by Dr. Tony Blair, President
"We are boldly, broadly, and beautifully evangelical. Might you be too?" I asked that question in a brief promotional video we created for the Evangelical Seminary website because, if we intend to use the word "evangelical" to describe ourselves in this generation, we had best explain what we mean. It is a word that has acquired some negative connotations. For some, "evangelical" is equivalent to "narrow-minded," "fundamentalist," "intolerant," or even "hatemonger." Western society appears far more familiar with what we oppose than in what we propose.
And so we mourn the lost opportunities to proclaim a gospel of faith, hope, and love among the din of clashing voices, angry rhetoric, and mutual accusation. To echo just a bit of Charles Dickens here, we have a far, far better gospel and a far, far better Savior to offer this world than what they have heard of us at times. This is what I mean by being boldly, broadly, and beautifully evangelical.
The postings that will show up on this blog in the weeks and months to follow will pursue that vision rather assiduously. We will wade boldly into conversations, or even initiate them, when they explicitly relate to the wonderfully transformative, deeply subversive work of God in this world. We will address them broadly, for we would prefer to link arms with other lovers of Jesus than to find additional reasons to stand apart. And we endeavor to always speak beautifully, both in the flow of our words and in the tone of our observations. Words matter, as Marilyn Chandler McEntire reminded us a couple of years ago in her marvelous book, Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies (Eerdmans, 2009).
The posts here will represent the thinking of some administrators, faculty members, and alumni of the Seminary, some of whom already have deep, rich, provocative blogs of their own. We do not aim to have the "last word" here; rather, our hope is to add something of value to conversations that matter, the kind of conversations that occur regularly in our classrooms and in the student center and other places where members of the Evangelical community gather. Sometimes we will recommend books and other sources, sometimes we will comment on what is going on in the world or Church at large, sometimes we'll brag about what's going on among us, and sometime we'll simply be reflective, maybe even occasionally profound, as we ponder the marvelous mysteries of Christ. We hope you'll check in often to see what's here and to interact with us as you do!
COMMENTS (14)
Hello, Tony, I look forward to reading and sharing with you. Blessings, Nancy
Posted by: Nancy Fittery | May 10, 2012, 3:03 pm
Happy to see a blog for ES!
Congrats to the 2012 graduates!
And Tony, I love the Prime Minister tony blair/Tony Blair photos! Wonderful.
Thanks for giving a new definition of Evangelical for us to enact.
To anyone interested in Spiritual Formation, check out what I'm up to at my website. lisadelay.com
-Lisa
(class of '10)
Posted by: Lisa DeLay | May 10, 2012, 3:30 pm
Tony,
Great to see the Evangelical blog up and running! What an opportunity to share and connect with the larger Evangelical community.
Today I received a copy of A New Kind of Conversation: Blogging Toward A Postmodern Faith (Myron Bradley Penner & Hunter Barnes, Paternoster/IVP, 2006). As you may remember, the book's a distillation of an on-line conversation which included 'characters' such as Brian McLaren. Would love to see some threads/themes on the Evangelical blog lead to publications in other media :)
In Christ,
Tom
Posted by: Thomas B. Grosh IV | May 10, 2012, 3:57 pm
read your blog and find it so refreshing to be reminded especially of the meaning of evangelical
Posted by: walford dyer | May 10, 2012, 3:58 pm
Tony, so glad to see this feature on Evangelical's site! Looking forward to interacting with you on these issues.
Posted by: Paul | May 10, 2012, 5:08 pm
Western society appears far more familiar with what we oppose than in what we propose.
So glad to read this post and see the change, definition, and action taking place in God's children. Welcome to the blogging world!
Posted by: Darla | May 20, 2012, 7:10 pm
May I just say what a comfort to find a person that genuinely understands what they are talking about
online. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important.
More and more people ought to check this out and understand this side of the story.
I was surprised that you're not more popular because you definitely possess the gift.
Posted by: Augustus | December 29, 2012, 2:18 pm
My brother recommended I might like this web site.
He was totally right. This post actually made my day.
You can not imagine just how much time I had spent for this information!
Thanks!
Posted by: Miriam | January 19, 2013, 11:14 pm
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
Look advanced to more added agreeable from you!
Posted by: Roxana | January 20, 2013, 12:32 am
Hey there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group?
There's a lot of folks that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Cheers
Posted by: Rebbeca | February 21, 2013, 11:31 pm
Evangelical is a very controversial topic and a very spiritual thing to discuss
thanks for the opening of the website
good luck
Posted by: cindy weisel | February 25, 2013, 3:45 pm
That is a really neatly written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and return to read extra of your useful information.
Thanks for the post. I will definitely return.
Posted by: Manuela | February 28, 2013, 11:36 am
Incredible points. Sound arguments. Keep up the great work.
Posted by: Francine | February 28, 2013, 2:03 pm
