Journal: Journal of Ministry and Theology
Volume: JMAT 05:1 (Spring 2001)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous

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JMAT 5:1 (Spr 01) p. 118

Book Reviews

Evangelical Futures: A Conversation on Theological Method. Ed. John G. Stackhouse, Jr., Published jointly by Baker Book House, Regent College Publishing, and InterVarsity Press, 2000.

The book Evangelical Futures is perhaps one of the most important books on theological method to emerge in recent times. This is not because of its commitment to traditional evangelical theological prolegomena. In fact, many evangelicals will be disheartened by the directions taken by some of the authors in the book. Its importance lies in the fact that this book alerts the thoughtful Christian reader to the developments in evangelical thinking that are a direct result of the influence of the rise of postmodernism in present day culture. While the book does not ignore traditional evangelical theological method (note the article by J. I. Packer and to some extent the one by John Stackhouse), most of the authors speak in an atmosphere that appears to be somewhat anti-Western (at least downplaying its significance), definitely anti-Enlightenment, pro-culture, and less objective in its view of theology than an older evangelicalism.

Two introductory articles are given. One by Alister McGrath evaluates the “state of the art” of evangelical method. In particular he reviews several issues in the current debate about theological method such as biblical authority, hermeneutics, tradition, the relationship of philosophy and theology, dialogue with other non-evangelical Christian traditions, and communication of theology in non-Western cultures. Of special interest is that McGrath raises the question: “Has Evangelicalism Lost Interest in Theology?” His answer is no in contrast to David Wells (No Place for Truth) and a host of evangelicals who worry about the current slippage of biblical based convictions in the evangelical camp. John Stackhouse provides a second introductory article entitled “Evangelical Theology Should Be Evangelical.” In it, he provides encouragement for evangelicals to maintain a focus on Christ and salvation, the Bible, conversion, and evangelistic mission that has been part and parcel of the twentieth century definition of evangelicalism.

Part Two of the book gives two programmatic proposals. Kevin J. Vanhoozer writes on “The Voice and the Actor: A Dramatic Proposal about the Ministry and Minstrelsy of Theology.” This article is a combination of new terminology that attempts to convey the poetry side of the theological enterprise and the use of technical language that obscures that very end. A much

JMAT 5:1 (Spr 01) p. 119

better article is Stanley Grenz’ “Articulating the Christian Belief-Mosaic: Theological Method after the Demise of Foundationalism” which has bee...

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