THE RELATION BETWEEN ECUMENICAL AND EVANGELICAL IN ASIA

Introduction

‘Ecumenical’ and ‘Evangelical’ are not exclusive terms. Many so called

"Ecumenicals" are manifestly Evangelical and many "Evangelicals" are overtly Ecumenical.

These terms lack both theological precision and accuracy. Unfortunately, these labels have

been converted into the symbols of opposed positions and divisions. It is only for the sake of

convenience and simplicity that we use these terms to refer to those whose main emphasis is

on the unity of the church and the transformation of society (Ecumenical) and to those whose

main emphasis is on evangelism and personal conversion (Evangelical).

Christianity in Asia is a diverse and complex phenomenon. It comprises various

streams, confessions, and traditions, including Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Oriental,

Pentecostal, and indigenous expressions. Among these groups, two major movements have

emerged in the last century: Ecumenical and Evangelical. These movements have brought

significant changes, challenges, and opportunities to the Asian Christian landscape. In this

paper, we will explores the relationship between these two movements and their impact on

the church and society in Asia.

Identity of Ecumenical and Evangelical

The usage of the word ecumenical as an identifier of a group of people, perhaps, was

a twentieth century phenomenon. Though John Wesley and William Carey are described as

ecumenical in their times, the naming is by later perspective. The term ecumenism is defined

as (a) a movement promoting unity among Christian churches or denomination, and (b) a

movement promoting worldwide unity among religions through greater cooperation and

improved understanding. The missionary movement gave birth to the Ecumenical Movement

with the formation of WCC. Even though the people of the member churches of the WCC

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become known as ecumenical Christian, the vast majority of the membership remained

theologically and biblically illiterate and did not know the term or its meaning.

The usage of the word ‘evanelicals’ as an identifier of a group of people, perharp, was

a much older phenomenon in the history of the Christian church. Evangelism has generally

been understood as the propagartion of the “good news of salvation.” Good News is usually

understood as Christ’s death and resurrection for our sakes and sins and in some cases which

may related with the end is near or that the second coming of Christ’s is imminent.

The term “evangelical” has been variously employed since the time of the Reformation.

Luther used the term to refer to all who accepted of the reformation. In 1800s, the title

“evangelical” was identified with portions of the Great Awakening in the Church of England

that did not break off into the emergent Methodist or into other renewal movements.

Development of relation between Evangelism and Ecumenism

The relationship between ecumenical and evangelical groups worldwide was once

marked by competition, polarization, and division, especially during the 1960s and 1970s.

Evangelicals were critical of ecumenical gatherings like the Uppsala Assembly in 1968, the

Bangkok conference in 1973, and the Nairobi Assembly in 1975. In response, evangelicals

held their own meetings in Berlin in 1966 and Lausanne in 1974.

In the 1980s, there was an effort to bridge this divide. For example, Raymond Fung,

an evangelical pastor from Hong Kong and the evangelism secretary of the World Council of

Churches (WCC), participated in evangelical events and connected with the Partnership in

Mission Asia conference in London in 1986. With his help, groups like the Latin American

Theological Fraternity, the African Theological Fraternity, and the Partnership in Mission

Asia came together in 1987 at Stuttgart. They explored possibilities for mutual relationships

along with the Commission on Mission and Evangelism of the WCC.As a result of these

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efforts, the relationship between ecumenical and evangelical groups began to improve in the

1990s and has continued to do so over the decades.

What is evangelical

Evangelism is a term used in Christianity to describe the act of spreading or sharing

the Christian faith, particularly the message of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, with the aim

of converting or inspiring others to become Christians. Evangelism involves various

activities, including preaching, teaching, distributing religious literature, personal

conversations, and public events, all of which are intended to bring non-believers into the

Christian faith or to strengthen the faith of existing believers. Evangelism can take place in

various settings, from formal religious gatherings to everyday interactions in the community.

It is a fundamental aspect of many Christian denominations and is motivated by a desire to

fulfill the Great Commission, a command given by Jesus in the Bible to go and make

disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:16-20).

Members of Evangelical

Evangelism is not limited to a specific denomination but is a broad movement within

Christianity that spans across various denominations. Evangelicalism is a theological and

spiritual movement that emphasizes certain core beliefs and practices, rather than being

associated with a single denomination. As a result, evangelicals can be found in a wide range

of Christian denominations. Some of the denominations or groups that often have a

significant evangelical presence include: Baptist, Non-denominational, Pentecostal and

Charismatic, Lutheran, Reformed, Methodist, Free church and independent churches,

Evangelical Free church, Assemblies of God.

It's important to note that while these denominations often have a significant

evangelical presence, individual beliefs and practices can vary within each denomination.

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Evangelicalism encompasses a wide range of theological perspectives and worship styles, and

adherents may prioritize evangelism to varying degrees. Additionally, evangelicalism is not

confined to specific denominational boundaries, and there are many independent evangelical

churches and organizations around the world.

NAE Statement of Faith

1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.

2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

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3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in

His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily

resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in

power and glory.

4. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit

is absolutely essential.

5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is

enabling to live a godly life.

6. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the

resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.

7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

What is National Association of Evangelicals (NAE)

The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) is a prominent organization in the

ecumenical movement. The NAE works towards promoting unity among evangelical

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Christians in the United States and provides a platform for evangelicals to express their views

on important societal issues. NAE's membership includes over 40 Protestant denominations

and over 30 million members. It focuses on issues that are of concern to evangelicals, such as

religious freedom, combating poverty and injustice, and promoting traditional family values.

The organization also participates in interfaith dialogues, seeking to build relationships with

people of other faiths and to promote greater understanding and respect between different

religious groups. Overall, the NAE plays an important role in the ecumenical movement and

continues to work towards greater unity and collaboration among evangelical Christians and

with people of other faiths.

Fifteen affirmations of evangelical ecumenical relations

The most prominent conference on mission and evangelism is International Congress

on World Evangelization, Lausanne, 1974 which is sponsored by the billyy Graham

Evangelistic Association. Churches from over 150 nations attended this meeting including

nearly 2500 of all participants were evangelicals. It is so called “Lausanne Covenant” They

confessed their failures of unfinished task of evangelization and they submitted to obey

Christ’s commission to proclaim it to all mankind and make disciples of every nation. They

made 15 affirmations in the conference which are identified as evangelical ecumenical

relations.

1. We affirm our belief in the one eternal God, creator and Lord of the world, Father,

Son and Holy Spirit, who governs all things according to the purpose of His will.

2. We affirm the divine inspiration, truthfulness and authority of both Old and New

Testament Scriptures in their entirety as the only written Word of God, without

error in all that it affirms, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice.

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3. We affirm that there is only one Savior and only one Gospel, although there is a

wide diversity of evangelistic approaches.

4. We affirm that to Evangelize is to spread the good news that Jesus Christ died for

our sins and was raised from the dead according to the scripture, and offers the

forgiveness of sins and the liberating gift of the Spirit to all who repent and

believe.

5. WE affirm that God is both the Creator and the Judge of all men.

6. We affirm that Christ sends his redeemed people into the world as the Father sent

him, and that this calls for a similar deep and costly penetration of the world.

7. We affirm that the church’s visible unity in truth is God’s purpose. Evangelism

also summons us to unity, because our oneness strengthens our withenss, just as

our disunity undermines our gospel of reconciliation.

8. We rejoice that a new missionary era has dawned. The dominant role of western

missions is fast disappearing.

9. We are convinced that is the time for churches and Para-church agencies to prat

earnestly for the salvation of the unreached and to launch new efforts to achieve

world evangelization.

10. We affirm that gospel does not presuppose the superiority of any culture to

another, nut evaluates all cultures all cultures accorcing to iits own criteria of truth

and righteousness.

11. We confess that we have sometimes pursued church growth at the expense of

church depth, and divorced evangelism from Christian nurture,

12. We believe that we are engaged in constant spiritual warfare with the principalities

and powers of evil, who are seeking to overthrow the church and frustrate its task

of world evangelization.

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 13. It is God appointed duty of every government to secure conditions of peace,

justice, and liberty in which the Church may obey God, serve the Lord Christ, and

preach the Gospel without interference,

14. We believe in the power of the Holy Spirt. The Spirit is a missionary spirt; thus

evangelism should arise spontaneously from a Spirit-filled church.

15. We believe that Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly, in power and glory

to consummate his salvation and his judgement.

Some Challenges to cooperation between ecumenical and evangelical groups in Asia

include

Both evangelism and ecumenism are movements within Christianity that aim to promote and

advance the Christian faith. They share some common elements

- Theological Differences: Disagreements about religious beliefs and practices can

hinder cooperation.

- Cultural and Language Barriers: Diverse cultures and languages in Asia can make

communication and collaboration difficult.

- Historical Tensions: Past conflicts and disagreements can create mistrust. Competition

for Resources: Groups may compete for limited funding and support.

- Political and Social Pressure: Government restrictions and social norms can impact

collaboration. Evangelism vs. Unity: Differing priorities between evangelism and

unity can lead to tensions.

- Denominational Divisions: Different Christian denominations can have conflicting

interests.

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 - Organizational Boundaries: Issues related to the structure and authority of religious

organizations.

However, it's essential to note that despite these commonalities, there are significant

differences between evangelism and ecumenism, particularly in their goals and approaches.

Evangelism emphasizes personal conversion and spreading the Christian message, while

ecumenism focuses on unity and cooperation among various Christian traditions. These

differences often lead to tensions and challenges in their relationship and cooperation within

the broader Christian community.

The same things between Evangelical and Ecumenical groups in Asia

Both evangelism and ecumenism are movements within Christianity that aim to

promote and advance the Christian faith. They share some common elements:

- Christian Faith: Both evangelism and ecumenism are rooted in Christianity. They

acknowledge Jesus Christ as central to their faith and mission. Commitment to

Christianity: Evangelism and ecumenism are both driven by a commitment to

spreading and strengthening the Christian faith. They seek to share the message of

Jesus Christ.

- Interactions with Other Christian Groups: While their approaches may differ, both

movements involve engagement with other Christian denominations and groups.

Evangelicals and ecumenicals often collaborate or engage in dialogue with fellow

Christians.

- Desire for Unity: Despite their differences, both movements share a desire for

Christian unity. Ecumenism aims to promote unity among different Christian

traditions, while some evangelicals also prioritize unity, though it may be within their

own theological perspective.

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 - Social Engagement: Both movements recognize the importance of engaging with

social and ethical issues, albeit from different angles. They address matters of justice,

compassion, and societal concerns.

- Biblical Foundation: Evangelism and ecumenism draw upon the Bible and Christian

scripture for guidance and inspiration. They may interpret these sources differently

but share a foundational reliance on the Bible.

However, it's essential to note that despite these commonalities, there are significant

differences between evangelism and ecumenism, particularly in their goals and approaches.

Evangelism emphasizes personal conversion and spreading the Christian message, while

ecumenism focuses on unity and cooperation among various Christian traditions. These

differences often lead to tensions and challenges in their relationship and cooperation within

the broader Christian community.

Conclusion

The relationship between Ecumenical and Evangelical movements in Asia is both

complementary and conflicting. While these movements share common goals of promoting

Christian unity, witness, and service, they differ in theological, social, and ecclesial aspects.

Therefore, they need to engage in constructive dialogue, mutual understanding, and respectful

cooperation to overcome their differences and contribute more effectively to the mission of

the church in Asia. As they face new challenges of globalization, pluralism, and religious

extremism, Ecumenical and Evangelical movements should explore new ways of partnership

and creativity that enrich and challenge each other's perspectives and practices.