culture, beliefs

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: Responder Señalizar 0 Pulgares arriba Pulgares abajo Andrew_Hendrikse (0)
Sudáfrica

I like the questions you asking here......I’m more curious with the envangelical/emergant dialogue or the lack of it!! Before we go "interfaith" let’s consider conversation between various expressions within our own faith.

14.10.2010

: Responder Señalizar 0 Pulgares arriba Pulgares abajo nicpaton (2)
Sudáfrica
@ Andrew_Hendrikse:
Andrew

I take your point about the term I used - Interfaith - but it was used intentionally to highlight the fact that despite our notions of unity, and "One Faith", we are very very diverse. In fact the faith of no two people is identical. As such, all conversation is inter-faith.

14.10.2010

: Responder Señalizar 0 Pulgares arriba Pulgares abajo Andrew_Hendrikse (0)
Sudáfrica
@ nicpaton:
Maybe to use the term postevangelical can be applied to some, be it from a post modern stance or something. However, from my humble opinion, I think evangelism is still as vital as ever, however, the word needs to be redefined, redescovered into a more inclusive and (dare I use the word) universal gospel.

15.10.2010

: Responder Señalizar 0 Pulgares arriba Pulgares abajo Kurt_Tuffendsam (0)
Estados Unidos de Norteamérica

Hi Nic,

I am not familiar with the term "post-evangelical" in the context you have placed it. Can you give a more thorough definition of "post-evangelical"? For instance, what do they specifically reject from Biblical Christianity and what do they espouse from Biblical Christianity? What are the values and "statement of faith" of a "post-evangelical"?

Also, my understanding of the term "post-Christian" in a "post-modern" society is the idea that in former majority "Christian" countries particulary in Europe and Western countries, many have rejected the traditions and therefore faith of their forefathers and have largely turned to a form of athiestic or secular belief that rejects organized religion wholesale. Many of their generally held criticisms of the Church would be the same criticisms Christ himself brought against the religious rulers of his day, nonetheless this rebellion against often corrupted religous belief and practice compared to who God has declared himself to be in the 66 books of the Bible is a rejection of the true God who created us in His image, displayed mercy and love toward us by making the way of redemption through blood sacrifice of His Son Jesus and is present and alive today through his body the Church.

Please ellaborate. I appreciate your contribution and this sounds like a very interesting discussion.

14.10.2010

: Responder Señalizar 0 Pulgares arriba Pulgares abajo nicpaton (2)
Sudáfrica
@ Kurt_Tuffendsam:

Thanks Kurt for your incisive questions. As far as I am aware the term was coined by British Leader Dave Tomlinson in 1995 in his book "The Post Evangelical".

Undoubtedly, the idea is responding to the demise of Modern ideals and the rise of a post modern consciousness, especially as you note, in the West. More specifically it asks questions of evangelical culture, concerning their view of the Bible, Truth, and traditions.

I think the downside includes "secular" consciousness which sees religion as irrelevant and christianity as the root of many (or even all) problems. (I blame secularity far more on Modernism than post modernism, by the way.)

But by and large I have felt the positive impact of the postmodern and my faith (which I consider biblical, but others may not) has only been revived in its wake.

I think my article "The Ambivangelical" (posted earlier here) goes into more depth. But I am excdited that we will be able to meet and get into it face to face, together with all the other stuff - film, music, Rise ministries...

14.10.2010