The Commentary

The first time I ever got involved in a newspaper was 25 years ago this month. I began as assistant editor under Bob Horn at what was then Evangelical Times.

The front page story for the April issue of 1981 was that of the death of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones who went to be with the Lord, very appropriately for the great Welshman, on Sunday March 1, St. David’s Day. As we put the paper together at that time, the office conversation centred around how evangelicalism would develop in the future now that the doctor’s illustrious figure had been removed from among us. Grounded thoroughly in Scripture, his incisive mind and the sense of God’s authority upon his preaching had made him both a wise and dynamic influence across the evangelical spectrum for 40 years or more. What would happen now?

After Lloyd-Jones

Twenty-five years on we can see that a ferocious battle has raged and continues to rage for the soul of evangelicalism and that battle centres on biblical truth.

Perhaps the most controversial position which DML-J took was his stance concerning Christian unity and the ecumenical movement. With prophetic clarity he explained the disastrous consequences of the mistake of making unity the first priority. ‘The starting point in considering the question of unity must always be regeneration and belief of the truth. Nothing else produces unity … it is impossible apart from this … An appearance or a fa�ade of unity based on anything else, and at the expense of these two criteria, or which ignores them, is clearly a fraud and a lie’ (The Basis of Christian Unity).

Word Alive?

But it is precisely into this error that broad evangelicalism is plunging headlong. Recently I happened to see a draft copy of this year’s study guide for the Spring Harvest/Word Alive events. It has been put together, with assistance, by Steve Chalke, well-known for his dismissal of the cross as a penal substitution. The guide deftly presents various options rather than definite truth on various major doctrines. And a drift away from a clear need for decision for Christ is betrayed in such quotes as the following from Newbigin: ‘The position I have outlined is exclusivist in that it affirms the unique truth of the revelation in Jesus Christ, but is not exclusivist in the sense of denying the possibility of salvation of the non-Christian.’ This really shows a concern to say things which are culturally acceptable at the expense of the gospel. Spring Harvest has been a focus of unity, but the price of drawing in all the punters seems to be defection from historic evangelicalism and biblical truth. No doubt, Spring Harvest mean well, but this spells disaster.

Who’s in heaven?

The joke is often told of a newcomer in heaven being shown around by an angel. There he sees Anglicans, Catholics, Orthodox, Baptists, etc. (and the study guide could be read as wanting to add Buddhists, Muslims, secularists, etc.), all having received a welcome. Then the newcomer passed a private walled garden from which emanated loud rejoicing and praise. ‘Shh!’ the angel whispered as they crept by. ‘That’s the evangelicals. We don’t want to spoil it for them. They think they are the only ones here.’ Well, the supposed joke is actually a foolish cheap shot. If he is looking down from heaven I am sure that Dr. Lloyd-Jones would remind us that no matter how we label people, the truth is as Jesus said (John 3), that no one can enter the kingdom of heaven unless they are born again of the Holy Spirit. And that is impossible without personally receiving Christ.

John Benton

© Evangelicals Now - April 2006
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