Dr. Rolland McCune (Th.D., Grace Theological Seminary), Professor of Systematic Theology at Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary (www.dbts.edu) has written a thorough, well-documented, and accurate review and critique of what is commonly known as the "New Evangelicalism."
What first follows is a summary of the book from the DBTS website (http://www.dbts.edu/dbts/5.htm).
Dr. Rolland McCune has faithfully invested himself in the life of his seminary students for some forty years. There are hundreds of men serving across the country and around the world who have profited from his teaching on systematic theology, dispensationalism, apologetics, and biblical separation. Now the fruit of his scholarly work is being made available to those outside his seminary classroom.
Promise Unfulfilled: The Failed Strategy of Modern Evangelicalism will be released in October 2004 by Ambassador-Emerald International. It is a thorough work of 416 pages, including a Scripture index, a topical index, and an annotated bibliography. It will be a valuable addition to the pastor's library and a strategic resource for theological education in Bible colleges and seminaries. A synopsis of the book is included below.
The New Evangelicalism was conceived if not born with the formation of the National Association of Evangelicals in 1942. This new group was in the main led by younger professing fundamentalist scholars and leaders who had become dissatisfied with their heritage and wanted to carve out some evangelical middle ground between fundamentalism and neo-orthodoxy. This book is an analysis of the break-away movement in terms of the issues, ideas, and practices that led to its beginning, its expansion to an apogee in the 1970s, its subsequent loss of biblical and doctrinal stability, and its slide toward virtual irrelevancy in a postmodern world culture of the 21st century.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
About the Author Introduction
PART 1: HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS
Introduction
1 The Rise of Theological Liberalism
2 The Great Controversy
PART 2: THE FORMATION OF THE NEW EVANGELICALISM
Introduction
3 Four Crucial Issues
4 Other Contributions
PART 3: ECUMENISM
Introduction
5 Ecumenical Evangelism
6 Ecumenical Church Councils
7 Ecumenical Accolades and Ecumenical Journalism
8 The Charismatic Movement
9 Roman Catholicism
PART 4: ECCLESIASTICAL SEPARATION
Introduction
10 The Rationale of Evangelical Non-Separatism
11 The Biblical Idea of Ecclesiastical Separation
PART 5: THE BIBLE AND AUTHORITY
Introduction
12 Biblical Revelation
13 Biblical Inspiration and Inerrancy
14 Further Issues, Events, and Publications Related to Inerrancy
15 Aftermath of The Battle For the Bible
PART 6: APOLOGETICS
Introduction
16 The Development of New Evangelical Apologetics
17 An Analysis of New Evangelical Apologetics
PART 7: SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT
Introduction
18 New Evangelical Social Activism
19 The Biblical Idea of Social Action
PART 8: DOCTRINAL STORMS
Introduction
20 The Status of the Unevangelized
21 The Destiny of the Finally Impenitent
22 The Open View of God
PART 9: CONCLUSION
23 Evaluations and Prospects
24 Addendum 1: The Younger Evangelicals, A Book Review
25 Addendum 2: Major Events in Evangelicalism, 1942-2003
Selected Annotated Bibliography
Scriptural Index
Topical Index
The book cites copius amounts of primary documents from both early Fundamentalists and New Evangelicals. Where McCune's book separates itself from others that critique New Evangelicalism (like Wells and Schaeffer), is that McCune interprets the movement in light of the Scriptures and finds it wanting.
This book is a must have volume for all those who care about American Religious History and specifically the history of the New Evangelicalism. New Evangelicals will not be able to dismiss the Biblical critiques that McCune brings to the discussion. A book that all pastors and theologicans who care about the state of Christianity today must read this book!
