Mark Noll wrote in his 1994 book The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind that ‘The scandal of the Evangelical mind is that there is not much of an evangelical mind.’ Theologians have seemed to concentrate on deconstructing the belief of the church rather than understanding and communicating it.
Likewise with the Church’s organisation – the church is capitulating to a business organisational ethos in its heavyweight denominational and Mega–church structures, many ill–judged forays into TV evangelism and entanglements with cultural and political movements.
These developments are not things to rail at and wring our hands about and it would be the wrong approach to tackle them as individual issues. The truth is that the Church, as a body, has abandoned the person in the pew because of its surrender of its grasp on the content and meaning of the Biblical evangel.
In an intriguing and wide–ranging book, Douglas Vickers, until recently Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts, sets out the case for a ‘ground up’ restoration of the church to re–establish its ministry in the community.
He investigates issues of being, knowledge, behaviour, metaphysics, epistemology and ethics – The church is called to confront the questions of how we know, what can be known, and how we can know that what we know is true.
Endorsements
"We need vital religion, but one of the ways in which vitality must be measured is by the rule of the truth. Douglas Vickers has provided the church with a book that will help significantly in that enterprise."
W. Robert Godfrey President Emeritus, Professor Emeritus of Church History, Westminster Seminary in California, Escondido, California
"delivers a clearly articulated statement of the faith "once delivered to the saints". This call to reformation should be required reading for all believers, especially those in church leadership."
Robert E. Davis Senior Pastor, Draper's Valley Presbyterian Church, Draper, Virginia
Sure-footedly leads us through poignant, contemporary issues that inform where the Church presently stands, how it comes to its present position, and what needs to be recovered as the content of the biblical evangel. Packed with doctrinal insights and practical applications.
Joel R. Beeke Chancellor, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan
... Christian's will regain their confidence and the church her poise when biblical doctrine regains its rightful place among the people of God. The reading of this book will play a valuable part in that process.
Evangelicals Now
"thoroughly exposes the great malaise that has come upon much of the evangelical church, and brings us to the full scriptural remedy. It is well worth careful reading."
David Green Chairman, New England Reformed Fellowship
"A penetrating insight into the contemporary confusion within the Church."
Eric Alexander Conference speaker and formerly minister St George's Tron, Glasgow for 20 years
Keenly perceptive of contemporary cultural trends, Douglas Vickers shows that he writes in the line of the men of Issachar, "who knew Torah and the times", to prompt the church to become authentically 'relevant'" by recovering, professing, and living the biblical gospel in our society.
T. Grady Spires Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus, Gordon College
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