Ed Smither
  • About
  • Posts
  • Media
  • Books
  • Selected Publications
  • Book Reviews
  • Popular Essays
  • Schedule

Ed Smither | Making Progress

Theology that is global and sound

8/2/2012

 
I greatly appreciated Augustus Nicodemus Gomes Lopes' article "The Growing Crisis Behind Brazil's Evangelical Success Story" from the Gospel Coalition. A Reformed theologian, Lopes expresses the sentiment of many Brazilian Christian leaders who are concerned with the disappearance of essential evangelical doctrine amid the explosive growth of evangelicalism in the country. While Brazilian evangelicals have tended to be more inclusive of expressions of Christianity (including historic Protestant churches and Pentecostals) than their North American counterparts, the word evangelical is quickly losing its meaning in the Brazilian context. Lopes' short article serves as a rich, sober, and prophetic assessment. 

One explanation he offered for this decline particularly grabbed my attention. He noted that "historical denominations [were] gradually [abandoning] the great creeds and confessions of the past that shaped the historical faith of the Church. By disdaining centuries of tradition and theological interpretation, evangelicals found themselves vulnerable to any new interpretation." Indeed, a key element in faithful global theology--one that offers accountability and self-correction--is listening to the voices of the historic church expressed in its creeds and confessions. Sound theology must surely be local, global, but also historic. While some elements of the Apostles Creed and Nicene Creed addressed heretical thought that were unique to the early church context (i.e. docetism in the Apostles Creed; Arianism in the Nicene), the creeds nevertheless provide a framework for reflecting on Scripture and equipping the believer with essential Gospel understanding. After all, the creeds were developed for catechumens (those preparing for baptism) and basically responded to the question, what must a believer in Christ believe?

Lopes' article serves as a refreshing admonition to love the Gospel truth and to guard the good deposit of faith--a timely word for Brazilian evangelicals and all global Christians. 
   

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    January 2023
    February 2022
    August 2021
    July 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    September 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    July 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    August 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • About
  • Posts
  • Media
  • Books
  • Selected Publications
  • Book Reviews
  • Popular Essays
  • Schedule