Readers will be aware that penal substitution — that Jesus died in the place of his people and bore the penalty for their sins — has become a controversial doctrine within certain sectors of British evangelicalism.
Most recently, Steve Chalke has dismissed the doctrine in a book and a series of articles, even caricaturing it as ‘a form of cosmic child abuse’.
In response, the Evangelical Alliance (EA), of which Chalke is a high-profile member, undertook a three-part strategy of discussion and reflection. First, they hosted a public dialogue last October. Then, in November, the EA Council issued a statement reiterating the Alliance’s commitment to penal substitution, as outlined in its Basis of Faith. The final stage was a Symposium on the Atonement, co-sponsored by London School of Theology (LST, formerly London Bible College) from July 6-8 in London. At the symposium, a number of scholars presented papers criticising or defending the doctrine. There were also seminars and some shorter presentations focussed on significant biblical passages, such as Isaiah 53 and Romans 3.25-26. Over 200 delegates attended, including ministers, academics, and lay-people from around the country.
