wfn.org | Joel Edwards urges evangelicals to appreciate diversity

["EAUK Press Office" <press@eauk.org>]

For Immediate Release: 15/2/99

Evangelical Alliance General Director Joel Edwards has issued a 
major challenge to evangelicals throughout the UK. In his new book 
Lord Make Us One - But Not All The Same! Joel says that the only 
way Christians will be able to stand together will be by releasing 
each other to be different. This will mean appreciating and 
encouraging legitimate diversity, and reaching out across the 
evangelical/non-evangelical divide whenever and wherever possible.

In the concluding chapter he points out: "In the face of our 
contemporary challenges we need each other. The great tendency 
of historic evangelicalism is to pull apart as we grow stronger." To 
do this is, he says, to miss the point. "None of us, on our own, is 
likely to bring serious or lasting change to our world… It should not 
be beyond the ability of evangelicals to join forces with non-
evangelicals, those of other faiths and no faith to act in the 
common interest of our society on social or political issues"

The book examines the issue of evangelical unity from Joel's very 
personal experience. Beginning with his early childhood in 
Kingston, Jamaica the early chapters portray his move to England 
aged 8 and focus on his formative years at school in Kentish Town. 
As he grew up in the 1960's he contrasted the vibrant, spirit filled 
worship of the nascent black churches with the stark contrast 
prevalent among the mainstream British denominations. 

The remaining biographical part of the book carries on his story, 
from his time at London Bible College through to his current post 
as General Director of EA. The extended CV is important because 
Joel urges us to see that his life may be viewed as a paradigm for 
diversity. 

In the second half of the volume Joel analyses some of the positive 
aspects of the growth of the evangelical movement during the last 
30 years, such as the very significant cross-denominational 
conferences that are now taking place. He notes some possible 
tensions looming on the horizon which arise from the confusion 
between our own cultural preferences and what is real Biblical 
truth. 

In the final chapters he examines the identity of evangelicals, 
pointing out that the struggle for identity is not new. He challenges 
Christians to reaffirm their commitment to the primary points of 
scripture in order that they may grasp the capacity for positive 
relationships with those beyond evangelical boundaries - including 
Roman Catholic Christians. He also touches on the tensions 
surrounding the growing phenomenon of evangelical Roman 
Catholics.

Lord Make Us One then considers a theology of diversity. Joel 
challenges all evangelical churches, including Black 
Pentecostalists, to confront the common insecurity which tends to 
rely on a theology of guilt by association. The book then seeks to 
understand what it means to be a Pilgrim which, says Joel, 
includes the validity of uncertainty. This means being "prepared to 
take risks, and to venture where it is not safe". It means trusting 
God even if we do not have all the answers immediately to hand.

Joel concludes with an analogy about the firing squad which stands 
around its proposed victim in a circle. His final message is to urge 
evangelicals not to shoot each other, but instead to be reconciled 
to each other, for that is the only way that outreach will be 
effective. "Our unity in diversity is therefore to be a unity with 
purpose. Biblical unity is a means to an end, not an end in itself. It 
has a mission focus." If that is the underlying imperative, maintains 
Joel, Civil war between evangelicals is simply not an option.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Lord Make Us One - But Not All The Same! is published by Hodder 
& Stoughton, and is priced at £6-99. Joel Edwards will attend a 
book-launch at Church House Bookshop, Great Smith Street, 
London at 1:00pm on Friday 19th February.  Public, press and 
media are welcome to attend.  On Monday 22nd February, Joel 
Edwards will embark on a 15-date UK tour speaking to church 
leaders across the country as part of the Evangelical Alliance's 
Shaping Tomorrow's Church tour.

For more information contact:

at Hodder & Stoughton 
Eleanor Goody, eleanor.goody@hodders.co.uk 
0171-873 6044 or +44 171 873 6044

or at the Evangelical Alliance:

Gavin Drake, gdrake@eauk.org 
0171 207 2117 or + 44 171 207 2117 

or 

Jill Howard, jhoward@eauk.org 
0171-207 2116 or + 44 171 207 2116 

Evangelical Alliance UK, 
Whitefield House, 
186 Kennington Park Road, 
London, SE11  4BT 

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