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Introduction:
Evangelicalism
Derek Poole
Comment:
Ourselves Alone
Alwyn Thomson
From
the Director
David Porter
A
World of Difference
Alwyn Thomson
What
is an Evangelical Catholic?
Paddy Monaghan
Decommissioning
the Heart
David Bruce
Evangelical
Catholics
T. Gordon Hills
Sorting
out the Family
David Montgomery
Do
They Know Us by Our Love?
John Ortberg
Loyalist
Speak
Robert Dunlop
Book
Reviews
Alwyn Thomson
EVANGELICALISM
- THE VITAL INGREDIENTS
Welcome to this special edition of Lion & Lamb on the theme of Evangelicalism.
The background to this issue has global dimensions as Evangelicals in
different cultures seek to redefine historical Evangelicalism in the light
of a growing fragmentation within the "family" and debate about the "separatist"
and "fundamentalist" models of Christian witness. ECONI's contribution
to this conversation is a modest but hopefully considered one, as seen
in Alwyn Thomson's article A World of Difference in which he explores
the relationship between the confessional, historical and experiential
aspects of Evangelicalism.
Although this debate is worldwide, it has inevitably taken on a particular character in the Northern Ireland context, not least the issue of evangelical Catholics and their relationship to Protestant Evangelicals. Paddy Monaghan of Evangelical Catholic Initiative asks and answers the question What is an Evangelical Catholic? and makes a plea for acceptance and an end to the cold war among evangelical Christians. In Sorting out the Family David J. Montgomery asks if Evangelicalism is a purely Protestant phenomenon, while T. Gordon Hills raises concern in his article, Evangelical Catholics, about the "orthodoxy" of Roman Catholic Christians.
In our struggles for closed definitions and theological correctness there is the danger that orthodoxy is not matched by orthopraxis. John Ortberg, in Do They Know Us by Our Love?, reminds us that the first casuality in our cultural (and theological) wars is not truth but love and highlights the subtle temptation and dangers of being "right". In Decommissioning the Heart David Bruce takes us on a prayer walk and in an honest and vulnerable way examines four areas in which Ulster Evangelicals have been compromised. He invites us to a new sense of mission that necessitates the disarming of our sectarian hearts.
I am conscious that not everyone who reads Lion and Lamb will identify with the Evangelical label and therefore this debate might seem to them too introspective. However, for ECONI and many of those who resonate with our concerns the struggle to define the nature of Evangelicalism goes right to the heart of our work. What does it mean for Christians who identify with this particular heritage and value its theological emphasis to engage in peace, justice and reconciliation in our divided society? In From the Director David Porter invites us to consider this challenge.
I sincerely hope that this issue of Lion and lamb will contribute to the goal of an authentic Christian witness in our broken society.
ECONI WELCOMES the submission of unsolicited articles, but does not guarantee publication, and manuscripts cannot be returned. Opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ECONI. Permission to reprint any original article in Lion & Lamb should be sought from the Editor.
Editor
Derek Poole
Asst Editor Ruth Hutchinson
Design Colin Maguire
Cover Spring Graphics
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