The Sorry State of American Evangelicalism

Many of you have heard the recent news that Dr. Francis Beckwith, president of the Evangelical Theological Society, has returned to the Roman Catholic Church in which he was raised.  Beckwith will resign as president, but remain in the society as a member.

Obviously, there are a number of important issues here which relate to things we have discussed on the White Horse Inn for many years.

First, you should read Dr. Beckwith's own reasons for returning to Romanism.  Click here: Right Reason: My Return to the Catholic Church.

Second, you should read the thoughtful and excellent responses by Dr. Carl Trueman Click here: Reformation21 » Professor Beckwith and Dr. Scott Clark Click here: http://www.oceansideurc.org/ - The Heidelblog (Scott Clark) - - ETS President Converts to Rome and Click here: http://www.oceansideurc.org/ - The Heidelblog (Scott Clark) - - Of "Evangelical" and "Catholic"

For years you have have heard us on the White Horse Inn lamenting the current state of evangelicalism.  As Drs. Trueman and Clark point out, the old evangelical alliance is now in tatters.  ETS (of which I am a member--although I never have actively participated) is made up of everything from staunch Calvinists to open theists.  Its doctrinal statement is one line--“The Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is the Word of God written and is therefore inerrant in the autographs.”  As Drs. Trueman and Clark have done, I too will let my membership expire--not out of anger or protest, I am just not interested in the work of ETS anymore . . .

As Clark and Trueman point out, the evangelical movement is now ahistorical, attracted (it seems) to every new theological fad, and largely disinterested in doctrine--especially confessional Protestant doctrine.  Defections to Rome, while lamentable are not a surprise and make sense in the current theological climate.

How many times has our Lutheran brother--Dr. Rosenbladt--told us of the direct connection between Luther-Calvin and Wesley-Rome?  Says Rod:  "If you don't get justification right, Rome makes perfect sense."

After reading Dr. Beckwith's explanation, Rod, it appears, is a prophet. 

Update on Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 10:12AM by Kim Riddlebarger

Dr. Beckwith has also resigned from his membership in ETS and ETS has responded.  Click here: ETS on Beckwith | Liveblog | Christianity Today

Comments

[Chubs]

I get justification right, AND Rome makes perfect sense. See how:

http://www.catholic.com

[mholst]

A loud AMEN to Prophet Rod! The ETS is ever more quickly fading into oblivion. If all they can do to Open Theists (Closed Theists is probably a more accurate term) is give them a slight slap on the wrist, then I see no reason why anyone of at least the Reformed persuasion would have any interest of maintaining membership.
The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, The Whitehorse Inn, and Issues Etc. are much more profitable and honoring to Scripture.

Matt Holst

[charlie]

Kim: So the Romish Church reclaims another!
I am encouraged to keep praying for true and Biblical reform in these latter days! It is grievous to see the glories of Christ left for Hagiolatry, the Mass, and an arrogant magisterium! Charlie-39 Articles, 3 Forms of Unity, and Reformed.

[charlie]

Though he has bailed to Rome, Frank Beckwith remains in the ETS? How can that be?

[zrim]

clark has made some great, great points so far.

what amazes me is why so many are slackjawed over evangelicalism, as if this all has happened overnight or in the last 20-30 years. it's been a long time in the making in american religion. maybe it has accelerated in recent history. i like hart's point that it's all been one big question mark "ever since whitefield landed." rip the gospel from its churchly moorings and you *will* get shuller, rick, falwell and joel. it's just a matter of time.

but the more i identify with reformed confessionalism th emore i couldn't care less what happens in evngy'ism.

is everyone that surprised, really?

zrim

[Ted Tschopp]

I can't help but think that most parachurch organizations are going to end up no longer relavant. It's labels like "Evangelical" that have no meaning in a post modern society. Most parachurch organizations were formed to avoid the internal worings of a church, while still focusing on the external activities of loving neighbor. We are now finding out that the church can't outsource Christian Love and the parachurch can't outsource Theology.

We shouldn't be suprised. The church was called to be a certain thing, and in general it has left from that path.

On a happy note, as a member of a generation filled with Post Moderns, I think that there is hope. The post modern doesn't like labels or research or scholarly works, but they do like to pick, choose, argue, and question. This means that they like to discuss and argue and test and weigh different paradigms (and God knows, there paradigm is generally very lacking). Here is what I say to someone communicating to someone from a post modern framework; Say "I Believe... " The church has historically been strong here. Creeds are what worked in the past instead of labels, and this gets past the label. You want to focus on the object of the creed (Jesus). You might need to spend a lot of time hashing out a common language to truely communicate the predicate of a particular creed, but talking about the finished Work of Christ is far more useful than arguing over labels or what it means to be "Evangelical" or "Reformed" or "Born Again" or "Charasmatic".

[Roger N Overton]

The ETS doctrinal statement is actually two lines: "The Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is the Word of God written and is therefore inerrant in the autographs. God is a Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each an uncreated person, one in essence, equal in power and glory." http://etsjets.org/doctrine.html

Also, (a recent development) Frank is resigning as a member of ETS, not just as President. http://rightreason.ektopos.com/archives/2007/05/my_resignation.html#more

[Joel A. Montes]

I didn't here about this until now browsing the homepage of CRC of Anaheim. I have to be honest, I was so proud (?) when I got accepted into the ETS as a student by recommendation from one of my profs at Talbot. Then I read/heard the controversial decision to keep the Open Theist (Clark Pinnock, William Hasker..?) as members and N. Geisler's resignation following. I even went into his website and read his posted letter of resignation after the vote. But W.L. Craig in response to a question in class defended the decision saying it was important to have differing views, essentially, in order to keep Evangelicals "on their toes". This was a similar explanation Craig made in a Christianity Today article about the controversial vote.But at the same time I have grown disillusioned with the typical Evangelical church and other scholars have converted too to other strains of Christianity, mostly the older non-Protestant ones, such as Richard Swinburnes conversion to Eastern Orthodoxy commenting on the"bare-ness" of the American Evangelical churches. I think in the post-modern West, this will continue to happen, under the assumption that post-modernist are subjectivist in terms of truth and consequentially seeking experience (like Pentecostals) as the criteria for knowing God. The old traditions of the Catholic west and the Greek Orthodox churches in the East will grow in interest in the American and Western religious mind. What are we to do, Dr. Kim?

[charlie]

To Chubs: At Catholic Answers, I read the article "Is justification ongoing?" It is verbal artwork, but terrible theology. Justification is, for the record, completely gratuitous, and received by faith alone, apart from Mary, mass, and Magisterium!!! Charles

[Robin]

Francis Beckwith; Craig Hazen; Frank Pastore; JP Moreland; Norm Geisler and others part of the Biola apologetics series have expressed indifference towards theology on many occaisons. Back when I was struggling to sort-out questions, I was surprised to hear them (regularly) remind students "we're here to study apologetics, not theology..."

Since when does apologetics have nothing to do with theology? Tell that to the Apostle Paul!

I'm so grateful for the White Horse Inn.

[Ron]

I left the ETS years ago. I have never since had the least cause to regret it.

[Andrew Alvarez]

I'm very disappointed and a little shocked to hear this. I studied under Dr. Beckwith for nearly two years at Trinity Graduate School for my Masters degree. He is a philosopher of the highest caliber. We even discussed Catholic issues (such as transsubstantiation) and thought he answered those claims well. He was always friendly towards Catholics seeing them as a valuable resource in sanctity of life issues and ethics but I never expected this.

[David R. Aubuchon]

I must confess (from the very beginning) that I am, by far, more ignorant and less educated than the vast majority of the contributors to this blog.

Hence, I am already anticipating the counterpunch that most certainly awaits me...yet which, because of my ignorance, I am incapable of adequately defending myself against. (-:

Nonetheless, I feel impelled to throw in my two cents.


I, too, am disappointed by Dr. Beckwith's return to Rome. Over the years I have attended some of his lectures, read two of his books (and several essays) and have profited from his philosophical insights and apologetic contributions.

And, I am quite sure, I will CONTINUE to profit from these contributions in the future.

To be clear, though: I am just as disappointed and disgruntled about this as anyone. After all, I too am a Calvinist...and am convinced that the Reformed view of Justification is the heart of the Gospel.

I disagree, however, with Pastor Riddlebarger's decision (along with other Reformed scholars) to quit the ETS.

After all, if all of the Reformed scholars follow suit and abandon the enterprise, so to speak, there will be no one left to counter the bad teaching.

It's already bad enough that the current ETS Calvinists don't bother showing up to the annual meetings.

I recall vividly, while attending the ETS meeting in Atlanta several years ago, sitting in on a William Lane Craig lecture in which the meeting room was jam packed with attendees.....standing room only, and listening to him make several disparaging (and I felt, inaccurate) comments about Reformed Theology.

Throughout the Q & A session, I hoped and prayed (literally) for just one Reformed scholar to stand up and call him on his remarks. (I was far too intimidated and ignorant to attempt such an undertaking personally)

But the Calvinists uttered nary a word...and I walked away feeling as though the entire room of students, scholars and laypeople (like me) were done a disservice that day. Not on the part of Dr. Craig (who was simply defending his Weslyan views) but rather on the part of the Reformed theologians and philosophers who should have risen to the occasion.

You are all prepared to jump ship and abandon the ETS for reasons which may be quite valid and important.

But do any of you actually love the ETS enough to fight for it?? Dr. Riddlebarger, in his words, has lost interest in the ETS and, consequently, has no intention in even renewing his membership.

I think that's a bad decision....with all due respect.

If you love something....fight for it!

Haven't any of you ever fought for something you loved? Ever fought another man for the love of your woman? Ever fought for your neighborhood when another gang tried to colonialize your park? (-;

Well....here's a novel idea: how about fighting for the revival and theological revitalization of the ETS??

How about, instead of dropping out of the ETS, coordinating a drive to FLOOD the ETS meetings with Reformed thinkers...pastors.....scholars.... philosophers and theologians??

How about all of the Reformed ETS folks actually SHOWING UP to the annual meetings and presenting papers from a Reformed perspective?

That way, if for no other reason, the next time Bill Craig (or some other non-Reformed scholar) stands up and throws rocks at the Reformed faith, I won't have to sit there with my head down...wishing that someone in the room would stand up and respond intelligently.

Dear Calvinist brethren....please re-consider not jumping ship. The ETS is a good organization...and worth preserving. As such, it is worth fighting for.

Con todo respecto,


David Aubuchon
Norwalk, CA

[Craig Phelps]

Sola scriptura and sola fide.
Heaven's Bread feeds His church unto true righteousness and everlasting life on this banquet table and by this mouth.

[timinator]

David R. Aubuchon has a point. If we as Christians do nothing then what should we expect, but that the emerging church and others well not hold to Sola scriptura or the Reformed Theology.

If someone was to talk to me about reformed theology I think I would have told them about the Purpose Driven Life or some soft of misguided understanding of theology.

I know better now. I am glad God guided me to a church that teaches the Whole Bible, Theology, Jufication and Sanctification. And all that the writers wrote to help us walk in God's ways and understand Him better.

I do understand about separating reformed Christians from ETS, but is this the best way to spread the Gospel or to stop bad theology like open theist?

[Roger N Overton]

I raised this issue after last year's ETS meeting and received a mixed response from Reformed theologians (http://ateam.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2006/11/27/2532060.html)

I don't think ETS is worth fighting for out of love for ETS. But I do agree with David that the way to handle our disappointments with ETS is to seek to change instead of leaving it behind. ETS is still an important avenue for students, such as myself, and faculty to make connections in the Christian academy, to learn, and to discuss important issues. It's not perfect, and there serious problems with ETS that need to be addressed, but it seems to me the best way to address the problems and be a part of the education of students who attend is to be involved. Great Reformed theologians dropping out of ETS will only help further the prorogation of bad theology.

Out of curiosity, is there any thing comparable to ETS that is Reformed that I've missed all these years?

[Kim Riddlebarger]

David/Roger:

As I stated above, my forthcoming ETS membership lapse has nothing to do with a substantial disagreement with ETS, or with the Beckwith situation. As Mike Horton put it, ETS serves an important "village green" function.

My gripe with ETS has to do with the fact that little goes on at ETS meetings any more with which I am interested. How many lectures on chiasms in 2 Kings can you hear before you just wax over? The last ETS journal (the 50th anniversary issue) had only one essay of interest to me (on penal substitutionary atonement), and the book reviews--the strength of the journal--are not as up to date nor as informative as they used to be.

The only impact upon me if I don't renew my membership is that I'll lose a subscription to a journal I no longer find of value. Not a loss.

In that sense ETS reflects an evangelicalism that I find more and more irrelevant and disinterested in things which I as a confessional Reformed Christian find of interest and importance.

[Alberto]

Robin,

Your list of names should include Greg Koukl (did I spell it right). I don't say this because he does'nt care about theology, but because he runs with these folks at Biola. Go check out the blog by one of the members of the Stand to "Reason" staff on Beckwith's apostasy.

[David]

Ignatius Insight e-Letter
http://ressourcement.blogspot.com/2007/05/ignatius-insight-e-letter.html

Pontifications - Does the Evangelical Theological Society Need an Infallible Magisterium?
http://catholica.pontifications.net/?p=2282

When it comes to visible unity, it is time for us Protestants to admit that we have failed
http://ressourcement.blogspot.com/2007/05/when-it-comes-to-visible-unity-it-is.html

An Evening with Francis Cardinal George in Chicago by Dr. John H. Armstrong
http://ressourcement.blogspot.com/2007/05/evening-with-francis-cardinal-george-in.html

Is the Reformation Over?
http://ressourcement.blogspot.com/2007/03/is-reformation-over.html

[David]

More posts from Francis J. Beckwith
http://rightreason.ektopos.com/beckwith.html

My Resignation from the Evangelical Theological Society
http://rightreason.ektopos.com/archives/2007/05/my_resignation.html

Statement of the ETS Executive Committee on Frank Beckwith
http://rightreason.ektopos.com/archives/2007/05/statement_of_th.html

Christianity Today Q & A on My Return to the Catholic Church
http://rightreason.ektopos.com/archives/2007/05/christianity_to.html

Hulk Beckwith
http://rightreason.ektopos.com/archives/2007/05/hulk_beckwith.html