Latin American theology: radical or evangelical? The struggle for the faith in a young church
“This book is the first attempt to describe in broad terms what is occurring in theological circles in the Latin American Protestant Church. It begins with an analysis of the most vocal segment of the church, labeled the “new radical left.” A general description of the position is followed by specific analyses of theological stresses found in the writings of such representatives as Gonzalo Castillo, Jose Miguez, Rubem Alvez, Jorge Lara, Emilio Castro, Richard Shaull, and others, pointing out how the theology of these men has to one degree or another become secularized. Their theology is then criticized from the point of view of the church growth position popularized by Dr. Donald McGavran, which the author holds. One of the principal these of the book is an attempt to show that radical theology as enunciated by this segment of Latin American theologians reduces to a type of syncretism, and thus becomes not Biblical Christianity, but rather “another gospel.”Finally the theology of the relationship of the church to the world on the part of several evangelicals, such as Fernando Vangioni, Washington Padilla, Jose Maria Rico, and others, is described, although it is not a fully-developed theology. Evangelicals in Latin America have been busier putting a soul-winning theology into practice rather than attempting to articulate it. As a result they are strong on numbers of church members, but not on theologizing.The author’s own position as to the rationale for an evangelical social ministry is outlined in the final chapter. He believes that whereas the evangelical’s primary responsibility in the world is to reconcile multitudes to Jesus Christ, he church also has a secondary responsibility to serve society in general, not necessarily as a means to an evangelistic end, but in fact as an end in itself.”- Publisher
Print Book, English, [1970]
Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, [1970]