Reclaiming the Conscience of Evangelicalism
In an era marked by social upheaval and theological confusion, a nearly 70-year-old book has emerged as a clarion call to evangelical Christians. Carl F. H. Henry’s The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism is a searing critique of separatist evangelicals and their neglect of social justice issues. Written in the aftermath of World War II, this slim volume remains a pressing concern for contemporary Christians.
A Failure of Conscience
Henry’s central argument is that evangelicals have abandoned their responsibility to address social injustices, instead focusing solely on personal salvation and morality. This dichotomy between the “personal” and “social” arenas is a false one, Henry contends. The Bible makes no such distinction, and God’s judgment will be based on both our individual and collective actions.
The Kingdom of God in Jesus Christ
At the heart of Henry’s critique is the failure of evangelicals to conform to the unifying theme of the Bible: the kingdom of God in Jesus Christ. Social-gospel liberalism had replaced the kingdom with a political program, while fundamentalists overreacted by relegating the kingdom to a future era. Henry advocates for a holistic understanding of the kingdom, one that encompasses both personal regeneration and social justice.
A Call to Repentance
Rather than searing the conscience, Henry urges gospel Christians to hear the words of Jesus: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). This call to repentance is not limited to individuals but extends to the church as a whole. Every generation must confront the ways in which the conscience can evade the parts of God’s word it wants to evade.
An Unsettling Legacy
Despite being written decades ago, Henry’s book remains a prophetic voice in contemporary evangelicalism. The issues he raised – racism, social injustice, and theological liberalism – continue to plague the church. His critique of rationalism and the primacy of cognitive solutions also remains relevant, as many continue to prioritize ideology over biblical truth.
A Future Worthy of the Name
If evangelicalism is to have a future worthy of the name, it must cultivate an integrity to the gospel that extends beyond mere intellectual assent. As Michael Reeves notes, “If evangelicalism really is ‘mere Christianity,’ how could it be anything but the oldest orthodoxy of the apostles?” The path forward requires a commitment to both personal and social transformation, rooted in a deep understanding of the kingdom of God in Jesus Christ.
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