Defining the Boundaries of Evangelicalism in the 16
th
Century:
Luther and Zwingli at Marburg (1529)
Evangelical Theological Society
November 14-16, 2001
Cameron A. MacKenzie
Concordia Theological Seminary - Ft. Wayne, IN
Do Evangelicals like to fight? One would almost think so given the
number of controversies that have marred the story of the modern Evan-
gelical movement Calvinists vs. Arminians, pre-millennialists vs. post,
egalitarians vs. complementarians, and, of course, open theists vs. tradi-
tional theists. A moment's reflection, however, suggests that it is not a
delight in polemics per se that has motivated all these folks through the
ages and in our own times too but instead, ironically, something that
they all have in common, viz., a commitment to truth. Evangelicals of all
stripes believe that there is such a thing as truth in matters religious,
and that it is important so important that one is willing not only to con-
tend for it in this life but also to stand upon it before the Lord in the
next. For He who has revealed Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the
Life calls upon all of us to be faithful to His truth.
But if controversies among Evangelicals demonstrate one common
commitment, can they reveal others? And if we are looking for the boun-
daries of the Evangelical movement, can analysis of past debates reveal
parameters within which combatants were operating? To be sure, the
Scriptures must ultimately determine what it means to be "evangelical";
but perhaps historical analysis can highlight characteristics of our
movement that we might otherwise miss.
Obviously, we cannot here examine every controversy that oc-
curred in the story of evangelicalism although it might make a good
book but we can investigate at least one. And the one I propose to ana-
lyze will take us back to the Reformation, arguably the headwaters of the
modern Evangelical movement. For contemporary Evangelicals are the