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Evangelical

Fundamentalist Evangelical?

June 15, 2010

Continued from Page 2

Some of them have concluded that there is no reason to vote in political elections because that's just the "Social Gospel" that leads to death, and only the "spiritual gospel of Christ" leads to life. In many cases, preaching the gospel is not just primary for Fundamentalists, it is singular (i.e., it is the only thing Christians are to do).

While in college, I was sharply rebuked by a Fundamentalist brother because I was on my way to vote in a U.S. Presidential Election. He told me that while I was casting my vote, he'd be praying, and God would then determine which of us had the greater impact upon our society. This got me to thinking, so I prayed for our country on my way to the polls. Why can't we Christians do both?

Evangelical

Believe it or not, the term "Evangelical" can be as slippery as the term "Fundamentalism." It all depends on who you are talking to and what part of the U.S. (or indeed world) you are in. One man from a southern state chided me over the phone for CES being "liberal." When I asked him how he came to the idea that CES was a liberal school, he said it was because we have the term "Evangelical" as part of our name. Interestingly, someone else commented in an email to me that "obviously CES is caught up in the legalistic fanaticism of evangelicalism." One term, two extreme ideas.

I like what I believe is the most common understanding of the term: Evangelicalism is a movement in modern thought that emphasizes the gospel of Christ and the personal relationship all must have to be saved through Christ's redemption and the Holy Spirit's regeneration.

But, one can conceivably be an "Evangelical" (one who believes in forgiveness through Christ) without holding closely to the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. In fact, I have met people of more mainline churches who see Christ as Savior and desire to point people to Him, but who, for whatever reason, see the fundamentals as non-essential. For me, the idea that Christ is Savior is undermined and subverted by a rejection of the fundamentals of the faith.

Nonetheless, some who claim the title "Evangelical" do not hold to the fundamentals of the faith.

Social Interaction by Evangelicals

One other aspect of Evangelicalism is social interaction. While both the Fundamentalist and the Evangelical are socially engaged, typically the Fundamentalist is engaged in negative and zealous ways (see Fundamentalism Sociologically above). But, historically, the Evangelical has been known to attempt to interact socially in a more upbeat and positive way: perhaps by providing clothing and food for the poor; providing women's shelters; providing alternatives to abortion clinics, and more. Evangelicals are also known to be more involved politically by actually being voters, grassroots activist, and politicians. So, Evangelicals have been known to be more (positively) socially minded and engaged.

In brief, then, an Evangelical is one who (1) believes in "personal forgiveness for sins and regeneration" and is (2) positively "socially minded and active" (on some level).

Conservative Evangelicalism

So, now enters a newer term: Conservative Evangelicalism. The term "Conservative" addresses the theological concerns. The term "Conservative" refers to a conservative view and belief in the Bible and thus in the six fundamentals of the Christian faith (i.e., orthodox doctrines). So, theologically, Conservative Evangelicalism is "Fundamentalistic" in theology.

However, those claiming the title "Conservative Evangelical" also see the positive aspect of the term Evangelicalism, i.e., an emphasis upon the gospel of Christ and the personal relationship all must have with Christ to be saved through his forgiveness and the Holy Spirit's regeneration.

Next, the "Conservative Evangelical" is engaged socially in some positive "salt of the earth" sort of way (by both preaching to the lost and by being a helper to others socially).

In brief, the "Conservative Evangelical" has taken the best aspects of both worlds, that of the Fundamentalists and that of the Evangelicals.

So, am I a "Fundamentalist"? Yes, theologically. Am I an Evangelical? Yes, with regard to the relationship of sinner and the gospel, and in relationship to the Christian's responsibility to society at large. Thus, I am a Conservative Evangelical.

One might say that a person who holds to the fundamentals of the Christian faith and who sees the need for personal regeneration and who is involved with his society in a positive way is a Conservative Evangelical.

Conservative Evangelical Pentecostals

Yes, there are such persons as Conservative Evangelical Pentecostals. I often hear people talk about "Evangelicals" and "Pentecostals" as if Pentecostals are not Evangelicals.

Article Continued On Next Page

Page: 3 of 4

6/15/2010 4:00:00 AM

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