(CIEF-Chile, November 5, 2006) When New Evangelicalism blasted on the scene in the1950s it repudiated the separatism of Fundamentalism, not only ecclesiastical separation but separation from the world. Claiming that Fundamentalism had maneuvered Bible-believing Christianity into the backwaters of society and had lost its influence because of its separatist stance, it proposed a new plan to influence society by engaging it rather than withdrawing from it. What has been the result? Rather than the world being influenced powerfully by Evangelicalism, Evangelicalism has been influenced powerfully by the world. This is not surprising, since the Word of God warns: "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" (1 Cor. 15:33). A recent article in Christianity Today, a chief New Evangelical mouthpiece, was entitled "How the Character of Religion in America Has Changed Since the Founding of Christianity Today." Comparing Christianity in the 1950s with Christianity a half century later, the article, while trying to remain upbeat, is forced to admit that things have changed for the worse in many areas. For example, in 1963 the percentage of those who said the Bible is the Word of God and should be taken literally was 65% (it would doubtless have been much higher in the 1940s), whereas in 2006 the figure is only 28%. In the areas of morality, it is obvious that American society has taken a severe plunge. The levels of divorce, unmarried cohabitation, out-of-wedlock births, venereal disease, abortions, violence, and other signs of unrestrained evil are off the charts compared to the 1940s. Whatever New Evangelicalism has done, it has not influenced society toward righteousness. The situation was much better when Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism were synonyms and both practiced biblical separation. Iain Murray had it right when he said: "Christians are not to be sheep in wolves' clothing. The Christian faith is rather at its strongest when its antagonism to unbelief is most definite, when its spirit is other-worldly, and when its whole trust is not 'in the wisdom of men but in the power of God' (1 Cor. 2:5)" (Evangelicalism Divided, 2000, p. 212). "And be not conformed to this world" (Romans 12:2). "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good work" (Titus 2:13-14).

Author: Friday Church News Notes, November 3, 2006, www.wayoflife.org