One Faith

Jesus Christ promised a unity for his church. Are there now clear evidences of that within evangelicalism? Or are evangelicals fragmenting into ever smaller divisions?Renowned theologians J. I. Packer and Thomas C. Oden make the case that there is a significant theological consensus holding the evangelical church together. With copious citations from statements produced since 1950 that are widely representative of international evangelical faith, Packer and Oden let these witnesses speak for themselves.Packer and Oden survey several key documents of evangelicalism, particularly the Lausanne Covenant (1974), the Manila Manifesto (1989), The Gospel of Jesus Christ: An Evangelical Celebration (1999) and The Amsterdam Declaration (2000). Charting sixteen different theological themes, they also include references to numerous documents produced by evangelical theological seminaries and societies, mission agencies, parachurch organizations and assorted special convocations. More than informational, One Faith arises out of the hope that it may not only edify the evangelical church but also provide a potential foundation for a new ecumenism that gives glory to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the good news of his gospel.

Theologians Packer (Knowing God) and Oden write to convince the laity of doctrinal unity among evangelical Christians, attempting a reference work of recent evangelical faith statements for pastors, students, historians and journalists. Employing a straightforward, concise style and building its case on primary sources, this book succeeds as a reference. Because of the academic nature of its subject matter, however, many laypeople will find it tough going and best taken in small doses. Evangelicals-those believers in any denomination who identify "a core of necessary truth that has remained central through many shifts of the Christian scene over time"-sometimes disagree on issues such as baptism and church government, creating the appearance of fragmentation. While admitting this, Packer and Oden presuppose that the areas of dissension are peripheral and assert that evangelicals stand together on the foundational points that true believers have embraced in every age. Excerpting 70 statements written by interdenominational groups since 1950, 16 chapters make the case for concord on basics such as the authority of scripture, the nature of God, the person and work of Jesus Christ and the meaning of salvation. A conclusion explores the implications of the consensus within evangelicalism, summing up: "It is the creed of a very large and still growing bloc of the world's believers, it boldly claims the high ground of biblical centrism, and it ought to be taken account of." Appendices reproduce three key doctrinal statements in their entirety.
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