The Danger of New Evangelicalism

“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”

Acts 20:29-31

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

II Timothy 4:2

The words of warning in the Bible passages above are among the last words of the Apostle Paul to those whom he loved so dearly. They speak plainly of the apostasy (departure from God’s truth) that would come about through individuals and within churches. The sad truth is that loving warnings are often rejected by those whom God is seeking to bless through his warnings. When this happens, the one providing the warnings is often rejected also. The Apostle Paul made the following statements:

“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.”

II Corinthians 12:15

“This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.”

II Timothy 1:15

But, praise God that just as he stood by Paul, so God stands with those few who are faithful to mim today:

“At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.”

II Timothy 4:16-17

Have you heard of the term “New Evangelicalism” before? If not, you have probably been greatly influenced by it without even being aware of it. New Evangelicalism is everywhere and has so permeated the thinking of professing Christians that they have a difficult time recognizing basic Biblical teaching for what it is.

To be ignorant of New Evangelicalism is to be unprepared to deal with some of the sharpest arrows of deception shot from the devil’s bow.

"New Evangelicalism [also called “Neo Evangelicalism”] is a religious philosophy. It attempts to reach and minister to man through his felt needs. It seeks to commend man for his achievements and realign his energies for good. It emphasizes unity at the expense of truth and reduces the Biblical requirements of purity and separation unto God until they are obscure. Man and his present circumstances, rather than God and His eternal precepts, are the core of its concern.”

--Francis Stiles

Among other things, New Evangelicalism is characterized by: 

• A rejection of Bible inerrancy (which is detrimental to Christian growth). 

• Exalting unity above Bible truth (which gives rise to rampant doctrinal error). 

• Moral relativism. 

• Ridicule of those whose desire is to love and obey God.

New Evangelicalism has been a very effective tool in the claws of the devil. It is important to note that what is called “Evangelicalism” today is virtually the same as the New Evangelicalism of 70 years ago.

In Luke chapter 14, Jesus’ makes it crystal clear that it is impossible to be his disciple without loving him and his word above all else and everyone else. Because a disciple loves God in this manner, he will also love his fellow man, which drives him to reject any form of compromise lest he become a stumbling block to him. He will not buy into the devil’s lie that separation from error is unloving. Compromising God’s truth for the sake of “fellowship” or “winning souls” is seen by him for the spiritual treason that it is. Because of his faithfulness, the disciple will bear the reproach that is cast upon him by those who have little if any love for Christ.

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

I Thessalonians 5:21

“Let love be without dissimulation [without insincerity or pretense]. Abhor [hate] that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”

Romans 12:9