In my Evangelical Theology class at CCU with the dedicated and special professor Dr. Aaron Smith, we discussed four proposed points of evangelicalism given by Dr. David Bebbington of the University of Stirling in Scotland. His attributes of evangelicalism is called the Bebbington quadrilateral, and is based on his thesis in his book, Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A History from the 1730s to the 1980s.
The four points are: biblicism, crucicentrism, conversionism, and activism.
The four points are: biblicism, crucicentrism, conversionism, and activism.
Here I give a quote from disciples of Jesus concerning each point.
The Bible: "'Father, I am going to accept this as Thy Word--by faith! I'm going to allow faith to go beyond my intellectual questions and doubts, and I will believe this to be Your inspired Word.' When I got up from my knees at Forest Home that August night, my eyes stung with tears."
Billy Graham
Billy Graham, Just As I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1997), 139.
The Cross: "...Christ died as our substitute -- instead of us -- so that we might not have to die for our sins..."
Dr. John R.W. Stott
John Stott, Evangelical Truth: A Personal Plea for Unity, Integrity, and Faithfulness (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1999), 81.
Conversion: "When Christ cried out on Calvary, 'It is finished!' He meant what He said. Now all [people] have to do is just accept the work of Jesus Christ."
"In John 3:14-15 we read, 'As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.'"
Dwight Moody
John Stott, Evangelical Truth: A Personal Plea for Unity, Integrity, and Faithfulness (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1999), 81.
Conversion: "When Christ cried out on Calvary, 'It is finished!' He meant what He said. Now all [people] have to do is just accept the work of Jesus Christ."
"In John 3:14-15 we read, 'As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.'"
Dwight Moody
D.L. Moody, The Way to God (Pittsburgh: Whitaker House, 1983), 31 & 35.
Activism: "At four in the afternoon I submitted to be more vile, and proclaimed in the highways the glad tidings of salvation, speaking from a little eminence in a ground adjoining to the city, to about three thousand people." (Quote by John Wesley)
"The speaker was John Wesley (1703-91). In order to preach the gospel to the poor, he was willing to break the religious conventions..." (Statement by Mark Noll).
Mark A. Noll, Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1997), 223.
Activism: "At four in the afternoon I submitted to be more vile, and proclaimed in the highways the glad tidings of salvation, speaking from a little eminence in a ground adjoining to the city, to about three thousand people." (Quote by John Wesley)
"The speaker was John Wesley (1703-91). In order to preach the gospel to the poor, he was willing to break the religious conventions..." (Statement by Mark Noll).
Mark A. Noll, Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1997), 223.
