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Of course, no survey of evangelical history would be complete without a strong dose of the fundamentalist/modernist debates of the early 20th century. But Sweeney believes that evangelicals can no longer achieve unity by defining themselves against the extremes of fundamentalism or theological liberalism, as the neoevangelicals did. "In our own day, when most evangelical scientists support a form of theistic evolution and most evangelical Bible scholars practice higher criticism," Sweeney writes, "it may be difficult to imagine the fears of those who bucked these trends."

Sweeney clearly aims The American Evangelical Story toward college and seminary students who need a quick primer in evangelical history. Knowing theology outpaces history at most seminaries, Sweeney assumes some doctrinal fluency on the part of his readers, such as a basic knowledge of competing eschatological viewpoints.

The suggestions for further reading direct interested students toward other valuable resources. In one such note Sweeney calls Mark Noll's American Evangelical Christianity: An Introduction the "best scholarly survey of American evangelical history" and praises Noll's attention to politics, science, and culture. Perhaps this is why Sweeney reserves only one footnote for significant political developments from the last 25 years.

As a proud evangelical worried that the movement will fragment along secondary theological lines, Sweeney writes not only to inform readers about the past but also to speak to today's historical moment. He scolds some Calvinists for caring more about their own theological distinctives than evangelical cooperation. He chides evangelicals for not building enduring institutions and for neglecting black and Pentecostal believers.

"Many despair over the likelihood of bringing evangelicals together, projecting a bear market for evangelical futures," he concludes. "Some analysts are calling for a major disinvestment. And the founding neoevangelical leaders are passing away. The question remains whether others will arise to take their place, finding a way to choreograph this massive, motley Christian movement without requiring its members (futilely) to march in single file." According to Sweeney, confronting the sins of our past and rejoicing in God's faithfulness over time can grant us incalculable wisdom and courage to face the next challenges.

Collin Hansen is an associate editor of Christianity Today.

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

More Christian history, including a list of events that occurred this week in the church's past, is available at ChristianHistory.net. Subscriptions to the quarterly print magazine Christian History & Biography are also available.

The American Evangelical Story: A History of the Movement is available from ChristianBook.com and other book retailers.

Baker Academic has more information about the book.

Christianity Today's interview with Mark Noll on his The Rise of Evangelicalism is also available on our site. Books & Culture reviewed the book.

Previous Christian History Corners include:

Erasmus's Revolutionary 'Study Bible' | The spiritual father of so many English Reformers died at the hands of the church he refused to leave. (Jan. 13, 2006)

Campus Ministry Cambridge Style | The roots of InterVarsity and other evangelical college clubs (Jan. 6, 2006)

Dorothy Sayers: "The Dogma Is the Drama" | An interview with Barbara Reynolds. (Dec. 16, 2005)

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February (Web-only) 2006, Vol. 50