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The Post-Evangelical … Dave Tomlinson

This book describes a new movement in present day Christianity, which the author has called ‘Post-evangelicalism’. Dave Tomlinson was brought up in the Brethren Church as an evangelical, and continued his faith in this mould as a prominent leader in the House Church movement. But, towards the end of the 1980s he began to feel an irritation with evangelicalism and he started to broaden his thinking to find where God was calling him. Soon he found he was one of a significant number of people who found the mainstream evangelical church a stumbling block in their Christianity.

Tomlinson recognises that some may find it strange to hear of people talking about the weaknesses of the evangelical church, when it appears to be the strongest section of the church in Britain today. But he claims many people have become disenchanted with evangelicalism, feelling it a cultural expression of the gospel that has outlived its sell-by date. Tomlinson articulates well the issues that have been at the root of his irritation, including the middle-class nature of the church, its neglect of social justice and issues of poverty, and the over-emphasis on the central role of the family (usually put forward by those who are married with children, to the discomfort of the single and childless). Other sacred cows, such as the inerrancy of the Bible, are also questioned. Indeed, the evangelical habit of theological nit-picking and an inappropriate and rigid approach to the Bible seems to annoy him more than most. There is much in the book to offend religious sensitivities, but it also reminds us that religion in itself is no great virtue (just ask the Pharisees).

The term ‘Post-evangelical’ is used to demonstrate a Christianity that has evolved out of evangelicalism and is adapting to meet the needs of the ‘post-modern’ society we now live in. Tomlinson is keen to stress that a post-evangelical Christian is not a liberal Christian. As evangelicalism appeals to the Bible for its certainty, liberalism appeals to human reason. Post-evangelicalism is more cagey about pushing forward absolute certainties, another post-modern trait, preferring instead to rely on faith rather than proof to overcome doubts. As the post-modern world draws upon a range of sources to try and understand reality, so the post-evangelical is prepared to explore faith through more than one tradition. It draws upon the Bible, reason, the traditions of the church, culture, conscience and so on. Gone is the belief that those from the liberal and Catholic traditions should be treated with caution, in comes a need to engage them in dialogue to hear the truth they have to offer. God is broadcasting on more than one channel, and we should search for Him in His many guises.

Post-evangelicalism is concerned with more than theology. It is looking to explore spirituality and the mystery of God in new and deeper ways. With the New Age movement in full swing, no one can doubt the current desire to explore spirituality and the deep mysteries of life.(Ed. — do we really need to go to school with the pagan New Age movement, are we so spiritually bankrupt?!) Tomlinson believes that evangelicalism is too rooted in the culture of the Enlightenment to be able to meet this need, and the post-evangelical is marked out by an imagination and experimentation in worship. The post-evangelical is also keen to break down barriers between the church and the world outside, realising that the church sub-culture is a huge wall between the unchurched and God. For many people the church is just another male-dominated, hierarchical structure seeking to control their lives, and they don’t want to be involved in something like that.

This book is an honest account of someone who has felt smothered in the evangelical church, but whose faith has not withered but evolved into something deeper. It offers hope to people who want to explore deeper and wider than they feel allowed, who want to ask the unthinkable questions and live out their faith in the real world. This book may not convince you that there is more to life than evangelicalism, but hopefully after reading it you will be more understanding to those who are glad there is.

Nic Tall (Too tall for his own good??)

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Last modified: 25th November 2005