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Christianity Today, July (Web-Only), 2008 |

Theology in the News

It's Not Broke, So Fix It

New EFCA statement of faith clarifies positions on controversial doctrines.

Collin Hansen | posted 7/14/2008 09:44AM

As a denomination, there are a couple surefire ways to get your name in the headlines. You can bow to popular wisdom on a major doctrinal issue, as the Episcopal Church did in 2003 by electing an openly ...

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Posted: July 24, 2008 3:11 PM

The hardliners obstruction of any attempts to include post and ammillenial brothers into worship within the EFCA is not principally because of eschatology but rather hermeneutics. Whether Jesus' kingdom is established by physically writing laws as he stands on earth during the millennial reign or whether his kingdom is established through the gospel going out into all nations is not the point that exasperates the dispensationals, it is the reformed covenental hermeneutic that has been held by the pillars of our Christian faith from Luther and Calvin to Owen, Edwards, Spurgeon, Warfield, and countless other giants until the time dispensationalism was invented in the 1800's. After listening to the business meetings involving this issue I am saddened that the majority of Christians from the time of the reformation would be excluded form membership especially when historic premil is virtually no different than ammill. and satisfies the statements.

ruth	Posted: July 21, 2008 1:31 PM

I'd like to remark on John's final sentence in his posting. The EFCA did not infact "argue" about these changes. Throughout the process, the tone for revision was respectful, patient, thoughtful and bathed in prayer. Be careful in assuming there were arguments and wasted energy. The EFCA continues to listen to God's Spirit as decisions, both large and small are made within the denomination. More than the revisions to the Statement of Faith, the big news is how unity prevailed in the midst of change. The EFCA is to be commended for allowing debate, dialog and diversity into the process. Ultimately...the world is watching...there was not in-fighting, just a desire to remain true to the Word and loving toward one another. God's name was lifted up. That's big news!

Allan

Posted: July 20, 2008 2:48 PM


You always need to watch a denomination closely when they revise their statement of faith. Not having read the new EFCA statement, it seems at face value that they did well. The United Church of Canada, by contrast, used their latest statement of faith to smuggle in heretical ideas by the boatload to replace their largely orthodox doctrine of the past. Theirs wasn't broke, so they broke it.

andrew tucker

Posted: July 15, 2008 10:02 PM

I am not trying to be overly negative. Why does a lot of organizations recognize that it is sin to go to a war that you are not going to win. Jesus was not positive if he was going to be crucified. It would have been sin if he knew. But he would not sin to live. great Jesus came to give the ministry and save souls. Amen! Please notice other problems with churches and or doctrines. The knowledge of satanic angels (rev 12:9)targeting churches and submissive persons. This has not been taught. Are pesons strong enough to rebuke everyday? For example:problems are: churches do not own businesses. Which means God has a hard time being a refuge ,failing will happen. And the church may fail. Another example. Modernized ministers just doing a job and creating snobs and antisocial attendees and christians that think they are going to heaven. God will not tolerate christians that do not take time for others. A lot use church for a calm social gathering. That is sin. Think solu. on a large scale.

Greg	Posted: July 15, 2008 1:30 PM


I would hesitate to sign a Statement of Faith that didn't explicitly include the Golden Rule. What real meaning does anything else have without it?

Francis H Geis

Posted: July 15, 2008 12:05 PM

Though criticizing other denominations for its opening might be questioned, overall, I thought the article was good. And I think on many points, the new EFCA Statement is an improvement on the older one. I attended an EFCA church for several years, and appreciated their committed to teaching that was both biblically based and orthodox in content. Of course, if one belongs to a "confessional" church where the leadership is required to endorse the statement of faith or they cannot serve in a leadership capacity, then those who refuse to endorse the official church statement should not be surprised if they are denied a leadership role. Though I wonder if the statement on the Doctrine of God, good though it is, is adequate enough to deal with the Subordinationist heresy that is spreading like a cancer, and which in the next 5-10 years is going to have grave consequences for all Evangelica churches. But that is something the EFCA leadership will have to decide.

Glenn

Posted: July 15, 2008 9:07 AM


I understand this statement also requires one to adhere to a belief in premillenialism. In this day and age of diversity within eschatology, I find that discouraging. Does EFCA seek to exclude amillenialists, postmillenialists or partial-preterists?

Jeff	Posted: July 15, 2008 8:38 AM


Why start this article by slamming other denominations? The Episcopal Church bowed to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Ephrem Hagos

Posted: July 15, 2008 1:34 AM

All doctrinal issues are syndromes of disobedience characterized by a general moving away from God's thoughts and ways known in Scriptures. You can't eat the fruit of "the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad" --the earliest definition of theology, and not be punished for it! Controversial doctrines and death are sure to follow as in the cases of Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel (Gen. 2-4).

Ron Sheveland

Posted: July 14, 2008 11:15 PM


As a happy member of the BGC I want to say that I am proud of the EFCA, our sister fellowship. They were proactive in making changes that protect them from flawed views. I still wish they weren't soft on baptism... but, oh well.

Beverly

Posted: July 14, 2008 8:30 PM


I am deeply thankful for the clear proclamation of biblical inerrancy and the essentials of salvation by the EFCA. Good for all of you!

Justin

Posted: July 14, 2008 4:50 PM

Re: Kim's comment. You are saying something which is said every day by most of the world. Yes, we are to be simple in our lives and faith, but NO, we are not to stop studying God's Word and who He is and all that comes with it. We must be students of the word "study to show thyself approved" and such. It's definitely a good thing to make strong statements of faith and doctrine, as long as it is for the best understanding and exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Kim	Posted: July 14, 2008 4:30 PM

I admit that I don't know the mind of God. I seek His Truth and His leading in all. Somehow I don't think the denominational changes/refinements/updates/whatever you want to call them are as important to Him as they are to us. I read so much about theology and theologians espousing rhetoric that I wonder where the line is between us and the Pharisees/Saducees. Maybe we should all just spread the Good News as believers in Jesus Christ and leave the other stuff up to the only One powerful and knowing enough to have it figured out beforehand. Perhaps if we spent more time living out our faith, we'd come to understand more of the facets of what that means.

Truth Unites... and Divides

Posted: July 14, 2008 4:26 PM


Out of curiosity, does EFCA have an official stand on the complementarian vs. egalitarian debate? I.e. male headship in the home and certain ecclesiastical offices for men only.

Matt Stephens

Posted: July 14, 2008 4:06 PM


When are they going to do away with that silly premillenial requirement? I was hoping that was what this article was reporting...

Pr.bill borch, LtCol.USAR

Posted: July 14, 2008 3:59 PM


Like Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones) says in "Raiders of the Lost Ark: "I just make this up as I go along." And in "Temple of Doom" the lady sings "Anything goes". Over time the EFCA will morph like all the other man-made sects. Protestantism is all about duct tape and individual opinions- not about something called The Fatih of the Apostles.

Rich	Posted: July 14, 2008 3:27 PM

All of the approved changes are healthy - and wise. It is certainly wise to address these issues before they reach the appalling levels seen in the mainlines. But - this eschatological stance makes no sense - "in essentials unity, in non-essentials diversity..." - does it really make sense to be so "big tent" on an important matter like baptism, but to be so rigid on such a clearly secondary matter as eschatology? And if a literal reading of the bible is intended, a pre-mill position is not the best interpretation to enshrine as orthodox. This one misstep may come back to haunt the EFCA.

RDC	Posted: July 14, 2008 2:41 PM

"Thus, the EFCA takes a stand against open theism, which claims that God granted humans complete free will," This is quite an overstatement and does not fairly represent the positions of Pinnock, Boyd and others who are genuinely seeking to be faithful to God's self-disclosure in Scripture (regardless of what you may think of their conclusions). For the record, most open-theists would not argue for "complete free will" (whatever that means) either.

Mary M Gibson

Posted: July 14, 2008 2:09 PM

I attended an EFCA Midwest regional event this year and saw these beliefs in action, with new church plants becoming self-sufficient after spending several years in seed sowing, cultivating, and harvesting in towns all over the region. Their spirit generated much enthusiasm and gratitude to God among all the attendees. It was a privilege for us visitors to be in the company of such a loving, fruitful, inspiring bunch of Christian folk who love the Lord. EFCA is intentional in evangelism and devoted in its beliefs. They let their "yes mean 'yes'" and their "no mean 'no'." Praise God for this genuine witness in a day of meandering theologies. Let's all "fix" our theologies in all essentials if we've wandered from the Gospel in any way.

Ernest Manges

Posted: July 14, 2008 11:32 AM


I voted in favor of the revision. I wish to express deep appreciation for the godly and thoughtful way Greg Strand, the members of the Spiritual Heritage Committee and other leaders guided us through this process with grace. I also congratulate the Conference for approving this sharpening of our doctrine by such a large margin. - E. Manges, missionary with ReachGlobal (EFCA)

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