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How would you define the often used term "Evangelical Christian?"

InTheLight

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
1. Someone who had had a born again experience.

2. Someone who feels compelled to tell others about their faith.

3. Someone who believes the Bible to be inerrant and the final authority on doctrinal matters.

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evenifigoalone

Well-Known Member
The common usage can cover a large area of doctrine I think. I'd say common usage definition would typically be those who are theologically conservative (and politically conservative, in many cases) and believe in evangelism.

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Baptist Believer

Well-Known Member
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How would you define the often used term "Evangelical Christian?"
Historically, it was a self-given name to the more conservative portions of mainstream Protestant denominations (think Presbyterians, Methodists, Christian Church, etc.) descendent from the Reformation that affirmed the fundamentals of the faith, yet did not want to be characterized by the excesses and bad reputations of much of the fundamentalist movement of the early 20th century. Therefore, Baptists were not evangelicals since they were products of the Radical Reformation.

Later, Baptists individually declared themselves evangelicals, not knowing and/or not caring about the historical background, to tie themselves to a broader conservative movement for spiritual and/or political reasons.

Pollsters don't care about the history of the term and group non-black, non-Catholic, non-liturgical church-attenders into "evangelical" and see it primarily in political voting-block terms.
 

Earth Wind and Fire

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Historically, it was a self-given name to the more conservative portions of mainstream Protestant denominations (think Presbyterians, Methodists, Christian Church, etc.) descendent from the Reformation that affirmed the fundamentals of the faith, yet did not want to be characterized by the excesses and bad reputations of much of the fundamentalist movement of the early 20th century. Therefore, Baptists were not evangelicals since they were products of the Radical Reformation.

Later, Baptists individually declared themselves evangelicals, not knowing and/or not caring about the historical background, to tie themselves to a broader conservative movement for spiritual and/or political reasons.

Pollsters don't care about the history of the term and group non-black, non-Catholic, non-liturgical church-attenders into "evangelical" and see it primarily in political voting-block terms.
Hmmm, personally I believe that people like Wesley and George Whitefield to be true Evangelicals.
 

Earth Wind and Fire

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
The common usage can cover a large area of doctrine I think. I'd say common usage definition would typically be those who are theologically conservative (and politically conservative, in many cases) and believe in evangelism.

Sent from my SM-J737T1 using Tapatalk
The common usage can cover a large area of doctrine I think. I'd say common usage definition would typically be those who are theologically conservative (and politically conservative, in many cases) and believe in evangelism.

Sent from my SM-J737T1 using Tapatalk
There is a wide cavern from your idea of politically conservative and mine.
 

Van

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
One article I found on the internet said an Evangelical Christian was "anyone who likes Billy Graham" and later "a white Christian Republican." :)

The underlying truth is that labels mean what the user means, and therefore can mean very different things.
 

Earth Wind and Fire

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
1. Someone who had had a born again experience.

2. Someone who feels compelled to tell others about their faith.

3. Someone who believes the Bible to be inerrant and the final authority on doctrinal matters.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
I would call that a born again Christian
 

Earth Wind and Fire

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
One article I found on the internet said an Evangelical Christian was "anyone who likes Billy Graham" and later "a white Christian Republican." :)

The underlying truth is that labels mean what the user means, and therefore can mean very different things.

Ahhh, a “White Christian Republican”
 

Yeshua1

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
How would you define the often used term "Evangelical Christian?"
One who holds to the Cardinal truths of Christianity, and also willing to engage and confront culture and society and engage them on their own turfs, such as other religions, evolution, social lifestyles etc!
 
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