When evangelicals confuse an improper passion for novelty with a proper pursuit of academic and pastoral relevance, the results can be distressing. I cannot express how grateful I am for the well-formed wisdom with which this book points to the abiding and decisive relevance for future route-finding of the old theological paths.

—J. I. PACKER, Professor, Regent College

These insightful essays explore issues of extreme importance for evangelical thought. For those evangelicals who—like myself—are increasingly troubled by extravagant claims made by various evangelical scholars about the nature of the “postmodern” challenge, as well as by earnest calls to develop new epistemological and theological perspectives in response to this challenge, the writers of these essays shed much light. This book is must-reading for everyone who wants to promote a clear-thinking evangelicalism for our contemporary context.

—RICHARD J. MOUW, President and Professor of
Christian Philosophy, Fuller Seminary

Here is a collection of intelligent, provocative, gutsy essays that dare to fly into the eye of the scholarly storm over evangelical identity. Though different perspectives are present even here, the underlying thesis is clear and worth heeding: the eager, and sometimes uncritical, embrace of postmodernist paradigms may be as premature as it has proven to be unproductive for the well-being of the evangelical church. One of the most important books of the new century!

—TIMOTHY GEORGE, Dean,
Beeson Divinity School, Samford University

Provocative, timely, and controversial!

—DONALD G. BLOESCH, Professor of Theology Emeritus, Dubuque Theological Seminary

Evangelicalism is in big trouble, and the root problem is theological accommodation. Compromise and confusion stand at the center of evangelicalism’s theological crisis, and a clear-headed and convictional analysis of the problem has been desperately needed. Thankfully, Reclaiming the Center has arrived just in time. Editors Erickson, Helseth, and Taylor have assembled a team of outstanding scholars, and each chapter is must reading for all concerned evangelicals. My fervent hope is that Reclaiming the Center will open evangelical eyes, humble evangelical hearts, and awaken this generation to the peril of accommodationism.

—R. ALBERT MOHLER, JR., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Reclaiming the Center offers a coherent and challenging engagement with recent attempts to redefine the center of evangelicalism. The authors of this well-designed volume provide a bold and well-argued response to what is sometimes called “post-conservative evangelicalism.” This important conversation regarding the essence, center, and boundaries of evangelicalism is here explored, interpreted, and assessed from a well-informed theological, philosophical, and historical perspective.

Though readers will quibble over some aspects of the essays, I am confident that this valuable and impressive collection will help advance this important conversation in a constructive way. I heartily commend this volume and trust it will find a large readership.

—DAVID S. DOCKERY, President, Union University