Is Evangelicalism White?

Last updated on: January 29, 2019 at 8:51 am by Roger E. Olson

Is Evangelicalism White? 2019-01-29T08:51:09-05:00 Roger E. Olson

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.

Increasingly others are joining me (or I am joining them) in criticizing the tendency of American sociologists or religion, their researchers, and the mass media to identify “evangelical” as a white phenomenon. I find this equation both bewildering and disturbing.

Now, I have to admit that when there was a semi-organized “evangelical movement” in the United States it was primarily led by Caucasian males. In my opinion, that post-World War 2 movement that looked to Billy Graham and his ministries for at least symbolic identity and leadership, died some time ago. It no longer exists. To those who think an evangelical movement does still exist I simply say “Show me.” I don’t see it—at least nothing like the evangelical movement I grew up in and was part of for much of my life. As I have said here before, evangelical historical George Marsden says it died out in about 1976. I think later, but that may have been the beginning of its demise. Now it is dead and gone. There are, of course, remnants and relics of it, but there is no even relatively cohesive “evangelical movement.”

For a long time now, I have insisted on a distinction between evangelicalism as a spiritual-theological ethos (well described in my late friend Stanley Grenz’s book Revisioning Evangelical Theology) and evangelicalism as a sociological-religious movement. Historically and sociologically speaking, evangelical movements come and go and many people display and live out an evangelical ethos without ever connecting with any evangelical movement.

I have also insisted that any evangelical movement, insofar as it is not headquartered with membership, is a centered set rather than a bounded set. And the evangelical ethos has a center but no boundaries.

*Sidebar: The opinions expressed here are my own (or those of the guest writer); I do not speak for any other person, group or organization; nor do I imply that the opinions expressed here reflect those of any other person, group or organization unless I say so specifically. Before commenting read the entire post and the “Note to commenters” at its end.*

Clearly, to anyone who studies the evangelical spiritual-theological ethos, evangelicalism as an ethos is not white. It exists all around the world, mostly in relatively conservative Protestant churches but not exclusively in them. Along the way I have met Catholics I consider evangelical and conservative Protestants I don’t consider evangelical (in the “ethos sense”). And I have long considered most African-American and Hispanic Protestant churches in the U.S. evangelical—in the ethos sense.

Now, briefly, back to the post-World War 2 evangelical movement in the U.S. I was pretty well connected with it and knew some of its leaders (e.g., my uncle who was on the national board of the National Association of Evangelicals for years). I made a point of asking leaders of that now defunct evangelical movement why there were so few African-Americans in it. They said “We invite them, but they don’t choose to participate.” Over the years I came to suspect that answer was not entirely honest insofar as African-Americans were not invited to be central to the movement. But I do remember some leading black evangelicals who were important and influential. I will just name two here. Both are probably largely forgotten.

There was Rev. E. V. Hill, long-time pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Los Angeles. The other one was Tom Skinner, who Christianity Today labeled “the prophet out of Harlem,” who wrote several books about black evangelicalism and was a speaker-in-demand among evangelicals in the 1970s. There were others like Hill and Skinner, but those two come to mind.

Sadly, in my opinion, the leadership of the now defunct post-World War 2 evangelical movement in America did not work hard enough to de-center whiteness—within the movement. So, many African-American evangelicals started their own alternative to the National Association of Evangelicals called the Black National Evangelical Association which still exists.

I have for a very long time considered “evangelicalism” or “being evangelical” a spiritual-theological ethos and identity. So what are the positions that constitute its center?

Three will always be some disagreement about that, but even most evangelicals of color who I know would agree that the center of the evangelical spiritual-theological ethos, that distinguishes it from other Christians, consists of Jesus Christ as more than only savior but also lord and personal friend—someone with whom we can and should have a “personal relationship” that transforms us into his likeness, the Bible as God’s written, uniquely inspired and authoritative Word, salvation by grace alone through faith expressed initially and continuously as decision (conversion through repentance and trust in Jesus Christ), emphasis on the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the foundation of salvation in its entire spectrum, and dedication to change the world through evangelism and social transformation.

Personally, I would add to that center at least respect for the Great Tradition of Christian orthodoxy including especially the deity of Jesus Christ and the Trinity and belief in miracles, especially the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I know there are others who would “fill out” the center with more detail. I will just add that there are usually the following elements as part of the center of being evangelical: a strong desire to worship and serve Jesus Christ along with the Father and the Holy Spirit, to pray and read Scripture not only for study but also for devotional enrichment and discipleship, a deep and profound concern for holy living. What constitutes “holy living” is a matter of discussion and some disagreement among equally evangelical Christians.

There, that is my description of “evangelicalism” for today. (Tomorrow it might be slightly different!) There is nothing “white” about this. Almost every African-American Christian I have ever known would agree whole heartedly with this description of what it means to be authentically Christian. So would almost every Hispanic Protestant Christian I have ever known. So do most Asian Protestant Christians I have known.

But here’s the catch and the necessary caveat: I am white and so cannot speak for non-white evangelicals—as one of them. I want to hear what those who call themselves evangelical in the non-political but spiritual-theological sense mean by “evangelical.” I speak from a position of whiteness that I think has been at least informed by my rich relationships with non-white evangelicals (and non-white non-evangelicals!).

There are “stirrings” about a meeting of non-white evangelicals later this year in Chicago that have caught my interest. I may say more about it here later.

Please bear with me as I conclude by saying that when I was involved with the Evangelical Studies Group of the American Academy of Religion we always had persons of color and women (and some women of color) on the executive committee. We and they strove to have non-white persons and women on the programs for our unit’s sessions. That’s an inadequate effort, but I think it at least points to some effort on the parts of evangelicals to be inclusive and not white-centered.

Announcement: Conference “Liberating Evangelicalism: Decentering Whiteness,” September 19-21, Chicago. See www.liberatingevangelicalism.org. What I wrote above is not a criticism of this group or conference. I plan to attend if possible. I assume by “Evangelicalism” the organizers mean the American evangelical movement and the contemporary tendency of the media and the public in general to identify “evangelical” with being white. I couldn’t agree more that this is a terrible mistake that needs to be corrected.

*Note to commenters: This blog is not a discussion board; please respond with a question or comment only to me. If you do not share my evangelical Christian perspective (very broadly defined), feel free to ask a question for clarification, but know that this is not a space for debating incommensurate perspectives/worldviews. In any case, know that there is no guarantee that your question or comment will be posted by the moderator or answered by the writer. If you hope for your question or comment to appear here and be answered or responded to, make sure it is civil, respectful, and “on topic.” Do not comment if you have not read the entire post and do not misrepresent what it says. Keep any comment (including questions) to minimal length; do not post essays, sermons or testimonies here. Do not post links to internet sites here. This is a space for expressions of the blogger’s (or guest writers’) opinions and constructive dialogue among evangelical Christians (very broadly defined).

Uncategorized

Previous Post

January 26, 2019

What Is a "Moral Universe?"

Next Post

February 2, 2019 Does Taking Migrant Children from Parents Constitute a Crime Against Humanity?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Against Liberal Theology 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 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who healed a blind man by making mud and placing it on his eyes?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Moses Jesus Elijah Peter