Atonement Controversy Reignites as Evangelical Alliance Endorses New Basis of Faith

Since the publication of the famous evangelical Steve Chalke’s controversial book "The Lost Message of Jesus", an ongoing debate on the meaning of Jesus’ crucifixion has begun among UK evangelicals. Recently, the controversy was reignited as the Evangelical Alliance UK announced the endorsement of a new "Basis of Faith".

"The Lost Message of Jesus" directly challenges the theological view of most evangelicals in the UK about the idea of penal substitution. Theologically, penal substitution explains the meaning of the cross. It suggests that God had to punish people for their sin, but Jesus took their place, and God punished him instead by sending him to the cross.

Chalke, however, stressed on the message of forgiveness of sins and reconciliation brought out by the cross, claiming that the image of God portrayed by the evangelicals based on penal substitution is often perceived to be harsh, censorious and ungracious, and that this can hamper evangelism.

On 25 February, the Evangelical Alliance adopted the new "Basis of Faith" which has been formulated by a special working group of the Alliance’s theological commission after 3 years of theological consultation.

Point number 4 stated that people are "corrupted by sin which incurs divine wrath and judgement" and point number 6 states "the atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross: dying in our place, paying the price of sin and defeating evil, so reconciling us with God."

Corresponding content on the old statement of faith is as follows: "The universal sinfulness and guilt of fallen man, making him subject to God's wrath and condemnation. The substitutionary sacrifice of the incarnate Son of God as the sole all-sufficient ground of redemption from the guilt and power of sin, and from its eternal consequences."

Comparing the two statements, the new basis of faith still affirms the concept of penal substitution but has skipped the phrase "substitutionary". Many anticipated that as the new "Basis of Faith" appears to endorse the idea of penal substitution, it will reignite the controversy that has split evangelicals in the UK.

A 3-day symposium, which is intended to explore the idea of penal substitution more fully, is being co-sponsored by the Evangelical Alliance at the London School of Theology (LST) in July.

A joint statement issued by Steve Chalke and the Evangelical Alliance in December 2004 when announcing the symposium recognised "the very real diversity within the evangelical family" and affirmed "devotion to Christ" and "commitment to evangelical unity". It also affirmed "a commitment to wrestle honestly together in understanding and applying the truth of Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice".