Briefs with too many holes

THE OXFORD HANDBOOK OF EVANGELICAL THEOLOGY
Edited by Gerald R. McDermott
Oxford University Press. 524 pages. £95.00
ISBN 978 0 195 369 441

This volume provides an overview of Evangelical Theology for graduate students and scholars. The contributors are drawn from across the spectrum of evangelicalism; they survey questions of theological method and key issues in theology and ethics.

The first challenge is to define evangelicalism. Mark Noll broadly follows Bebbington’s distinctives of conversion, the authority of the Bible, activism in evangelism and social action, and the Cross (substitutionary atonement). He points with approval to the Evangelical Alliance. The editor, on the other hand, prefers the six-point definition of Alister McGrath and labours to distinguish evangelicalism from fundamentalism. The doctrine of the church is identified as a notable weakness, with a tendency to individualism and fragmentation. In looking to the future, the growing influence of churches in the ‘Global South’ is noted.

Overviews

Each chapter provides a frustratingly brief overview of its subject. For example, Justification and Atonement are treated by Donald Bloesch in a mere 11 pages, including reference to all the various theories of the Atonement, and the relationship between justification, sanctification and social justice. Issues can only be addressed very briefly, and there is no space to mention the New Perspective on Paul. Some chapters are rather more satisfying, such as Scot McKnight on The Gospel, providing a brief biblical and historical survey, before seeing how the gospel is understood by Billy Graham and John Stott.

There is unevenness in the contributions to this volume, in the sense that there is a lack of common approach. Some authors seek to give an objective overview of evangelical thinking and practice, with brief surveys of historical theology. Others provide their own particular perspective on an issue, and some simply express their own views on the subject. For example, the chapter on Sexuality is simply a survey of biblical material with the author’s conclusion. The chapter on Gender just presents the author’s feminist views and dismisses alternative positions as an imposition on Scripture; whole areas of debate are simply omitted. It is surprising that in the chapter on the Arts there is no mention of the Puritans, Jonathan Edwards, the Dutch Golden Age, Francis Schaeffer or Hans Rookmaaker. Ronald Sider doesn’t merit a mention in the chapter on Economics.

All options valid?

Finally, these brief but sweeping surveys sometimes convey the impression that all options are valid within the spectrum of evangelicalism. The chapter on Eschatology surveys a variety of views without reaching clear conclusions; we are left to understand that not only conditional mortality, but also universalism are within the broad orbit of evangelical belief. We are cautioned not to be too dogmatic about what are the Bible’s ‘imaginative expressions rather than literal descriptions’ of the end of all things (p.271). Meanwhile, the chapter on Evangelism and Missions applauds the convergence of diverse historical traditions (Catholic, charismatic, social-ethical and evangelical) and distinct parties (conciliar, Roman Catholic, evangelical) ‘to produce a more complete and convincing witness to the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ’ (p.352).

In short, this handbook is a curate’s egg, and a very broadly evangelical curate at that. Perhaps that is, in itself, a testimony to the breadth of evangelicalism as currently understood. Given the price tag, most will choose instead to invest in a small library of more satisfying volumes.

Bill James,

pastor, Emmanuel Evangelical Church, Leamington Spa