What is an Evangelical Church?

Summary

An evangelical church emphasizes salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, focusing on His death, burial, and resurrection. Evangelicalism includes a diverse range of Christian denominations that share core beliefs: the Bible is the highest authority, personal evangelism is essential, and salvation is through Jesus alone. It developed historically to distinguish Protestants from Catholics, with a focus on the born-again experience and Christian exclusivity. Though sharing common beliefs with fundamentalism, evangelicals are more ecumenical and less strict on non-essential issues. Surveys reveal varying beliefs among evangelicals, with around 6% of Americans meeting doctrinal criteria for true evangelicalism.

Takeaways

• 😀 Evangelical churches believe in salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection as the only means of atonement for sin.
• 😀 Evangelicalism emphasizes the necessity of a born-again experience for salvation and the importance of sharing the gospel with others.
• 😀 The term 'evangelical' historically distinguished Protestants from Catholics, particularly during the Reformation, but today refers to a broad Christian movement across denominations.
• 😀 The National Association of Evangelicals has defined four statements that identify someone as evangelical: belief in the Bible as the highest authority, evangelism, salvation through Christ’s sacrifice, and salvation only for those who trust in Jesus Christ alone.
• 😀 Evangelicalism differs from fundamentalism in that it is more ecumenical, accepting a wider range of theological differences while still maintaining core beliefs.
• 😀 Fundamentalist churches separated from the broader evangelical movement due to differences in how strict doctrinal and lifestyle principles were enforced.
• 😀 Evangelicals reject salvation by works and emphasize that only those who trust in Jesus Christ receive God's free gift of eternal life.
• 😀 Evangelical churches tend to view themselves as distinct from both theological liberalism in mainline churches and the stricter separatism of fundamentalist churches.
• 😀 Evangelicals hold that Christian exclusivity is a core belief, asserting that only Christians will attain eternal life, rejecting other religions as false.
• 😀 Research indicates that while a large percentage of evangelicals believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible and Christian exclusivity, there are varying opinions on topics like alcohol consumption, speaking in tongues, and the compatibility of evolution with scripture.

Q & A

What does the term 'evangelical' refer to in Christian contexts?

The term 'evangelical' refers to a church or movement that emphasizes the gospel, meaning salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. It includes beliefs in his death, burial, resurrection, and atonement, and the necessity of a born-again salvation experience.

How does the historical use of the term 'evangelical' differ from its modern meaning?

Historically, 'evangelical' was used to distinguish Protestants from Catholics during the Reformation. In the modern sense, it refers to a broader movement within various Christian denominations, such as Methodists, Baptists, and non-denominational churches.

What are the four key statements used by the National Association of Evangelicals to identify evangelicals?

The four key statements are: 1) The Bible is the highest authority for belief, 2) It is important to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior, 3) Jesus Christ's death is the only sacrifice that removes the penalty of sin, and 4) Only those who trust in Jesus Christ as Savior receive eternal salvation.

How did evangelical churches evolve in relation to fundamentalist churches over the 20th century?

Over time, evangelical churches became less strict about separation from other groups and relaxed some biblical principles, such as those on modesty, alcohol consumption, and entertainment. This led to a split, with fundamentalist churches, particularly Baptists, distancing themselves from the broader evangelical movement.

What distinguishes evangelicalism from liberal theology and fundamentalism?

Evangelicalism is distinguished from liberal theology by its adherence to the inerrancy of Scripture, and from fundamentalism by its more flexible approach to certain theological differences and emphasis on essentials versus non-essentials.

How do evangelicals view salvation and evangelism?

Evangelicals believe that salvation is obtained through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not through works. They also emphasize the importance of evangelism, or actively sharing their faith and encouraging others to trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior.

What is the evangelical stance on the exclusivity of Christianity?

Evangelicals believe in Christian exclusivity, meaning that only through Jesus Christ can one attain eternal life. They reject the idea that other religions can lead to salvation.

How do evangelicals approach the issue of biblical interpretation and textual criticism?

Evangelicals reject higher criticism of the Bible, which is common in mainline churches, but they are open to biblical textual criticism. They generally do not take firm positions on Bible versions and hold varying views on the literal interpretation of Scripture.

What percentage of Americans self-identify as evangelical, and how does this differ based on doctrinal criteria?

Approximately 30-35% of Americans self-identify as evangelical. However, according to Barna Research, when specific doctrinal criteria are applied, only about 6% of Americans qualify as true evangelicals.

What are some areas of disagreement among evangelicals on specific beliefs, according to polling data?

Areas of disagreement among evangelicals include beliefs on alcohol consumption, speaking in tongues, literal interpretation of the Bible, and views on evolution. Polling shows diverse opinions on these issues within the evangelical community.