what is an evangelical paper

8/20/2019 What is an Evangelical paper

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Alley Kammer

Professor Bacote

Gospel Church and Culture

17 September 2012

There are many phrases that come to mind upon hearing the word ‘evangelical.’ Some

people may be reminded of Billy Graham, a famous TV evangelist who brought many people to

Christ via large, televised gatherings. Others may think of an overly conservative Republican

who is hateful towards people who believe in pro-choice. As a whole, the true definition of an

evangelical has become a skewed ‘gray area’ in the viewpoint of society. There are many people

whose reaction upon hearing the word ‘evangelical’ is to think of ‘hypocrite’, ‘crazy’, and/or

‘Bible-thumper.’ So much of what the world perceives an evangelical to be today has been

developed largely on behalf of a select few who have given a face to Evangelicalism. This poses

a question, that as Christians living in the twenty-first century we must try to answer to the best

of our ability: What really is an evangelical?

First, and foremost, Evangelicalism is not a denomination, but rather a blanket term that

engulfs a number of different traditions and a range of opinions on a few unwavering

foundational beliefs. An evangelical is a person who takes everything they read with ‘a grain of

salt’. It is a person who is constantly allowing God to take hold of their perspectives of His

gospel and allowing Him to be the center of their life. “Thus, if we are serious about following

Jesus, we must rethink much of our inherited understanding in the light of what Jesus said and


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did” (Danaher 1). An evangelical takes all things to God in prayer. According to The Norton

Dictionary of Modern Thought, there are four main principles that all evangelicals have in

common. These tenets of evangelicalism ask that Christians who are evangelical place an

emphasis on spreading the gospel, proclaim the words and stories of the bible as true, make

Christ the center of their faith, and recognize the importance of the encounter with Christ that

determines when they except Him as their savior, and in turn, accept His gift of salvation.

Evangelicalism was founded on fundamentalist principals, but take on a more accepting attitude

in regards to the finer details surrounding one’s particular beliefs on the accepted subject matter.

(For some, the aspect of evangelizing is a determining factor of Christianity, and for others, they

prefer to live quietly by example. Both sides could find biblical support for their lifestyles, but

Evangelicalism blankets both types of Christians and offers acceptance under the foundational

goal of living as Jesus did.)

Evangelicalism is a constantly changing idea surrounding the Christian walk. There are

some who identify with the term and are not even certain of its historical background or the

principles that accompany the word, while others follow steadfastly to its four main principles.

Ultimately, it’s important to remember that above all we should follow Christ and the Word of

God and share that lifestyle of love with others.


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Bibliography

Alcorn, Randy. "Does the Word “Evangelical” Mean Anything Anymore?" Web log post. EPM .

EternalPerspective Ministries, 15 July 2011. Web. 17 Sept. 2012.

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Bullock, Alan, and Stephen Trombley. "Evangelical." The Norton Dictionary of Modern

Thought . NewYork: W.W. Norton, 1999. Print

Danaher, James P. "Theology In The 21St Century." Evangelical Review Of Theology 35.2

(2011): 111-121. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials. Web. 7 Sept. 2012.

Luhrmann, T. M. "When the Almighty Talks Back." The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones &

Company, Inc., 5 Apr. 2012. Web. 7 Sept.2012..

Marsden, George M. Fundamentalism and American Culture. New ed. New York: Oxford UP,

2006. Print.

What Is An Evangelical? Dir. Phil Ryken. YouTube. TheGospelCoalition, 10 Sept. 2008. Web.

17 Sept.2012. .

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