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-the Word incarnate-in all areas of life and to the supreme authority of the canonical Scriptures-the written Word-in 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's 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.

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.

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 "received evangelical tradition." 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's 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.

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 charity." 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.

William J. Abraham. Albert Cook Outler Professor of Wesley Studies Perkins School of Theology Southern Methodist University

Dan Allender Dean, Mars Hill Graduate School

Mark D. Baker Assistant Professor of Mission and Theology Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary

Craig Blomberg Professor of New Testament Denver Seminary

Barry Callen University Professor of Christian Studies Anderson University

M. Daniel Carroll R. Professor of Old Testament Denver Seminary

Craig Carter Vice President, Academic Dean and Professor of Religious Studies Tyndale College

Rodney Clapp Editorial Director Brazos Press

David Clark Professor of Theology and Ethics Bethel Theological Seminary

Charles J. Conniry Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program George Fox Evangelical Seminary George Fox University

Stephen T. Davis Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies Claremont McKenna College

William A. Dyrness Professor of Theology and Culture Fuller Theological Seminary

C. Stephen Evans University Professor of Philosophy and Humanities Baylor University

Gordon D. Fee Professor of New Testament Studies Regent College

Doug Frank Adjunct Professor of History The Oregon Extension of Houghton College

John R. Franke Associate Professor of Theology Biblical Theological Seminary

Al Glenn Professor of Theology and Apologetics Fuller Theological Seminary

Joel B. Green Dean of the School of Theology Professor of New Testament Interpretation Asbury Theological Seminary

Stanley J. Grenz Pioneer McDonald Professor of Baptist Heritage, Theology and Ethics Carey Theological College Professor of Theology and Ethics Regent College

Vernon Grounds Chancellor, Denver Seminary

Douglas Harink Professor of Theology King's University College

Christopher Hall Professor of Theology Eastern College

Fisher Humphreys Professor of Divinity Beeson Divinity School Samford University

Douglas Jacobsen Distinguished Professor of Church History and Theology Messiah College

Alan F. Johnson Professor of Theology Wheaton College and Graduate School

Robert K. Johnston Professor of Theology and Culture Fuller Theological Seminary

Henry H. Knight Associate Professor of Evangelism Saint Paul School of Theology

D. Brent Laytham Assistant Professor of Theology North Park Theological Seminary

Randy L. Maddox Paul T. Walls Professor of Wesleyan Theology Seattle Pacific University

Gerald R. McDermott Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy Roanoke College

Scot McKnight Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies North Park University

Nancey Murphy Professor of Christian Philosophy Fuller Theological Seminary

James Nelson Professor of Theology North Park University

Eric H. Ohlmann Dean Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Dennis Okholm Professor of Theology Wheaton College

Roger E. Olson Professor of Theology George W. Truett Theological Seminary Baylor University

Alan G. Padgett Professor of Systematic Theology Luther Seminary

Tim S. Perry Associate Professor of Theology Providence College

Ronald W. Pierce Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology Talbot School of Theology Biola University

Christine D. Pohl Professor of Social Ethics Asbury Theological Seminary

Daniel G. Reid Senior Editor, Academic and Reference Books InterVarsity Press

Kurt Anders Richardson Boston University

Douglas R. Sharp Professor of Christian Theology Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lewis Smedes Professor Emeritus Fuller Theological Seminary

Klyne Snodgrass Paul W. Brandel Professor of New Testament Studies North Park Theological Seminary

Russell Spittler Professor of New Testament Fuller Theological Seminary

John Stackhouse Sangwoo Youtong Chee Professor of Theology and Culture Regent College

Glen Stassen Professor of Ethics Fuller Theological Seminary

Bryan Stone E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism Boston University School of Theology

Don Thorsen Professor of Theology C. P. Haggard School of Theology Azusa Pacific University

Terrance Tiessen Professor of Theology and Ethics Providence Theological Seminary

Leanne Van Dyke Professor of Reformed Theology Western Theological Seminary

Miroslav Volf Henry B. Wright Professor of Systematic Theology Yale Divinity School Yale University

Jerry Walls Professor of Philosophy and Religion Asbury Theological Seminary

Robert Webber William R. and Geraldyne B. Myers Chair of Ministry Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Timothy Weber Dean and Professor of Church History Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Jonathan Wilson Professor of Religious Studies Westmont College

Ben Witherington Professor of New Testament Asbury Theological Seminary

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