Promise Unfulfilled: The Failed Strategy of Modern Evangelicalism

by Rolland McCune

The New Evangelicalism was conceived, if not born, with the formation of the National Association of Evangelicals in 1942. This new group was in the main led by younger professing fundamentalist scholars and leaders who had become dissatisfied with their heritage and wanted to carve out some evangelical middle ground between fundamentalism and neo-orthodoxy. Promise Unfulfilled is an analysis of the break-away movement in terms of the issues ideas, and practices that led to its beginning, its expansion to an apogee in the 1970s, its subsequent loss of biblical and doctrinal stability, and its slide toward virtual irrelevancy in a postmodern world culture of the 21st century.

The twenty-five chapters are grouped under nine main Historical Antecedents; the Formation of the New Evangelicalism; Ecumenism; Ecclesiastical Separation; The Bible and Authority; Apologetics; Social Involvement; Doctrinal Storms; and Evaluations and Prospects.

It will be a valuable addition to the pastor’s library and a strategic resource for theological education in Bible colleges and seminaries.

Genres: Theology, History, Fundamentalism

418 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2004

Reviews

[Zachary Houghton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate that McCune was willing to take on the compromise and downgrade of New Evangelicalism (which bled over into what is often called “New Calvinism”, as well, though it has little in common with the historic confessional Reformed Faith). He highlights a number of places where some of the evangelical heroes—Barnhouse, Stott, and Graham—so badly led other last astray.

This is not a dour book, despite its depressing subject matter. In places, McCune tends to wander a bit, and is not as clear as one would like. Overall, however, this is an important book to read in understanding part of why the present church is still feeling the terrible effects of embracing worldly philosophies, pragmatism, and ecumenism. For a more Reformed view, “Evangelicalism Divided” by Murray would be an excellent pick.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a significant analysis of the downgrade of New Evangelicalism. Dr. McCune looks at a number of places where some of the evangelical heroes—Barnhouse, Stott, and Graham—so badly led the evangelical movement astray. Dr. McCune also helps us reappreciate the importance of the fundamentalist movement as a repository for Biblical truth. If you want to understand why the wider evangelical churches have suffered under the consequences of abandoning the authority of scripture, worldliness, pragmatism, and ecumenism, this is the book for you. It could be read very profitably alongside Iain Murray's “Evangelicalism Divided” and John MacArthur's "Ashamed of the Gospel."

[Brian Pate · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read for ministry residency at Stanley Heights Baptist Church.

[Timothy Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sectarian hostility and vague posturing stains this otherwise excellent piece of historiographical research. McCune excellently dismantles how Evangelicalism is perceived versus what Evangelicalism actually is and was historically. His clear writing and criticism will help clear the fog of Evangelicalism, which often feels like it's lost in a cloud of unknowing. McCune however, as an outsider, seems to be unable to distinguish personalities like John MacArthur from Carl F. Henry from one another. For that reason, it is perhaps best to think of this book as a book of "wisdom" or "movement analysis" than strictly history. The book would have greatly benefitted had McCune made it clear that Neo-Evangelicalism has strengths as well as weaknesses. The lack of (often important) historical nuances, however, does not change the value of McCune's critical analysis of Neo-Evangelicalism. You'll walk away with a much clearer understanding that much of the Neo-Evangelical world is a severely diluted successor to historical Evangelicalism.

[Andy]

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