Labels past their sell-by date (Bulldog for April)

Jonathan Stephen  |  Features
Date posted:  1 Apr 1997
Share Add       

It is high time we gave up the comparatively recent habit of dividing the evangelical constituency into two camps: 'charismatic' and 'reformed'. It is surely neither sensible nor helpful.

It is not sensible because these terms are not true alternatives (unlike charismatic/non-charismatic or Reformed/Arminian). Taken together, they are neither sufficiently exclusive, many evangelicals claiming to be both, nor sufficiently inclusive, many evangelicals claiming to be neither. It is not helpful because most evangelicals tend to be happier to categorise others in this way than to be categorised themselves.

More importantly, any label designed to identify a section of evangelicalism can more easily be used to foster division rather than unity and must be handled with care. Then again, there is little future in trying to set against each other theological positions which spring from such different roots and give rise to such varied interpretations.

Share
< Previous article| Features| Next article >
Read more articles by Jonathan Stephen >>

Left in the Cart?

What amazes me is not that Jimmy Carter still holds to the same, tired, truthless ecumenical agenda that one had …

The current crisis in evangelicalism

Nearly a decade ago, a book was published called The Coming Evangelical Crisis (Moody Press). It spoke of ‘disturbing theological …

Subscribe

Enjoy our monthly paper and full online access

Find out more

Give a subscription

🎁 Get 20% off a subscription for a friend this Christmas!

Tell me more