The theme of cultural exile popular in predominantly mainline American Protestant theology is more recently influencing the teachings and social ministry of evangelicals.
Richard J.Mouw, President of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, writes that this new theme is steadily emerging in several books. In a sympathetic review essay in Christianity Today magazine (April 24), Mouw cites two multi-authored studies which focus on exile metaphors as convincing teachings for the stance of Christians regarding their involvement in secular movements and programs for change; they are “Exilic Preaching: Testimony for Christian Exiles in an Increasingly Hostile Culture” by Erskine Clarke (Trinity Press) and “Good News in Exile: Three Pastors Offer a Hopeful Vision of the Church” (Eerdmans).
Mouw suggests that the socio/political activism among evangelicals of an earlier time, such as with the Moral Majority, is giving way to a recognition that the proper stance of the Christian toward this world is that of exile. In other words, a Christian is a member of this society but one whose final identity is that of the life to come. Too heavy an identification with contemporary social issues (as was evidenced by liberal Protestants) lead them to misunderstand that the role of exile was that of being called to minister in this world while not losing sight of that which is to come.
(Christianity Today, 465 Gundersen Dr., Carol Stream, IL 60188)
— By Erling Jorstad