The Social Emphasis Of New Evangelicalism -- By: Richard L. Pratt, Jr.

Journal: Central Bible Quarterly
Volume: CENQ 21:4 (Winter 1978)
Article: The Social Emphasis Of New Evangelicalism
Author: Richard L. Pratt, Jr.


The Social Emphasis Of New Evangelicalism

Raymond L. Pratt

Pillsbury Baptist Bible College

Owatonna, Minnesota

Introduction

A major tenet of New Evangelicalism is the social application of the gospel. It is often the theme of major addresses. It occurs frequently in magazine articles. New Evangelical writers devote entire books to the subject of social involvement.

Purpose And Procedure Of The Study

The purpose of this study is to examine the position of New Evangelicalism as it relates to the social application of the gospel. The first step is to identify general statements by New Evangelicals of their concern for social involvement. The next step in procedure is to identify the close relationship between evangelism and social action of the New Evangelicals. Next in order is briefly to consider various areas of social involvement such as political activity, racism, and ecology. The emphasis on social responsibility is considered as it appeared in the Chicago Declaration and in the Lausanne Covenant. The final aspect to be considered is the actual involvement of New Evangelicals in social endeavors.

Importance Off The Study

The study is considered important in that it can aid believers in identifying a major aspect of New Evangelicalism. It is also intended to assist the reader in the exercise of proper discernment

regarding involvement in social activity.

I. New Evangelicals And Social Action

New Evangelicalism is a movement which espouses and emphasizes a social philosophy. Social action on the part of evangelicals is a recurring theme at conferences as well as through their literature. This continual emphasis is no surprise since this has been a major tenet of New Evangelicalism from its beginning.

The social emphasis of the New Evangelicals came about as a reaction against fundamentalism.

Inevitably, the societal questions began to draw the attention of the evangelicals. In 1947, I coined the phrase “the new evangelicalism” to express this concern. The new evangelicalism differs from fundamentalism in its willingness to handle societal problems that fundamentalism evaded… The true Christian faith is a theology which produces a supernatural personal experience of salvation and a social philosophy. Doctrine and social ethics are Christian disciplines.1

The accusation against fundamentalism in neglecting the social aspect of the gospel came primarily through Carl Henry’s book The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism published in 1947.

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