Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 12/4/2006

Question
Thank you, but would you agree that "Evangelical" is a very new way of describing one's religious affiliation, at least when used outside of the context of the Lutheran church?


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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Can you please tell me what the heck "Evangelicalism" is? Newspapers talk about the "Evangelical vote", Christianity Today bills itself as a magazine for Evangelicals, people identify themselves as "Evangelicals", etc. but I have no idea what that really means except that it lets me know that they're socially conservative and believe in the Bible. There is no "Evangelical" denomination, and in fact people from groups as widely divergent as Baptists and Pentecostals can all call themselves "Evangelicals". Why don't they just call themselves what they really are, i.e. Baptists or Pentecostals? Why does this label exist? What does it mean?
-----Answer-----
Hi Dan,

Thanks for this great question!  The term evangelical is a very broad term that comes from the Greek word that we translate "gospel"  The Greek word is Euangelion = good news.  Traditionally evangelicals all hold to salvation being by grace through faith in Jesus alone with no works rites or rituals required in order to merit God's saving favor.  Several different denominations believe that, but they differ on other issues such as tongues, elder rule, or ecclesiastic separation.  The reason people use the term rather than just referring to the denomination is because for many this is the main doctrine.  If one disagrees with other things, but at least they know how to get to heaven, then one can find some common ground.

Typically evangelicals also believe that the Bible is the Word of God, and most of them have a fairly literal interpretation of scripture.

Though there are denominational differences, evangelicals tend to believe the same on issues like abortion and homosexuality.  Since the non-denominational evangelical type church is the church that is the fastest growing in America, it is wise for people to pay attention to them as a voting block and as a consumer group.

I hope that this answer helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don

Answer
Hi Dan,

I grew up as a Baptist and now am pushing 43.  I have heard that term all of my life and it is not new to me.  The major media exposure is new but not the term.  I pastor a church that is 56 years old and it's name is Evangelical Baptist Church.  I believe that the term started to be used in the early and mid 40's if I am not mistaken.  It is good to see it used more widely though.

I hope that this helps you.
In Christ
Pastor Don