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Christianity Today, February, 2008 |

REVIEW

Don't Call Me Postconservative

Roger Olson's Reformed and Always Reforming and a new theological tug of war we'd do best to avoid.

Review by Telford Work | posted 2/25/2008 08:49AM

Growing numbers of evangelical theologians now describe themselves as postconservative. Roger Olson of Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary defends what he calls the distinctively postconservative ...

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Codexegesis

Posted: February 26, 2008 11:25 AM

I haven't read the book yet, but plan to. The tone and tactics described here are typical of Olson: whining and pleading to not get left out by evangelical Calvinists while, at the same time, taking swipes at Reformed folks. One also wonders whether such authors construct and define/redefine new "post" terms as a means to plant flags claiming influence over the changing landscape. I'm not big on psychoanalyzing people, but Olson comes through his writings as incredibly insecure. All that being said, I have some of his books and appreciate his work, and will add this to the collection - but like the others, will look past the potshots, insecurity, strawmen, and the like.

J Lahey

Posted: February 26, 2008 10:27 AM

The article is good and accurate. It should stimulate thought of how we shed the names of liberal and conservative because these names are now lost in the political scene and only confuse us and the people we are trying to communicate the Gospel to. I suggest that our theological work be described as evangelical, orthodox, catholic, and apostalic. Ever searching the will of God through Jesus in the Spirit.

Rich	Posted: February 26, 2008 7:00 AM

While it is inevitable that we humans use language and formulate systems of ideas into "oligies" of various sorts, I am increasingly of the opinion that too often our "theologies" become the objects of our concern, and they begin to shade wrongly our experience of God in Christ to which theology points. Paul observed that "they worshiped the creature rather than the Creator." We creature humans create theology, a creature thing, and too often we "worship" the creaturly thing--theology--rather than God. Let us do theogy but carry it lightly in our journeys with God. Roger Olson is observing this counsel. I look forward to reading his book.

Liu	Posted: February 25, 2008 8:37 PM


Pope Benedict once said that there are as many paths to God as there are people. *************************************************************************** But Jesus declared , I am the way, truth and life, no one can go to Father without me.

John Hale

Posted: February 25, 2008 5:26 PM

Billy Graham's generation labeled itself "new evangelicals" or "evangelicals" to differentiate itself from the negatives supposedly associated with fundamentalism. Now "evangelical" carries too much baggage for today's generation, and they want to be called "post-conservatives." When will it be learned that a commitment to and defense of Biblical Christianity doesn't win fashion points with the world, and that rebranding every generation will never remove the offense of the Cross?

Mark	Posted: February 25, 2008 4:55 PM

John, I was going to write a comment on "Don't Call Me a Postconservative" but your comment leads me to exclaim, Don't Call Me Postorthodox! The differences between the Catholic tradition, Your so called “Indigenous Churches” and Evangelicals are so diverse that I could not possibly do justice to that topic in such a short space here. Additionally your comment is irrelevant, since the discussion is about the differences within Evangelical theological conservatism. However, regardless of the differences, and regardless of what any particular church leader may have stated, we as Christians are united in one concept, Christ! There are NOT multiple paths to God, there is only one path and He is Jesus Christ. In all of our theological discussions we tend to loose sight of that fact. This one fact, the Evangel, the "Good News" of the Gospel is the one thing that Evangelicals of all stripes have held fast to. Evangelical conservatism is not perfect, we know, hence the above article...

epistrophy

Posted: February 25, 2008 4:12 PM


This article is the biggest bunch of nothing I've seen from CT in some time. It kind of signifies one of contemporary Christianity's biggest failures: quibbling over the minutiae of labels and movements instead of getting anything done for the kingdom of God. No one who actually serves and loves God on a daily basis even CARES about this garbage.

Jim Frisbie

Posted: February 25, 2008 1:41 PM


Ah ha! It looks like conservatives are being dragged kicking and screaming into the year 1900!!

Robert

Posted: February 25, 2008 1:40 PM

The last thing we need is a new "ism". There are already too many unnecessary and more importantly un-biblical isms, from Calvinism to Dispensationalism. Telford Work's response is as bad if not worse than Olson's proposal. Honestly, does anyone really think that any of this is in any way is facilitating the advancement of God's redemptive work of his people and his creation or will result in believers actually engaging in the sort of things in which we ought to be engaging, rather than bickering over "ism's" and other issues that absolutely nothing to do with what we should be about as believers.

Ed Gross

Posted: February 25, 2008 1:30 PM


When I think of what Billy Graham and Harold Lindsell created this magazine to be, and then see what it's become (as even the "conservative" reaction of this article would indicate), I'm tempted to sigh, cry and wonder why. "If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20).

Jorge

Posted: February 25, 2008 12:58 PM

Apparently, some of you live in LaLa Land where it's possible to be ardently pro-life, a committed parent, and be committed to the Democratic Party platform as well. Oh, I forgot. You are above partisan politics! How pedestrian of me to think that you live in the same world I do. As for Olson's proposal, I know of no "conservative" who sees theology as simply "information." Theology also drives us into greater devotion and worship. This is a misleading stereotype of traditional theological conservatism and an attempt to arrive at something, postconservatism, that appears to be an overcorrection to some facets of fundamentalism. Too much contemplating of the evangelical navel, I believe.

John	Posted: February 25, 2008 12:35 PM

I think there is always a danger in theology that one group or another becomes convinced that they have for all time gotten it right. The Bible, written over the span of at least 800 years by multiple authors in different locations and in different circumstances, leaves much open to interpretation, and the idea that any one author, leader, or "movement" has gotten it completely right is rather silly. Unfortunately, modern Evangelicals have taken a page out of the Catholic playbook and decided that THEIR interpretation is the ONLY true one, to the point of often dismissing mainstream and indiginous churches as being somehow not Christian. Pope Benedict once said that there are as many paths to God as there are people. I think that is true in many ways, and I think those that feel THEIR way is the only way need to open their minds up a bit.

Anonymous

Posted: February 25, 2008 12:35 PM


There needs to be a term for christians who have repented of their uncritical support of the Bush administration and it's war on the people of Iraq. Any suggestions? How about Christians. :) Good article

Gordo

Posted: February 25, 2008 12:16 PM


probably "individuals" not at group :D

BobK	Posted: February 25, 2008 12:10 PM


We are finally getting there in terms of where most of us evangelicals can now be separqated from the dogmatic social conservatives that do more to damage the Christian witness to others than we would like to think.

A reader

Posted: February 25, 2008 11:40 AM


How about "Christian Left"?

JohnW

Posted: February 25, 2008 11:08 AM

Maybe "post-christian" is not the most useful term, but there does need to be some term that describes evangelical christians who repudiate the so called religious right along with the idea that evangelicals should be a voting block for the radical right wing of the republican party. There needs to be a term for christians who have repented of their uncritical support of the Bush administration and it's war on the people of Iraq. Any suggestions?

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