Journal: Central Bible Quarterly
Volume: CENQ 01:4 (Winter 1958)
Article: Ecumenical Evangelism
Author: Glenn G. Nelson

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CenQ 1:4 (Winter 1958) p. 25

Ecumenical Evangelism

Glenn G. Nelson

From A Term Paper Submitted For A Course In Current Trends

Central Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary

Ecumenical Evangelism has been defined as “that ambitious interdenominational program to bring revival to two different religions through an ecclesiastical combine of Modernists and Fundamentalists, where a solemn agreement is made that the message will be fundamental, but. the control will be liberal. “It is a movement that has led to compromise and cooperation for the sake of convenience and expediency. It is denying or trimming the truth to gain a friend who in reality is but another Judas.

This union between Liberals and compromising Evangelicals has caused much bereavement to those who hold the whole counsel of God as the basis for faith and practice. Here in our midst suddenly are those who do not consider belief in the fundamentals as essential to Christianity. They publicly present themselves as being more Christian in their ignoring or watering down the Biblical teachings on apostacy. They condone inclusivism by confusing separation with schism (separation from apostacy, from apostate churches, from false gospels, can never be equated with schism). They perpetuate inclusivism by appealing to conscience as final authority over the plain teaching of the Word of God.

Today’s born-again believer is confused and bewildered by the present trend in evangelism. Religious leaders who deny the fundamentals of the faith (which Fundamentalists consider constitute the minimum to qualify as Christians) are now considered as “nominal Christians” instead of heathen, unbelievers, men who walk in darkness. These men are allowed to take part in the crusades for “they manifest the Christian graces yet cannot intellectually accept every tenet of Fundamentalism.” The question as to who is a Christian is not answered, “one who has committed himself to the truths expressed in the fundamentals of the faith, “but rather “one who is willing to cooperate in my program and hear me preach.”

Have three generations been wrong in opposing Modernism? Has the Word of God changed, or is Christendom experiencing another defection from the faith? If the Fundamentalists are labeled narrow because they hold to the whole counsel of God, including separation from unbelievers, it is quite evident that those who are criticizing this stand are splintering themselves from the main stream of Christianity rather than being cast off by a “narrow-minded” Fundamentalism. Fundamentalism is essentially a doctrinal position. It takes its stand on the great fundamentals of the faith such as (l) the infallibility of the Scriptures, (2) the deity of Christ, (3) the virgin birth of Christ...

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