What is an Evangelical?
Roger Forster
Roger loves the word evangelical! But what does it really mean?
I love the word evangelical! Whatever it means it sounds good. I'm not saying whether or not it is sound; sometimes that sort of evangelical investigation and analysis is not so good! I mean it has a beautiful ring to it. The prefix ev means beautiful or good, in the richest sense, and angel; well everyone know what that means. Everyone would like to be married to one! It needs to be said though, that John the Baptist was called an angel and he was perhaps less aesthetically beautiful than most of our ideas about angels. Crunching locusts in the desert, wearing a leather jacket while fighting off vipers is not usually regarded as angelic (Mark 1:6). Of course, the devil has a few angels too (Matthew 25:41). However, none of these images should be our prototype evangelical, we hope.
There was a time, in the 1960s and 1970s, when the word evangelical was considered less than helpful for our image and reputation in both the church and world. Some prominent biblical church leaders from many persuasions - from reformed to charismatic - wished to abandon it, as they saw it as a hinderance. I, for good or ill, was known in the Evangelical Alliance as a strong advocate to retain it, despite the opposition it might evoke. I loved its ring, its history, and its content (lit. 'beautiful news'), and anyway, Jesus identified himself with the evangel (cf Mark 8:35 with Matthew 16:25), just as he did the kingdom (Matthew 17:28, Mark 9:1). Since the evangel was the good news of the kingdom which must be preached in all the world, let's keep the word and live out this concept to the end of the earth and so see the evangel himself return (Matthew 24:14).
When Maurice Wood was appointed Bishop of Norwich in 1971, his churchmanship was described as 'conservative evangelical'. The Queen had never heard of such a description and asked 'What is a conservative evangelical?'. In 1996, the Prime Minister made the general observation that evangelicals were one of the strongest, if not the strongest group in the country. (I am indebted to Ian Coffey for this information - see Chapter 22 of his book For Such a Time as This). Whatever evangelicals are, we seem to have grown considerably in both size and influence in the last 25 years. It is estimated that evangelicals currently constitute one third of the world church.
Evangelicalism as a popular movement arose in the 17th and 18th centuries, and various other streams have arisen from it over the centuries, such as the Missions movement, the Holiness movement, Pentecostalism and Charismatic renewal, to name the most influential. Some historians have identified six 'tribes' of evangelicals, others twelve, and the more extravagant 17 or 18. These varieties above are encouraging evidences of great life and energy within the movement to which we belong. There was a time in the 19th and early 20th centuries when it was said that the strength of evangelicalism was in its societies - diverse and creative organisations that preached the gospel and undertook works of mercy in many nations. Many would say (and I would agree with them) that this diversity of 'tribal' life and the breadth of the societies' works is a mark of the Holy Spirit's creative activity.
What then are the common factors in all the 'tribes' of evangelicals? D W Bebbington has well defined four factors that constitute an evangelical, and most church leaders agree with his definitive work (Evangelicalism in Modern Britain).
- Conversionism: You must be born again or converted; you must receive Jesus, the gospel, or the Spirit of Jesus. In short, we ask 'are you saved?' Evangelicals believe that a conscious response to Christ's offer of salvation must be made and each person must have his own personal dealings and relationship with God.
- Biblicism: The Scriptures are our authority for understanding and obeying the historic Jesus. The 'Word of God' is fundamental, primary and definitive for the Christian.
- Crucicentrism: 'Christ and him crucified' is central to our message, that is, our theology in Crucifixional. Not that evangelicals neglect the incarnation, ministry, resurrection, ascension and return of our Lord, but that the work of the cross is essential for relationship with God which makes everything else work.
- Activism: Action is the norm of evangelical life. We believe we are saved to do good works, change society, evangelise the world. The evangelical is born again into a whirlpool of activity - hopefully most of it is Holy Spirit activity!
It is obvious that these four evangelical distinctives cross denominational boundaries; it is therefore vital that we 'zealously guard the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace' (Ephesians 4:3). That means speaking well of one another, blessing and honouring one another as we have opportunity, and not criticising other 'tribes' who may differ from us in practice and some beliefs, which do not affect the basic kerygma (ie, the proclamation we have been given to declare to the world - the incarnation, ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, gift of the Spirit and the return of Christ). There is little disagreement that we are to herald this message to all people. C S Lewis once declared that our agreement as real Christians far exceeds the disagreements which we and our opponents so often major on.
One of my lifelong heart-concerns is for evangelical unity, so that Jesus' evangelistic prayer may be answered: 'I in them, and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, even as you have loved me.' (John 17:23).
That prayer of Jesus' was answered, not by our trifling and petty efforts at cooperation in the 20th century (the thought is almost blasphemous), but on the cross, within a few hours of its utterance, when by his death, Jesus broke down all dividing walls and made reconciliation through his blood, so that people could be one with God and with each other.
Evangelical unity is therefore a gift to be received, cherished and enjoyed (hence Paul's words quoted above), so that the world may have the opportunity to turn in faith to the Son of God.
An evangelical Christian is committed to unity for world evangelisation. |
Roger Forster, 09/11/2006 |
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