Three North American Evangelical leaders' engagement with postmodernism: An analysis of the ministries of Neil Cole, Dan Kimball, and Mark Driscoll.

摘要

Postmodernism shapes the context in which evangelicals minister. This dissertation's thesis is that the ministries of Neil Cole, Dan Kimball, and Mark Driscoll provide leadership and innovation for the North American Evangelical Church. To study their ministries, primary resources and a rubric, which consists of background, ministry context, theological context, engagement with postmodernism, and evangelical reaction, are used.;Chapter 1 characterizes postmodernism and its impact on evangelicalism. The chapter concludes with evangelical responses to postmodernism, and five realities facing the evangelical community.;Chapter 2 assesses Cole's ministry to postmodernism. His conversion to Christianity, events crucial to a transition to organic ministry, and the Fellowship of Grace Brethren's influence on Cole's theology are addressed. His simplistic and laity-led ministry approach is analyzed by discussing missional living, discipleship, leadership, preaching, and worship. How evangelical leaders react toward Cole and his ministry concludes the chapter.;Chapter 3 assesses Kimball's ministry to postmodernism. Kimball's early encounters with Christianity, the influence of the Chapel of the Opened Book, events leading to his involvement with emerging church movement, the start of Vintage Faith Church, and the influences to his theology are explored. Kimball's observant and creative ministry approach is examined through missional living, discipleship, leadership, preaching, and worship that relies on observation and creativity. The chapter concludes with an evangelical reaction toward Kimball and his ministry.;Chapter 4 assesses Driscoll's ministry to postmodernism. His conversion to Christianity, the influence of Pastor Doug Busby and the Community Evangelical Free Church, key decisions made during Mars Hill Church's brief history, and Driscoll's theology are discussed. His masculine and authoritative ministry approach is examined through missional living, discipleship, leadership, preaching, and worship. The chapter ends with an evangelical reaction toward Driscoll and his ministry.;Chapter 5 characterizes and identifies strengths and challenges of their ministries. Principles from their engagement with postmodernism are context matters, posture matters, theology matters, and participation matters. Along with the principles, implications are discussed. These implications for engaging postmodernism suggest evangelical leaders consider their context, adopt an opportunistic perspective, establish a theological framework, and rethink participation levels within their ministry programs.