The Courage to be Protestant: Truth-Lovers, Marketers And Emergents In The Post-Modern World - Softcover

Wells, David F

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1844742784 ISBN 13: 9781844742783

Publisher: IVP, 2008

Synopsis

[Library Edition Audiobook CD format in sturdy Vinyl case.]

[Read by Bob Souer]

It takes no courage to sign up as a Protestant. These words begin this bold work -- the culmination of David Wells' long-standing critique of the evangelical landscape. But to live as a true Protestant -- that's another matter.

This book is a jeremiad against new versions of Evangelicalism -- the Marketing and Emergent Churches -- and a call to return to the historic faith, one defined by Reformation solas (grace, faith, and scripture alone), and to a reverence for doctrine. Wells argues that historic, classical Evangelicalism is marked by doctrinal seriousness, as opposed to the new movements of the Marketing Church and the Emergent Church. He energetically confronts the Marketing communities and their tendency to try to win parishioners as consumers rather than worshipers, advertising the most palatable environment rather than trusting the truth to be attractive. He takes particular issue with the most popular evangelical movement in recent years -- the Emergent Church. Emergents, he says, are postmodern, postconservative, and postfoundational, embracing a less absolute understanding of the authority of scripture than traditionally held.

The Courage to be Protestant is a dynamic argument for the courage to be faithful to what biblical Christianity has always stood for, thereby securing hope for the church's future.

About this title

About the Author:

DAVID F. WELLS is the Andrew Mutch Distinguished Professor of historical and systematic theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. An ordained Congregationalist minister, he is also the author of more than a dozen books.

Review:

Preaching Magazine, Books Every Preacher Should Read (2009)

Calvin Theological Journal
“An importantly different book.
 
Theological Book Review
“The Courage to Be Protestant is an engaging and interesting book and deserves to be read by anyone interested in the current state and development of American evangelicalism.”
 
Choice
“Recommended.”
 
Bibliotheca Sacra
“Fascinating and alarming. . . . [Wells’] warning should be taken seriously by all thinking Protestants.”
 
Reformed Theological Review
“In an age that is awash with the desire to be relevant and post-confessional, David Wells’ book is a necessary and brave corrective.”
 

About this edition

• Publisher: IVP
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 1844742784
• ISBN 13: 9781844742783
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256