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What is an evangelical?
These days it seems that being evangelical is back in vogue. Everyone wants to claim it, to the point that now many Christians from a broad range of theological backgrounds and beliefs label themselves by it. But historically, to be an evangelical meant to be a person whose beliefs and life was shaped by the evangel, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Some of the theological convictions that are generally used to describe evangelicals are:
i) the authority of Scripture as the truthful, reliable, divinely inspired, authoritative source of all doctrine and normative guide for Christian belief and practice. As divinely inspired it stands above all other writings, traditions and people;
ii) the seriousness of sin. All humanity since the Fall of Adam and Eve are born with a sinful nature which alienates them from God. They are helpless to rescue themselves from their sinful state and stand under the righteous judgment of God. What they require is forgiveness and reconciliation to God;
iii) the centrality of the cross of Christ. The problem of sin is only dealt with through the atoning death of the sinless Jesus on our behalf, restoring us to God. Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Mark 10:45) and that is exactly what his death achieved.
iv) the necessity of humanity to respond to the cross of Christ. The gospel is not just the great news of God’s salvation available through Jesus Christ, but is the great summons to actually respond to it. Salvation is found in Christ alone and is not automatically bestowed on a person, nor does it come naturally. They need to appropriate that salvation for themselves by responding in repentance and faith, and;
v) the ongoing work of the Spirit in the life of the believer. As a person responds in repentance and faith they are brought to new life in Christ through the power of the Spirit. The Spirit continues to have ongoing work in the believer’s life, engaging in the ongoing work of sanctification.
To be an evangelical means more than just being accepted by the wider Christian community. You actually have to believe something…and live it out.