Evangelical Theology Today: Exploring Theological Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

Evangelical theology may no longer be reduced to evangelical conservative fundamentalism, nor restricted to right-wing American Republican politics. Some works question whether or not evangelicalism has come to an end (Gushee, After Evangelicalism, 2019; Fitch, The End of Evangelicalism, 2011); others look at the deconstruction of evangelicalism (Hübner, Deconstructing Evangelicalism, 2020); while others still consider revisions to, developments of, and diversity among evangelical perspectives (Sharp, The Evangelicals, 2023; Decolonizing Evangelicalism, Woodley and Sanders, 2020; Evangelical Theological Method: Five Views, ed. Porter and Studebaker, 2018; and How to be Evangelical Without Being Conservative, Olson, 2008). These aforementioned titles only scratch the surface of this diversity. Perhaps Stanley J. Grenz spearheaded some of this in his Revisioning Evangelical Theology in 1993. Since the publication of John R. Franke’s, The Character of Theology: A Postconservative Evangelical Approach, 2005 and Roger Olson’s Reformed and Always Reforming: The Postconservative Approach to Evangelical Theology, 2007, the term “evangelical” has become detached from its restricted association to fundamentalist Christianity.

With this diversity, what sense can one make of the term “evangelical” as a description of a distinct theological method today? Or, is the term too broad to be of any descriptive use? Are the various and (at times) divergent perspectives drawing upon the term “evangelical” so vast as to render the term “evangelical” meaningless? Have “evangelical” right-wing politics maligned the term from its usefulness for contemporary theological description?

With the above questions in mind, we invite your contributions to this Religions Special Issue on the relevance, purpose, and diversity of perspectives within evangelical theology today. Your contributions may reflect on the above questions, problems, concerns, or developments of evangelical theology from a critically interactive theological or hermeneutical framework or tradition. Original research articles or journal-length critical review articles are both welcome. All submissions must be between 4000 and 20,000 words.

References

David, P.G. After Evangelicalism: The Path to a New Christianity; Westminster John Knox: Louisville, KY, USA, 2019.

Jamin, A.H. Deconstructing Evangelicalism: A Letter to a Friend and a Professor's Guide to Escaping Fundamentalist Christianity; Hills Publishing Group: Rapid City, SD, USA, 2020.

David, E.F. The End of Evangelicalism? Discerning a New Faithfulness for Mission; Wipf and Stock/Cascade: Eugene, OR, USA, 2011.

John R.F. The Character of Theology: A Postconservative Evangelical Approach; Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, MI, USA, 2005.

Stanley, J.G. Revisioning Evangelical Theology: A Fresh Agenda for the 21st Century; IVP Academic: Downers Grove, IL, USA, 1993.

Roger, E.O. Reformed and Always Reforming: The Postconservative Approach to Evangelical Theology; Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, MI, USA, 2007.

Roger, E.O. How to Be Evangelical Without Being Conservative; Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI, USA, 2008.

Stanley, E.P., Steven M.S. (Eds.) Evangelical Theological Method: Five Views; IVP: Downers Grove, IL, USA, 2018.

Isaac, B.S. The Evangelicals; Eerdmans: Grand Rapids, MI, USA, 2023.

Randy, S.W.; Bo, C.S. Decolonizing Evangelicalism: An 11:59 p.m. Conversation; Wipf and Stock/Cascade: Eugene, OR, USA, 2020.

Potential topics of research may include:

• Evangelical theology and deconstruction;
• Postconservative evangelicalism and phenomenology;
• Biblical hermeneutics and postconservative theology;
• Postliberal theology and evangelical theology;
• The relevance or meaning of the term “evangelical” for global Christianity.

Prior to submitting a manuscript or review, interested authors are asked to provide a proposal of their intended contribution with an abstract of 150-200 words. Please send it to the Guest Editor, Prof. Dr. Ronald T. Michener ([email protected]), with a CC to the Assistant Editor, Ms. Violet Li ([email protected]). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editor for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.

We look forward to receiving your contributions. Thank you for your consideration.

Prof. Dr. Ronald T. Michener
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• evangelicalism
• evangelical theological method
• postconservative evangelicalism
• postconservative theology
• post-modern evangelicalism
• theological interpretation

Title: There is Hope in the Incarnation - Challennging the Bibliological Docetism of Today's Evangelicalism

Abstract: The authors' conviction is that the survival of evangelicalism as an ecclesial tradition depends on its ability and courage to reimagine the dual nature of the written revelation and, consequently, to conceive of a new hermeneutic, built around the metaphor of incarnation. As mainline Protestants, who ministered for decades in evangelical ecclesial communities, and have done extended doctoral and postdoctoral research in Patrist and Contemporary Orthodox studies, the authors are convinced that if Evangelicalism, and maybe also other ecclesial traditions, are to survive and thrive in the complexities of the contemporary world, they need to move away from a Docetic view of Scripture, that overemphasizes its divine nature, and give full account of its dual nature, equally divine and human.

Title: Evangelical Preachers: the gatekeepers or the conversation starters?

Abstract: Some pastors raised in the evangelical tradition, in particular, the Australian Baptist church, now find themselves facing disaffiliation because they have preached in support of same-sex marriage. This issue has become the boundary line for evangelicals. Homiletics can reinforce and contribute to a hermeneutical approach that is static and monological. Preachers can stop certain conversations from happening. However, homiletics also offers fresh perspectives that could enrich and challenge evangelical hermeneutics. Preachers could be conversation starters. Homileticians know that interpretation involves the preacher, the biblical text, and the community. Preachers also understand that interpretation consists of making critical application decisions and requires imagination. This can be neglected in academic thought, though it is a crucial part of hermeneutics. This article examines the process of creating a sermon from Leviticus 18 to demonstrate how preachers contribute to the broader conversation concerning what it means to be evangelical.