Storming the Intellectual Ramparts, Part 2

Spirituality Column #194
July 27, 2010
Current in Carmel - Current in Westfield - Current in Noblesville
(Indianapolis north suburban home newspapers)

Storming the Intellectual Ramparts, Part 2
By Bob Walters

We’re talking about Mark Noll’s 1994 book “Scandal of the Evangelical Mind,” and his very learned observations regarding the state of Evangelical intellect.

In this four-part series I want to talk a bit more about the book this week, comment in part 3 why I think this topic is critical, and will finish up with some information from Noll regarding his new book on Christian intellectual life, “Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind,” that is due out in a few months.

Some weeks ago in this column I recounted how my Wednesday night Bible study had recently wandered into a minefield of conflicting theological perceptions regarding whether Adam and Eve would have been immortal had they not sinned.

After the column I received reader comments of both agreement and dissent at the suggestion. Class discussion had been lively, to say the least, and what calmed the storm in the class was the assertion that before jumping combatively to opinion-based conclusions, it’s important to broaden what we really know about theology.
Noll’s book was suggested.

Noll tracks Christian intellectual life of the Great Awakening (Jonathan Edwards, et al, 1740ish), the formation of the United States (1750-1790), the Second Great Awakening (roughly 1790-1840), and then discusses the enormous education and cultural changes from after the Civil War through the 20th century.

At the nation’s founding, the freedom of the political system, the urgency of new thinking in the society and the insistence on results in the economy supercharged a religious system – Evangelicalism – that was all about freedom and urgency and results. This was the explosion of Christian Spiritual Revival, camp meetings, and salvation right now. Amen!

Ivory tower philosophy, monastic theology, and careful denominational construct …who had time? When the Holy Spirit moves … get saved, and get on with it! That was the glorious firestorm of Evangelicalism.

“Evangelicalism,” Noll notes, has never been a tightly defined “ism,” or formal church. It’s a belief in the truth of the Gospel centered on conversion (to Christ), the Bible (God’s Word), sharing faith (evangelizing) and Christ’s redeeming work on the Cross. Denominational organization isn’t a central aim; having a heart for Christ is.

One can argue whether Christian intellectualism is important – I would argue that it is critical – but it’s hard to find fault with Noll’s insistence on the importance of the mind in understanding God’s purposes.

Walters (www.believerbob.blogspot.com, email rlwcom@aol.com) hopes we never confuse theology, the study, with Jesus Christ, the truth.