Promise Unfulfilled: The Failed Strategy of Modern Evangelicalism (Hardcover)

~ Rolland McCune (Author) "Liberalism (here used synonymously with modernism) arose out of European upheavals in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries..." (more)
Key Phrases: inclusive evangelism, new evangelical leaders, new evangelical scholars, Billy Graham, Christianity Today, Grand Rapids (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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.

The twenty-five chapters are grouped under nine main sections: Historical Antecedents; the Formation of the New Evangelicalism; Ecumenism; Ecclesiastical Separation; The Bible and Authority; Apologetics; Social Involvement; Doctrinal Storms; and Evaluations and Prospects.

It will be a valuable addition to the pastor’s library and a strategic resource for theological education in Bible colleges and seminaries.

About the Author

Dr. Rolland McCune is the former President of the Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. McCune has written numerous articles about Systematic Theology, Neo-Evangelicalism, Apologetics, and other subjects. He is the current Professor of Systematic Theology at Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 398 pages
• Publisher: Ambassador-Emerald International (October 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932307311
• ISBN-13: 978-1932307313
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #107,836 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fulfilling my expectations, February 9, 2008

By	Joshua Longoria "Just a Servant" (TEXAS) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a great book with a good insights of the failed attempt to move into a New-Evangelical era while remaining godly. It is not possible to try and walk hand in hand with other "religions" that do not believe in the one true God, and remain faithful to your Lord. This book shows the hopeful beginings and the clear failure of Nodern Evangelicalism that is continuing in a downward spiral. It also gives a clear explination as to why there was such a change in Billy Grahams ministries over the years. I highly recomend this book to any reader that is interested.

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Review and Critique of the New Evangelicalism, November 11, 2004

By	Allen Mickle "Allen Mickle" (St. George, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

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!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars like 7 books in one, October 31, 2008

By	Jason Schaitel "avid reader" (Spring Hill, KS USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is very comprehensive and very detailed at the same time. I learned a lot about the history of liberal theology, fundamentalism, and new-evangelicalism. I also learned much about apologetics, social action, the battle of bible inerrancy and separation issues. This book cleared up a lot of the fog for me surrounding these issues and demonstrated how they are all interrelated.