The Evangelical "Dissenters"
Between David Brooks and Al Mohler
Over at the NYT, David Brooks has a great article on The Dissenters Trying to Save Evangelicalism From Itself, which features Thabiti Anyabwile, Tim Dalrymple, Kristin Kobes Du Mez, Russell Moore, Karen Swallow Prior, David French, Rachael Denhollander, Beth Moore, Lecrae Moore, Eugene Rivers, David Bailey, Mark Labberton, Walter Kim, and Tim Keller.
According to Brooks, much of American evangelicalism has become a sad morass of right-wing political tribalism, yet some people are trying to renew evangelicalism from within and invigorate their churches. The people Brooks documents are the ones doing precisely that, calling out the sins, and looking for new centres of unity.
As I see it, this new coalition of the faithful has several key characteristics:
Truth over tribalism.
Think outside the right-wing media echo chamber.
Speak truth to power, whether right-wing or left-wing.
Jesus is the only Messiah, not our political leaders.
Orthodox Christian faith rather than civil religion or cultural Christianity.
Concern for racial justice and reconciliation.
Concern for abuses of patriarchy and male-power.
Speak to people outside your circle.
Be more like Jesus!
But not everyone is convinced, for some, Brooks is very, very wrong! Al Mohler is neither impressed nor convinced by Brooks.