The three Evangelical generations
In his book "The Younger Evangelicals" (Baker Book House), American theology
professor Robert Webber describes the development of Evangelicals so adeptly
that we want to share an excerpt with Friday Fax readers:
| Traditional Evangelicals(1950-1975) | Pragmatic Evangelicals(1975-2000) | Young Evangelicals(2000-) | |
| Theology | Christianity is a rational world view | Christianity is a therapy, meets needs | Christianity is a faith fellowship |
| Apologetic | Facts | Christianity gives meaning, and can be experienced | "The Great Story". Faith lived out in Faith lived out in community is apologetic |
| Church paradigm | Constantine model: respectable religion | Culturally sensitive, market-oriented | Missionary church, counter-culture |
| Church style | Neighbourhood, village, parochial | Megachurch, suburban, market-oriented | Small, back to the city, cross-cultural |
| Leadership style | Pastor centred | Management model, CEO, common priesthood | Team ministry |
| Youth ministry | Church-centred programmes | Missionary programmes, weekend camps | Prayer, Bible reading, worship, social action |
| Training | Sunday School, information | Meeting generational needs | Interaction of all generations living in community |
| Spirituality | Following rules | Wealth and success | 'Living authentically' |
| Worship | Traditional | Modern | Convergence |
| Art | Forbidden | As illustration | As incarnation |
| Evangelisation | Large events | Seeker-sensitive services | Process ual evangelisation |
| Activists | Start Evangelical social activities | Needs-based (drug rehabilitation, help for divorced people...) | Rebuilding cities and neighbourhoods |