Promise Unfulfilled: The Failed Strategy of Modern Evangelicalism

The New Evangelicalism was conceived, if not born, with the formation of the National Association of Evangelicals in 1942. This new group was in the main led by younger professing fundamentalist scholars and leaders who had become dissatisfied with their heritage and wanted to carve out some evangelical middle ground between fundamentalism and neo-orthodoxy.Promise Unfulfilled is an analysis of the break-away movement in terms of the issues ideas, and practices that led to its beginning, its expansion to an apogee in the 1970s, its subsequent loss of biblical and doctrinal stability, and its slide toward virtual irrelevancy in a postmodern world culture of the 21st century.The twenty-five chapters are grouped under nine main sections: Historical Antecedents; the Formation of the New Evangelicalism; Ecumenism; Ecclesiastical Separation; The Bible and Authority; Apologetics; Social Involvement; Doctrinal Storms; and Evaluations and Prospects.It will be a valuable addition to the pastor’s library and a strategic resource for theological education in Bible colleges and seminaries.The material contained in this book, helped me understand the dangers of the compromises which had been made before I was born but were bearing very bad fruit by the time I was entering ministry. McCune’s book is a serious and solemn call to faithfulness that desperately needs to be heard.Dr. David M. Doran, President, Detroit Baptist Theological SeminarySenior Pastor, Inter-City Baptist Church, Allen Park, MIMcCune documents his research meticulously. He explains the rise of new evangelicalism, with its disdain for fundamentalism and its pride of intellect. He shows throughout how the movement was an attack on the inspiration and the literal interpretation of Scripture. Fundamentalists who might be tempted to move leftward will find that this book is a must read.Dr. Robert Delnay, Bible Professor and former Department Chairman at Clearwater Christian College in Clearwater, FloridaPromise Unfulfilled is indeed a profitable work. McCune’s content is carefully researched and his conclusions are scripturally based.Dr. David Beale, Professor of Church History, Bob Jones UniversityA careful comprehensive theological and historical treatment of the New Evangelical movement by a competent conservative scholar—Dr. McCune has done a great service to those committed to practicing ministry in the context of Biblical Fundamentalism.Dr. Sam Horn, Executive Vice President, Northland Baptist Bible College Read more