The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind.

Book Review

Noll, Mark A. The Scandal Of The Evangelical Mind. Erdman’s Publishing Co. 1994
M.N.- professor of Christian thought at Wheaton College.

Comment. Henry
Mark has a strong concern about the fact that evangelicals do not have a significant influence in today’s world because of a lack of a strong evangelical mind. The appeal of this resource would be limited to those with an appreciation for critical thinking as it relates to evangelicalism.

Of all the things that evangelicals are noted for in North America, exemplary thinking is not one of them. This is especially true of the past century. Some evangelical objections are raised about the importance of critical thinking. An appeal is made for balance.

The placing of importance on the development of the evangelical is actually part of Protestant heritage. “Where Christian faith is securely rooted- we almost invariably find Christians ardently cultivating the intellect for the glory of God.” (43) e.g. medieval monasticism.

Revivalism and disestablishment (separation of church and state) are explained as contributing to the present state of the evangelical mind. Jonathan Edwards is considered as evangelicalism’s most discriminating thinker. The effect of the Enlightenment on evangelicalism is explained. Fundamentalism is described as an “intellectual disaster”. (109)

One of the results in politics and science of evangelical thought was the development of creationism (creation science). In the 1930s and 1940s the evangelical mind began to experience an awakening. Although there has not been much progress made in science, thanks to some Dutch Reform thinkers philosophy has fare somewhat better.

“The search for a Christian perspective on life is not just an academic exercise. The effort to think like a Christian is rather an effort to take seriously the sovereignty of God over the world he created, the Lordship of Christ over the world he died to redeem, and the power of the Holy Spirit over the world he sustains each and every moment.” (253)