This statement was written in 2001 and signed by 110 evangelical scholars and leaders.\u00a0 I think it is even more needed now than then.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/tt><\/p>\n To be evangelical is to be committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ\u2013the Word incarnate\u2013in all areas of life and to the supreme authority of the canonical Scriptures\u2013the written Word\u2013in all matters of faith and practice. To be evangelical also entails being characterized by an irenic, Christlike spirit of love toward those with whom we disagree and a cautious openness to the reform of tradition as the Spirit leads us to fresh understandings of the Word that are even more faithful to the entirety of God\u2019s revelation. We oppose unfettered theological experimentation and accommodation to culture that threatens the gospel of Jesus Christ. But we also deplore a present tendency among some evangelicals to define the boundaries of evangelical faith and life too narrowly. For this reason, we call evangelical leaders and thinkers to make room for reverent exploration of new ideas and reconsideration of old ones without assuming too quickly that we know what Scripture clearly does and does not teach.<\/p>\n Throughout history, evangelicals have courageously stood against attempts to compromise biblical faith. Unfortunately, passionate resistance to error has repeatedly also led to militant, separatistic habits of mind and heart from which evangelicals in the mid-twentieth century struggled to free the movement. We are concerned that some claimants to the evangelical heritage appear to be falling back into some of the more onerous attitudes of fundamentalism. Out of this concern, we call all evangelicals to acknowledge the value of the kind of genuine diversity and fresh reflection, grounded in the written Word and centered on the incarnate Word, that has always been the hallmark of the true evangelical spirit.<\/p>\n To this end, we call all evangelical leaders and thinkers not to reject out of hand constructive theological proposals that are reverently rooted in biblical reflection, even when they challenge aspects of what some consider to be the \u201creceived evangelical tradition.\u201d Rather than a sign of decline, constructive theological endeavor and rigorous debate about theological issues are marks of evangelical theological vitality. Premature closure of dialogue and debate by means of condemnations and threats of exclusion, in contrast, disrupts community and often quenches the Spirit who brings new life and leads us toward ever more faithful readings of God\u2019s Word. Therefore, we admonish all evangelicals to resist attempts to propagate rigid definitions of evangelicalism that result in unnecessary alienation and exclusion. And we call all evangelicals to affirm the genuine diversity and fresh reflection, rooted in the authority of the written Word and centered on the Word incarnate, that has always been the hallmark of the true evangelical spirit.<\/p>\n Let peace prevail among evangelicals. We pray not for peace at any price, but for peace and harmony among equally God-fearing, Bible-believing, Jesus-loving evangelical Christians who may find that they disagree about many secondary matters. We call all evangelicals to rediscover and honor the motto: \u201cIn essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.\u201d May the irenic spirit of generous orthodoxy that has energized and unified the evangelical movement prevail in our evangelical theological discourse. And may all evangelicals seek to renew the broad, historic evangelicalism that honors the oneness of faith that unites all who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and submit to the authority of the Word.<\/p>\n William J. Abraham. Dan Allender Mark D. Baker Craig Blomberg Barry Callen M. Daniel Carroll R. Craig Carter Rodney Clapp David Clark Charles J. Conniry Stephen T. Davis William A. Dyrness C. Stephen Evans Gordon D. Fee Doug Frank John R. Franke Al Glenn Joel B. Green Stanley J. Grenz Vernon Grounds Douglas Harink Christopher Hall Fisher Humphreys Douglas Jacobsen Alan F. Johnson Robert K. Johnston Henry H. Knight D. Brent Laytham Randy L. Maddox Gerald R. McDermott Scot McKnight Nancey Murphy James Nelson Eric H. Ohlmann Dennis Okholm Roger E. Olson Alan G. Padgett Tim S. Perry Ronald W. Pierce Christine D. Pohl Daniel G. Reid Kurt Anders Richardson Douglas R. Sharp Lewis Smedes Klyne Snodgrass Russell Spittler John Stackhouse Glen Stassen Bryan Stone Don Thorsen Terrance Tiessen Leanne Van Dyke Miroslav Volf Jerry Walls Robert Webber Timothy Weber Jonathan Wilson Ben Witherington <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This statement was written in 2001 and signed by 110 evangelical scholars and leaders.\u00a0 I think it is even more needed now than then. \u00a0 The Word Made Fresh: A Call for a Renewal of the Evangelical Spirit To be evangelical is to be committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ\u2013the Word incarnate\u2013in all areas […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-387","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Word Made Fresh: A Call for a Renewal of the Evangelical Spirit<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nAlbert Cook Outler Professor of Wesley Studies
\nPerkins School of Theology
\nSouthern Methodist University<\/p>\n
\nDean, Mars Hill Graduate School<\/p>\n
\nAssistant Professor of Mission and Theology
\nMennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of New Testament
\nDenver Seminary<\/p>\n
\nUniversity Professor of Christian Studies
\nAnderson University<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Old Testament
\nDenver Seminary<\/p>\n
\nVice President, Academic Dean and Professor of Religious Studies
\nTyndale College<\/p>\n
\nEditorial Director
\nBrazos Press<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Theology and Ethics
\nBethel Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nAssistant Professor of Pastoral Theology
\nDirector of the Doctor of Ministry Program
\nGeorge Fox Evangelical Seminary
\nGeorge Fox University<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Philosophy and Religious Studies
\nClaremont McKenna College<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Theology and Culture
\nFuller Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nUniversity Professor of Philosophy and Humanities
\nBaylor University<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of New Testament Studies
\nRegent College<\/p>\n
\nAdjunct Professor of History
\nThe Oregon Extension of Houghton College<\/p>\n
\nAssociate Professor of Theology
\nBiblical Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Theology and Apologetics
\nFuller Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nDean of the School of Theology
\nProfessor of New Testament Interpretation
\nAsbury Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nPioneer McDonald Professor of Baptist Heritage, Theology and Ethics
\nCarey Theological College
\nProfessor of Theology and Ethics
\nRegent College<\/p>\n
\nChancellor,
\nDenver Seminary<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Theology
\nKing\u2019s University College<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Theology
\nEastern College<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Divinity
\nBeeson Divinity School
\nSamford University<\/p>\n
\nDistinguished Professor of Church History and Theology
\nMessiah College<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Theology
\nWheaton College and Graduate School<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Theology and Culture
\nFuller Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nAssociate Professor of Evangelism
\nSaint Paul School of Theology<\/p>\n
\nAssistant Professor of Theology
\nNorth Park Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nPaul T. Walls Professor of Wesleyan Theology
\nSeattle Pacific University<\/p>\n
\nAssociate Professor of Religion and Philosophy
\nRoanoke College<\/p>\n
\nKarl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies
\nNorth Park University<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Christian Philosophy
\nFuller Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Theology
\nNorth Park University<\/p>\n
\nDean
\nEastern Baptist Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Theology
\nWheaton College<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Theology
\nGeorge W. Truett Theological Seminary
\nBaylor University<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Systematic Theology
\nLuther Seminary<\/p>\n
\nAssociate Professor of Theology
\nProvidence College<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Biblical Studies and Theology
\nTalbot School of Theology
\nBiola University<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Social Ethics
\nAsbury Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nSenior Editor, Academic and Reference Books
\nInterVarsity Press<\/p>\n
\nBoston University<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Christian Theology
\nNorthern Baptist Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nProfessor Emeritus
\nFuller Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nPaul W. Brandel Professor of New Testament Studies
\nNorth Park Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of New Testament
\nFuller Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nSangwoo Youtong Chee Professor of Theology and Culture
\nRegent College<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Ethics
\nFuller Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nE. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism
\nBoston University School of Theology<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Theology
\nC. P. Haggard School of Theology
\nAzusa Pacific University<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Theology and Ethics
\nProvidence Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Reformed Theology
\nWestern Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nHenry B. Wright Professor of Systematic Theology
\nYale Divinity School
\nYale University<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Philosophy and Religion
\nAsbury Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nWilliam R. and Geraldyne B. Myers Chair of Ministry
\nNorthern Baptist Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nDean and Professor of Church History
\nNorthern Baptist Theological Seminary<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Religious Studies
\nWestmont College<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of New Testament
\nAsbury Theological Seminary<\/p>\n