Modernity, as defined here, emerges as the “wrong destination” of the Western Canon—a trajectory shaped by the dichotomous presuppositions of faith and reason. This foundational split, perpetuated and systematized by modernity’s conceptual apparatus, has led to a hegemonic framework that demands critical examination. Instead of submitting to an atomistic mode of thinking, characterized by isolated analysis and abstraction, we must adopt a systemic and genealogical approach, BUT lets be done with metaphysics, at least as a prescription. This requires us to act as archaeologists, uncovering the layers of historical context and methodological bias embedded within evangelical traditions, while discerning which elements of these traditions remain faithful to their Biblical mandate and which are corrupted by their contextual origins.
The Fault Line of Dichotomies
Modernity thrives on dichotomies: faith and reason, sacred and secular, spiritual and material. These divisions, deeply entrenched in Western thought, function as presuppositions that have shaped much of the discourse surrounding theology, philosophy, and culture. Modernity’s conceptual tools have reinforced these binaries, often sidelining the Biblical worldview that integrates creation, redemption, and mission in a holistic manner. Evangelicals, therefore, must reject these dichotomies, not by escaping them through antinomianism or hyper-spirituality, but by embracing a Biblical, systemic approach that contextualizes faith within its creational, historical, and eschatological framework.
This approach is exemplified by the “Old Faith,” which underscores the continuity of Biblical revelation and mission. The Biblical narrative, particularly as illustrated in Hebrews 11, reveals the witness of the “righteous ones,” whose faith is active, obedient, and contextual. They embody a spirituality that transcends earthly fixation while remaining engaged in the world. This Biblical model resists the atomistic fragmentation of modernity, rooting faith in a cohesive, God-centered worldview.
The Reformation: Recovery or Fragmentation?
The Reformation, defined by its doctrine of perspicuity (the clarity of scripture), sought to recover the Biblical mandate and recalibrate the Christian faith. It emphasized salvation through the “obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5), a principle rooted in the material authority of scripture and the transforming work of grace. Yet even the Reformation’s achievements are not immune to critique. When the Reformation’s theological recovery becomes entangled with political power, an “unbiblical element” emerges—one that must be discerned and rejected.
The critiques of Brad Gregory in The Unintended Reformation and Charles Taylor in A Secular Age deserve serious consideration. Gregory argues that the Reformation inadvertently paved the way for modern secularism by fragmenting theological authority, while Taylor highlights the secularization of Western culture as a shift away from a unified, enchanted worldview. These critiques are valuable in exposing the unintended consequences of the Reformation’s legacy. However, they require qualification, particularly where they assume that the Reformation’s theological recovery was itself flawed rather than corrupted by later contextual forces.
Rome, Revelation, and the Canon
Rome’s theological sophistication and institutional longevity often intimidate critics, yet its trajectory reveals critical flaws. By merging Greek philosophy and Roman natural law with Christian theology, Rome institutionalized a supersessionist approach that subordinates revelation to human reason and tradition. Vatican II further diluted its theological integrity by embracing a form of “easy belief-ism” that undermines the Biblical call to active, obedient faith.
For evangelicals, Rome’s dominance over the Western Canon must be resisted. Rome’s supersession of scripture with tradition stands in stark contrast to the Reformation’s recovery of sola scriptura. Yet, this resistance does not absolve evangelicals of the need to grapple with Rome’s critiques. The Catholic critique of the Reformation as a catalyst for secularism raises important questions about the relationship between theology, authority, and cultural transformation. Evangelicals must disentangle the Reformation’s Biblical recovery from the unbiblical elements introduced through its political and cultural entanglements.
Discerning Modernity’s Reach
Modernity’s pervasive influence must be carefully discerned. The integration of Biblical principles with cultural or political ambitions often leads to the distortion of the Gospel witness. This is particularly evident when evangelical traditions adopt modernity’s atomistic and utilitarian frameworks, reducing faith to a set of private beliefs or moral codes disconnected from their creational and eschatological context. Such compromises reflect modernity’s hegemony rather than Biblical fidelity.
To resist this hegemony, evangelicals must reclaim the Biblical narrative as the lens through which all thought and action are evaluated. This involves rejecting the dichotomies imposed by modernity and embracing a systemic, covenantal worldview that integrates creation, redemption, and mission. It also requires a humility that recognizes the fallibility of human traditions, including those shaped by the Reformation, and a willingness to jettison unbiblical elements that have crept into evangelical theology and practice.
A Biblical Reckoning with Modernity
In conclusion, modernity’s hegemony represents a distortion of the Western Canon, rooted in the false dichotomies of faith and reason. For evangelicals, the task is not to reject modernity wholesale but to discern its influence and reject those elements that conflict with Biblical revelation and mission. The Reformation provides a critical foundation for this task, yet it must be disentangled from its political and cultural entanglements to recover its Biblical essence.
Rome’s theological dominance must also be challenged, not with reactionary polemics but with a robust Biblical witness that exposes its supersessionist tendencies and affirms the sufficiency of scripture. Ultimately, evangelicals must reclaim their identity as stewards of creation and witnesses to the Gospel, resisting modernity’s atomistic fragmentation and embracing the systemic, covenantal worldview revealed in scripture. By doing so, they can confront modernity’s hegemony and offer a faithful, transformative witness to the world.
