New Evangelicalism

As with any grouping of beliefs, it is usually impossible to lump people together, but, for want of a better method, this group includes those who take the following matters into discussion:

1. They desire to reevaluate the verbal-plenary inspiration of the Bible. Some have actually taken a stand against the usual orthodox view.

2. They desire to carry on dialogues with liberals. This leads to a kind of intellectual approach to evangelism. Many lay a great stress on reason and piously look down upon those who believe without proof. Whereas old-time fundamentalism affirmed the "either or" position concerning the Word of God, these assume the "both and" position.

3. They desire to emphasize social responsibility. This tends to take men away from preaching Christ and His cross and leads men into subordinate issues. Bible churches usually have not been too friendly toward a social emphasis.

4. They desire to oppose dispensationalism. To them this brand of Bible study moves in an orbit which cannot be sustained.

5. They desire to be vague about eschatalogical matters (doctrines of last things). They usually refuse to take a stand on the pretribulation rapture of the saints and related matters.

6. They desire to soft-pedal the idea of absolutes. One is usually hard pressed to speak authoritatively because he must be academically open-minded.

7. They desire to give a large place to modern scientific investigation. Many are willing to abandon the doctrine of immediate creation in the light of modern paleontology and geology. They feel that fundamentalists are obscurantists who have their heads stuck in the sand.

8. They desire to do away with old-time fundamental language and replace it with a modern relevant vocabulary. This has often led to attacks on the King James Version and an upgrading of a variety of other translations.

9. They desire to avoid the stigma of the term "fundamentalist" hence they usually employ the term "evangelical."

10. They desire to confuse the Biblical principles of moral separation and make light of the old-time fundamentalist's stand against dancing, etc.

11. They desire movements within denominations and speak disparagingly about the separatists. Those who have pulled out of the old-time denominations because of apostasy they decry. They feel that it was wrong to pull out.

12. They desire to label the fundamentalist as one who has a "Bible Institute mentality." Because traditionally the Bible Institutes have not stressed liberal arts and the sciences, they have had heaped upon them this epitaph.

13. They desire to promote cooperative ecumenical evangelism without due consideration for biblical salvation. They cooperate in huge massive campaigns with churches and persons of serious questionable beliefs.

14. They desire to share with the modern charismatic movement. While many within this group may be believers, it is also admitted that it is an ecumenical group which fails to give priority to the Word and salvation by grace through Christ's blood.