In the prior post I mentioned that evangelicals and liberals* tend to have differing starting points: Scripture as interpreted historically, going back to the creeds (evangelicals); and science along with the best of contemporary culture and learning (liberal theologians).
With such disparate starting points, it’s hard to achieve productive dialogue between the two sides. Thus, I’d like to offer three suggestions:
- Listen: As an evangelical, it’s important for me to know liberal theology — to read its authors** and listen to its current practitioners, whether students or professionals. If I don’t listen to the other side, I can’t expect the same courtesy extended to me.
- Probe starting points: Try to have a discussion about those starting points. I remember asking one of my beloved liberal students what our authority would be for resolving a disputed point: Scripture or culture? This is the question John Stott asks David Edwards in their classic book, Evangelical Essentials (in which Edwards offers an extended critique of the reliability of the Bible). The beloved student, in this case, was unable to answer my question.
- Part ways when necessary: Current denominational splits include Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Episcopalians, with others pending. I’ve been close to the action in some of these and find them heart-wrenching. Again, the two sides often talk past each other or disagree on such foundational matters (such as starting points) that meaningful progress is almost impossible. Separation is often the only alternative, and in my view is probably best. I hate to acknowledge that. It feels like defeat.
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One of my greatest ministry pleasures over the years has been hanging with liberal Christian professionals (such as campus chaplains, pastors, and professors) and students. They challenge me in fresh ways, often around questions of social justice and biblical literalism.
Having said that, I’ve often been disappointed in the lack of awareness among liberals of evangelical biblical scholarship and philosophy. As one example among many, I once asked a liberal theologian what he thought of N.T. Wright, perhaps the most famous (and prolific) evangelical theologian of our day. He was simply unaware of Wright.
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* Of course, there are various degrees of “evangelical” and “liberal,” and in a short blog I’m unable to tease out the nuances.
** Examples of liberal theologians and Bible scholars include Friedrich Schleiermacher, Rudolph Bultmann, John Hick, Marcus Borg, Burton Mack, Robert Price, Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Elaine Pagels, Delwin Brown, LeRon Shults, Peter Enns, J.D. Crossan (the ones I’ve read), and many others.
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