Author, Adam.
Published, May 12, 2008.

An Evangelical Manifesto is a recently published article by a group of professing evangelicals which seeks to redefine and reform evangelicalism in the face of its popular (mis)conceptions in the secular world.

It’s so refreshing to read a well-considered and balanced article from a group of evangelicals. I was expecting to read a bible-bashing self-righteous stab at the world about how we’re all going to hell, but I was pleasantly surprised. It is a good read. I mean, when someone can quote Nietzche or Kierkegaard whilst representing a large body of believers and not feel they are going to be struck down by the Lord for heresy, seems to me to suggest that they have their head screwed on.

The 20 page article goes through step by step what Evangelicals believe theologically. The belief in the historical person of Jesus and his death and resurrection. They recognise their affinity with the Protestant movement during the Reformation, but go further than that and define themselves as followers of Jesus himself – not a later historical movement. One such statement of belief discusses that they are defined not only by their words but also their actions:

“What we are about is captured not only in books or declarations, but in our care for the poor, the homeless, and the orphaned; our outreach to those in prison; our compassion for the hungry and the victims of disaster; and our fight for justice for those oppressed by such evils as slavery and human trafficking.”

As I said at the start, it’s refreshing to see that there are Christians who care about the plethora of human suffering and sin rather than just sex. It also spends some time warning of the extremes of both ‘liberal revisionism’ and ‘conservative fundamentalism’, articulating the tension of ‘in the world, but not of the world’. It goes on to recognise the recent failings of evangelicals in many facets of life.

Along these lines of balancing between the pulls of blind faith and blind intellectualism the manifesto states: “We therefore regard reason and faith as allies rather than enemies, and find no contradiction between head and heart, between being fully faithful on the one hand, and fully intellectually critical and contemporary on the other.” I love it.

The last half of the article pertains to the re-positioning of evangelicalism in politics. It calls for a redefinition of evangelicalism that is never fully aligned or synonymous with a particular political party or economic system. It wishes to participate in the public square of political debate – not to either align themselves entirely with party politics or totally disengage from politics altogether – but form a balanced approach of the separation of Church and State. It wills the freedom of opinion and concern of everyone regardless of their respective faith or non-faith based worldviews. The freedom of belief is made paramount. In assuming its own freedom it wills the freedom of all others.

“…our choice is for a civil public square, and a working respect for the rights of all, even those with whom we disagree.”

I also have to respect its social justice aspect, which I consider a very central theme to the gospel.

“We urge those who share our dedication to the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed to join with us in working to bring care, peace, justice, and freedom to those millions of our fellow-humans who are now ignored, oppressed, enslaved, or treated as human waste and wasted humans by the established orders in the global world.”

It’s a worthwhile read. Have a read yourself and see what you think.

http://anevangelicalmanifesto.com/

As a side note about this site, we’re in the process of making it aesthetically pleasing to the eye. At the moment its looking a little too grey.