What Is an Evangelical?
What it Means to be an Evangelical
In the modern context, the term “Evangelical” carries a number of negative connotations. Popular culture depicts Evangelicals as terrorist extremists, whose mission in life is to judge and condemn. However, these depictions could not be further from the true essence of what it means to be an Evangelical Christian. Evangelicals stand for the truth found in God’s word and believe in the atoning death of Jesus Christ and his redemptive love.
Evangelicals view the Bible as a guide to faith and practice. According to the Evangelical Manifesto, the Bible is God’s Word written and is “fully trustworthy.” An essential practice of Evangelical Christians is daily Bible reading. As followers of Christ, daily immersion in God’s Word is essential to discovering God’s truth.
Through the truth of the Gospel, Evangelicals believe in the atoning death of Jesus Christ and view salvation as God’s gift grasped through faith. In this salvation, Evangelicals find a new life in the Holy Spirit in which we are reborn. In addition, we live by God’s grace; we recognize we have done nothing to earn our salvation. Instead, we are saved by God’s redeeming love.
Engaging in God’s truth also involves the component of prayer. Evangelicals believe a personal relationship with God is developed through dialogue. Not only do we receive, but we also pour out. Due to the privilege Evangelicals have been granted of standing in God’s truth, we believe in sharing God’s love with the world. Through Gospel centered missions work, Evangelicals share the word and redeeming love of God. We seek to become more like Christ and desire to love and walk as He did.
Noble, Thomas A. "John Wesley as a Theologian: an Introduction." Evangelical Quarterly 82.3 (2010): 239-57. Print.
Abstract:
In the article John Wesley as a theologian: an introduction, by Thomas A. Noble, the author presents a view of evangelism through the theology of
In the modern context, the term “Evangelical” carries a number of negative connotations. Popular culture depicts Evangelicals as terrorist extremists, whose mission in life is to judge and condemn. However, these depictions could not be further from the true essence of what it means to be an Evangelical Christian. Evangelicals stand for the truth found in God’s word and believe in the atoning death of Jesus Christ and his redemptive love.
Evangelicals view the Bible as a guide to faith and practice. According to the Evangelical Manifesto, the Bible is God’s Word written and is “fully trustworthy.” An essential practice of Evangelical Christians is daily Bible reading. As followers of Christ, daily immersion in God’s Word is essential to discovering God’s truth.
Through the truth of the Gospel, Evangelicals believe in the atoning death of Jesus Christ and view salvation as God’s gift grasped through faith. In this salvation, Evangelicals find a new life in the Holy Spirit in which we are reborn. In addition, we live by God’s grace; we recognize we have done nothing to earn our salvation. Instead, we are saved by God’s redeeming love.
Engaging in God’s truth also involves the component of prayer. Evangelicals believe a personal relationship with God is developed through dialogue. Not only do we receive, but we also pour out. Due to the privilege Evangelicals have been granted of standing in God’s truth, we believe in sharing God’s love with the world. Through Gospel centered missions work, Evangelicals share the word and redeeming love of God. We seek to become more like Christ and desire to love and walk as He did.
Noble, Thomas A. "John Wesley as a Theologian: an Introduction." Evangelical Quarterly 82.3 (2010): 239-57. Print.
Abstract:
In the article John Wesley as a theologian: an introduction, by Thomas A. Noble, the author presents a view of evangelism through the theology of