• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Copyright © 2013 Christopher Clayton Hefner All rights reserved. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has permission to reproduce and disseminate this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by the Seminary, including, without limitation, preservation or instruction. AN ANALYSIS OF JOHN STOTT’S UNDERSTANDING OF THE THEOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EVANGELISM AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Christopher Clayton Hefner December 2013 APPROVAL SHEET AN ANALYSIS OF JOHN STOTT’S UNDERSTANDING OF THE THEOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EVANGELISM AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Christopher Clayton Hefner Read and Approved by: _______________________________________ Timothy K. Beougher (Chair) _______________________________________ Adam W. Greenway _______________________________________ Chad O. Brand Date: _______________________________________ I would like to dedicate this dissertation to my loving, supportive wife, Jean. Without her help, encouragement, and editing, this dissertation would never have been completed. Furthermore, I want to offer a special thanks to Kevin and Jamie Bowers, whose generous hospitality in providing a place for me to stay in Louisville during my trips to Southern gave me the opportunity to pursue this degree. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PREFACE . vii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION . 1 Evangelism and Social Responsibility: A Contemporary Tension . 2 Definitions . 3 Mission . 3 Evangelism . 7 Social Responsibility . 9 Social Justice . 10 Survey of the Scholarship on this Tension . 15 Statement of the Problem . 24 Research Methodology . 28 2. JOHN STOTT IN CONTEXT . 32 Biography of Stott . 34 Cultural Influences on Stott’s Life and Ministry . 55 Theological Influences on Stott’s Life and Ministry . 56 Stott’s Development of Balance as a Value . 58 3. STOTT AND THE TENSION IN A PASTORAL CONTEXT . 61 Stott and Evangelism in a Pastoral Context . 62 Emphasis on the Proclaimed Gospel . 64 Emphasis on Laity Involvement in Evangelism . 68 iv Chapter Page Stott and Social Responsibility in a Pastoral Context . 73 Evangelism and Social Responsibility in Preaching . 76 The Practical Nature of Stott’s Theological Position . 82 4. STOTT AND THE TENSION IN A LEADERSHIP CONTEXT . 85 Stott and the Lausanne Covenant . 86 History of Lausanne . 88 Evangelism and Social Responsibility in Debate . 91 Debate at Lausanne . 91 Debate at Mexico City . 96 Debate in Lausanne Consultations . 100 Debate at CRESR . 104 Debate at Manila . 113 Stott and the Tension as an Author and Leader . 115 Stott’s View of Christian Mission . 115 Evangelism and Social Responsibility in Christian Mission . 119 Implications for Social Justice . 120 Stott’s Paradigm in Application . 124 5. STOTT’S INFLUENCE ON THE CONTEMPORARY DEBATE . 129 Implications of Stott’s Position . 129 Survey of Stott’s Contemporary Influence . 131 Stott’s Influence on a Narrow View of Mission . 132 Arthur P. Johnston. 132 C. Peter Wagner . 134 Stott’s Influence on a Broad View of Mission . 136 Orlando Costas . 136 v Chapter Page René Padilla . 138 Samuel Escobar . 140 Ronald Sider . 143 Stott’s Influence on Contemporary Evangelicalism . 146 Christopher J. H. Wright . 146 Duane Litfin. 150 6. CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF STOTT’S POSITION . 156 Exegetical Analysis . 156 Analysis of John 20:21 . 157 Analysis of Matthew 5:13-16 . 166 Theological Analysis . 174 Broad Doctrinal Themes . 174 Stott’s Views on Annihilation . 181 Practical Analysis . 188 Strengths and Weaknesses of Stott’s Position . 196 Strengths and Weaknesses Related to Context . 196 Strengths and Weaknesses Related to Scripture . 197 Strengths and Weaknesses Related to Theology . 198 Strengths and Weaknesses Related to Application . 199 7. CONCLUSION . 202 Social Responsibility and Discipleship: Matthew 25:31-46 . 202 Social Responsibility and the Disciple’s Life . 213 Implications from Stott’s Solution . 216 BIBLIOGRAPHY . 223 vi PREFACE One can arrive at a dissertation topic in a variety of ways. Certainly, those who are able to write on their subject in their seminars and colloquia begin the dissertation process with an advantage. Some, however, arrive at their topic over time. Early on in my seminar work, I knew that I wanted to research the topic of evangelism and social responsibility. At this point though, I did not know the angle at which I wanted to explore the issue. What began for me as curiosity, has blossomed into a project with spiritual, academic, and pastoral fruitfulness. At this stage of my academic career, I believe the reading, research, and writing from my years in school have had some measurable spiritual influence on my life. I am confident that this dissertation has been equally a spiritual task and an academic one. Initially, my choice of John Stott’s understanding of the theological relationship between evangelism and social responsibility came as a result of his extensive writing, preaching, and influence on the topic. In the process of reading his booklets, books, and articles, listening to his sermons, and examining the more intimate elements of his pastoral career from his correspondence and diaries, I became aware of a glaring reality. For all of his influence, John Stott was a humble pastor seeking the glory of his heavenly Father. Most assuredly, Stott was neither a perfect man nor a perfect model. He would be the first to argue that Christ is the ideal Christian exemplar. Stott’s life and ministry offer contemporary church leaders an example of diligence, discipline, humility, service, and exactness worthy of emulation. Stott’s theology, as does every man’s, contains its share of flaws. In point of fact, the impetus for this dissertation is a perceived flaw in his definition and explanation of Christian mission. But if I am to research a man and his theology, I could do much worse than John Stott. Hopefully, this dissertation will display vii a certain academic aptitude, but there is no doubt in my own spiritual life that the research required has been one of significant spiritual benefit. While I do have a godly ambition, to borrow Alister Chapman’s title for his biography of Stott, that my research might benefit evangelicalism at large, I know that this process has been invaluable to my own spiritual growth. I must offer a word of thanks to Mud Creek Baptist Church and Dr. Greg Mathis. Your encouragement and freedom to accept the requirements for me to complete this degree were invaluable. As an employer, you shared me with my academic work. As an encourager, you spurred me toward the finish. As a supporter, you provided the time and many of the resources necessary for me to engage and complete the task. I pray that God will continue to richly bless Mud Creek Baptist Church. Dr. Mathis, I also pray that God will favor your ministry for years to come. Thank you for mentoring, encouraging, and challenging the ministers on your church staff. I am indebted and grateful. As my pastor, thank you for giving your blessing to this degree and this dissertation. A word of gratitude to my family is necessary for sharing me with the work for this degree. To my parents, Conrad and Elaine Hefner, thank you for challenging me to pursue academic excellence. It is my sincere hope that the sacrifices of my family will bear fruit in the years to come. You have not only supported me, but aided me tremendously in completing this dissertation. Special appreciation goes to my wife, Jean. With painstaking precision you proofread, edited, and sharpened each chapter of this dissertation. I will forever be grateful to you for your inestimable part in this endeavor. You have truly lived up to the meaning of your name through this process, a most gracious gift from God. In my own way, I entered this doctoral work under a sense of calling from God. But in my mind there is little doubt that my inspiration to finish as well as my joy in the midst of writing has come from another of God’s gifts – our son, Will. It has been a treasure to watch you grow and develop in concord with the viii development of this dissertation. May you, who will know me best, be able to say of me as so many said of Stott that he was a man of humility and integrity. Christopher Clayton Hefner Zirconia, North Carolina December 2013 ix CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The relationship between evangelism and social responsibility is an evangelical tension established in historical contexts which contains implications for contemporary Christianity. Theologians, pastors, and church leaders for more than a century have discussed and debated the implications of the biblical mandates of evangelism and justice.1 Indeed, this tension is not new to Christianity and the debate continues in evangelicalism today. Few Christian thinkers have addressed this issue as thoroughly or influentially than John R. W. Stott. He advanced this topic through his chairmanship on the drafting committee for the 1974 Lausanne Covenant, which presented Christian mission in broader terms that entailed both evangelism and social responsibility. Stott’s basic understanding of this tension forms the main topic for this dissertation. His views on the subject provide the content this dissertation will explore. Stott ignited this tension anew at Lausanne and fanned the flames through his clarifications in later writings. Though he declared his positions with theological cogency, he did not settle the issue. Indeed, this debate continues into the twenty-first century. 1See for example the diversity of Christian understandings on this particular issue. Timothy Keller, Generous Justice, Kindle ed. (New York: Penguin Group, 2010); Walter Rauschenbusch, A Theology for the Social Gospel (New York: Abingdon, 1960); Walter Rauschenbusch, The Social Principles of Jesus (New York: Association Press, 1916); Abraham Kuyper, Christianity and the Class Struggle, trans. Dirk Jellema (repr., Grand Rapids: Piet Hein, 1950); Abraham Kuyper, Lectures on Calvinism (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1953); Carl F.

Load more

  262

Copy Link