Evangelical Christians

2011-01-08T02:07:58Z

Apologetics: Evangelical Lutheran Church status as currently being Protestant due to lack of adherence to Sola Scriptura

An '''Evangelical Christian''' is a Protestant who spreads the Gospel. In recent decades the term has narrowed to designate a white conservative Protestant, usually with a belief in the inerrancy of scriptures. During the [[Reformation]] of the 16th century, "Evangelical" was a favorite term, especially as used by [[Lutherans]] to mean "Gospel-oriented." The largest Lutheran body in the USA is the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]]. It should be noted though that both the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] and [[The Episcopal Church]] within the conservative Protestant Evangelical movement have had their Protestant credentials questioned based upon their adherence to the solidly stated "Sola Scriptura" in accordance with their open stance of acceptance involving homosexuality contrary to Scripture. Their origins are of unquestioned Protestant beginnings, however the current thinking among other '''Protestant Christians''' place them on the edge of fringe Christianity like Jehovah Witnessess, The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints (Mormons), and Seventh Day Adventists.

This article focuses on the United States and Canada since 1740, when the [[First Great Awakening]] launched the Evangelical movement.<ref> Thomas S. Kidd, ''The Great Awakening: The Roots of Evangelical Christianity in Colonial America'' (2007) [http://www.amazon.com/Great-Awakening-Evangelical-Christianity-Colonial/dp/0300118872/ref=ed_oe_h excerpt and text search]; William G. McLaughlin, ''Isaac Backus and the American Pietistic Tradition'' (1967)</ref>

There is no exact definition of who is an Evangelical. Pollsters often ask, "Are you a born-again Christian?" to define the group. Sociologists look at membership in specific denominations, and often include [[Holiness Movement]], [[Pentecostal]] and [[Nazarene]] groups. Some scholars focus on the Bible beliefs, together with a personal commitment to Christ.<ref> See Krapohl and Lippy (1999) ch 1</ref>

The Christian researcher and author George Barna defines "Evangelicals" as a subset of those who meet the basic criteria defining [[born again Christians]], but who also meet seven other doctrinal conditions.<ref>http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/15-christianity-is-no-longer-americans-default-faith</ref> A distinction is then enabled to be manifest in other areas of faith beliefs.<ref>[http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/RevealingStatistics.html#Sec4 Revealing Statistics: America in Decline; Differences among Denominations]</ref>

==Colonial America==
The [[First Great Awakening]] was a spontaneous outburst of religious enthusiam in the American colonies, with a decisive long-term impact on setting the stage for Evangelicalism in Congregational, Baptist, Methodist and presbyterian denominations, among others. It did not add new members so much as to change the religious consciousness of church members to a greater awareness of sin and redemption, and a downplaying of ritual, liturgy and theology. The Great Awakening heavily emphasized the individual’s experience of salvation and the Holy Spirit’s work in revivals. By giving many evangelicals radical notions of the spiritual equality of all people, the revivals helped form the democratic style came to characterize the American people.<ref> Thomas S. Kidd, ''The Great Awakening: The Roots of Evangelical Christianity in Colonial America'' (2007) </ref>

==19th century==
The [[Second Great Awakening]] from 1800 to the 1830s created a dramatic growth in "evangelical" or "pietistic" denominations. They included the Methodists, Congregationalists, most Presbyterians, Christians (Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ) and Scandinavian Lutherans. They were opposed theologically by the liturgical or "high" churches, including Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, and German Lutherans.<ref>See Richard Jensen, ''The Winning of the Midwest, 1888-1896'' (1971)</ref> The evangelicals were strong supporters of moral reforms in society, using government action to promote woman's rights, the abolition of slavery, and the prohibition of liquor.

Politically, the evangelicals in the North were the core of the Republican party in the [[Third Party System]], as well as the small Prohibition party.

Evangelicals were active in missions (as were the non-evangelical Christians). Missionaries, in addition to spreading the word of God, have helped bring much needed medical and educational services to poor parts of the world, as part of their missionary activities.

The [[Third Great Awakening]] from 1850 to about 1900 saw the evangelical denominations organize themselves more thoroughly. They also began to experience splits between "modernists" and "fundamentalists" about theological principles. "Evangelical" includes [[Fundamentalists]], not as an organization but as a style of religious belief coupled with activism.

A Fundamentalist believes in actively opposing mainstream religion. Most Fundamentalists believe in [[Dispensationalism]], although [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] Evangelicals reject Dispensationalism. The largest Evangelical church is the [[Southern Baptist Convention]], which is largely Fundamentalist.

==20th century==

By the end of the 20th century there were nearly 100 million Americans who identified themselves as "Evangelical Christians," according to a [[Gallup Poll]] in 1995.
==Self Image==
The self image of evangelical Christians include:
* generally better knowledge of the Bible compared to non-evangelical Christians
* view all events recorded in the Bible as historically accurate and treat it as the infallible Word of God
* promote active participation in a local church
* high levels of charity
* support of [[homeschooling]]
* disbelief in evolution

White Evangelicals in the 21st century have been voting 75%-80% for Republican presidential candidates and are politically [[conservative]].

==See also==
*[[Anti-Saloon League]], led the dry forces to enact Prohibition
*[[Assemblies of God]]
*[[Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church]]
*[[William Jennings Bryan]], politician who fought Darwinism
*[[Calvinism]]
*[[Christian Reformed Church]], Dutch Calvinists
*[[Common Sense Realism]], part of [[Princeton Theology]]
*[[Culture War]]
*[[Fundamentalism]]
*[[Billy Graham]], post 1945
*[[Heritage Reformed Congregations]]
*[[Charles Hodge]], leader of Princeton theology
*[[Holiness Movement]]
*[[John Gresham Machen]], Fundamentalist theologian early 20c
*[[Princeton Theology]]
*[[Protestant Reformed Church]]
*[[Reformed Churches]]
*[[William Bell Riley]], organizer of 20c Fundamentalism
*[[Second Great Awakening]], 188-1820s
*[[Southern Baptist Convention]]
*[[Billy Sunday]], early 20c
*[[Theory of Fundamentalist Antisemitism]]
*[[Third Great Awakening]], 1850-1900
* [[United Methodist Church]], highly evangelical in 19th century
*[[Westminster Presbyterian Church in the United States]]
*[[Evangelical Covenant Church]]
*[[Evangelical Apostolic Church of North America (Syro-Chaldean)]]

==External links==
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20020613081519/http://www.alliancenet.org/pub/articles/horton.WhatEvan.html What is an Evangelical?]
*[http://www.docstoc.com/docs/2399848/Varieties-of-American-Evangelicalism-Course-Syllabus-Center-for Robert E. Brown, "Varieties of American Evangelicalism Course Syllabus" (Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture 2004), highly detailed bibliography and outline]
*[http://www.mb-soft.com/believe/text/evangeli.htm Evangelicalism]

==Further reading==
{{christianity}}
* Balmer, Randall. ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism'' (2nd ed. 2004), 655pp [http://www.questia.com/library/book/encyclopedia-of-evangelicalism-by-randall-balmer.jsp ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism'' online edition], by a leading historian
* Balmer, Randall. ''Blessed Assurance Cl: A History Of Evangelicalism In America'' (2000), 144pp [http://www.amazon.com/BLESSED-ASSURANCE-HISTORY-EVANGELICALISM-AMERICA/dp/0807077119/ref=sr_1_28?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242466742&sr=1-28 excerpt and text search], topical essays but not a systematic history
* Carpenter, Joel A. ''Revive Us Again: The Reawakening of American Fundamentalism'' (1999), major scholarly history of post 1925 era [http://www.amazon.com/Revive-Us-Again-Reawakening-Fundamentalism/dp/0195129075/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242033102&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Hankins, Barry. ''American evangelicals: a contemporary history of a mainstream religious movement‎'' (2008) 205 pages [http://books.google.com/books?id=TZ-bwSDb5KcC&pg=PA47&dq=%22Revive+Us+Again:+The+Reawakening+of+American+%22&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES excerpt and text search]
* Kidd, Thomas S. ''The Great Awakening: The Roots of Evangelical Christianity in Colonial America'' (2007) [http://www.amazon.com/Great-Awakening-Evangelical-Christianity-Colonial/dp/0300118872/ref=ed_oe_h exxcerpt and text search]
* Krapohl, Robert H., and Charles H. Lippy. ''The Evangelicals: A Historical, Thematic, and Biographical Guide'' (1999). 338 pgs. [https://www.questia-online-library.com/read/111701129?title=Abbreviations online edition]
* Larsen, Timothy and Daniel J. Treier, eds. ''The Cambridge companion to evangelical theology‎'' (2007) 303 pages; [http://books.google.com/books?id=vlmXBe0RPxYC&pg=PA158&dq=%22Revive+Us+Again:+The+Reawakening+of+American+%22&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES excerpt and text search]
* Marsden, George M. ''Fundamentalism and American Culture: The Shaping of Twenteth Century Evangelicalism, 1870-1925'' (2nd ed. 2006). standard scholarly history by leading Evangelical scholar[http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentalism-American-Culture-George-Marsden/dp/0195300475/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242033450&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Marsden, George M. ''Understanding Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism''
* Noll, Mark. ''A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada'' (1992) by leading Evangelical scholar [http://www.amazon.com/History-Christianity-United-States-Canada/dp/0802806511/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242457929&sr=1-4 excerpt and text search]
* Rawlyk, George, ed. ''Aspects of the Canadian Evangelical Experience.'' (1997). 542 pp.
* [http://www.questia.com/library/religion/christianity/protestantism/evangelicalism.jsp online books]
===Historiography===
* Burch, Maxine. ''The Evangelical Historians: The Historiography of George Marsden, Nathan Hatch, and Mark Noll.'' (1996). 130 pp.
==References==
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[[Category:Christian Denominations]]
[[Category:Fundamentalism]]
[[Category:Christian Movements]]
[[category:Evangelicals]]

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Evangelical Christians