Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Relationships and Religion
I am Evangelical, But I Am Not Your Enemy

I am Evangelical, But I Am Not Your Enemy

Last updated on: February 28, 2025 at 9:41 am by Beverly R. Green

I am Evangelical, But I Am Not Your Enemy 2025-02-28T09:41:43-05:00 Beverly R. Green

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I am Evangelical, but I am not your enemy/ image B. Green

I confess:

I am Evangelical, but I am not your enemy.

e·van·gel·i·cal

/ˌēˌvanˈjelək(ə)l,ˌevənˈjelək(ə)l/

adjective

of or according to the teaching of the gospel or the Christian religion.
Similar:
scriptural
biblical
Bible-believing
fundamentalist
orthodox

noun

a member of the evangelical tradition in the Christian Church.

These days, Evangelical has become nearly a curse word in some arenas, particularly on social media. Recently, I was in a face-to-face conversation with a close family member who was belittling the “ignorant Evangelicals” who caused “thus and such.” I responded, “I’m Evangelical.” To which she shot back, “No, you’re not!!!”

Daily, I see friends on facebook post words like:

“Evangelicals, who are numbered amongst the most undereducated people on the planet, are the main problem. The amount of hate in their hearts is lamentable.”

“… Evangelicals and their orange god …”

“But when Donald Trump says, ‘I’ve never done anything wrong, no reason to be forgiven,’ they [Evangelicals] still fall right in line and say, ‘Oh, he’s the second coming of Christ.’”

“No genuine Christian can defend or support the democrats because they don’t believe in biblical morals–killing babies, homosexuality, etc. “

These are some of the “classroom appropriate” remarks. Many others contain profanity and inappropriate slurs of some sort.

The really weird thing is that some of them are using the term to blast Conservatives/ Republicans, and some of them are using the term to blast Librals/Democrats.

I am Evangelical, but I am not your enemy. I am one of 545.9 million people worldwide who claim that faith, one of 7.9% of the global population. I attend church at least once a week, teach Sunday school, and work in a Christian school. I read my Bible and pray and write Christian books.

I am Evangelical. I am a daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother. I am a friend. I am an introvert. More than anything, I love my God and my Christ.

I love my family. Cats are my favorite animals. Cooking, baking, gardening, and sword-collecting are my hobbies. I believe daily laughter is essential to a person’s good health. I chase sunsets and sunrises and the stars and moon. We certainly have something in common.

I am Evangelical, but I am not your enemy. You do, however, have an enemy. In fact, that is something else we have in common.

“Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

“We war not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against powers of darkness in this world, against evil (Ephesians 6:12).

OK, so I realize that some Evangelicals (we’re not perfect) probably hold their own in the war of insults. May I just say to that group, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God, in Christ, forgives you” (Ephesians 4:32). You owe everyone a debt of grace.

We have a problem, but it’s not an Evangelical problem–it’s a heart problem. May I offer some good medicine here? James 3:3-18 says:

“When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

**“**Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

**“**But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

Can I get an Amen?

I am Evangelical, but I am not your enemy. Republicans, Democrats, White, Black, Asian, Latino, Male, Female, Gay, Straight, Conservative, Liberal, young, old–Jesus loves you! He died for you and me alike. We are different, but we are all sinners in a broken world. But maybe this world could begin to heal if we all just take the first steps–not going to lie, it might be a lot of steps–toward knowing one another and praying for one another. It’s hard to hate someone for whom you are praying. Shall we try?

And one more thing, whatever ID you wear, please get your information from someplace other than social media.

God bless you, and may He give you peace.

General Christian

Family, Parenting and Religion

Uncategorized

Conservative vs libral

Evangelicals

Republican vs Democrat

Social media

Stereotyping

Previous Post

February 13, 2025

A Valentine to God: Offering My Heart to the Greatest Love

Next Post

March 12, 2025 Sometimes the Best Response to God Is to Make Haste

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was Isaac's wife?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Sarah Rebekah Leah Rachel