What is an evangelical Christian?
The word "evangelical" is not a denomination badge in Scripture; it comes from the word for the gospel itself, and commentators use it both as praise and as a warning about stopping short. Two questions run through their writing: what does the name actually claim, and does the person wearing it know Christ or only know facts about what He did?
The word means good news
The root of "evangelical" is the Greek word for gospel, and one writer describes how the ancient world used it:
Michael HardtThe Greek word means 'good news'. In Ancient Greece, when a battle was won, a messenger was sent to the city and, coming nearer, he would exclaim this one word 'evangelion': good news — the battle is won! Man did not seek God! But the good news is that God seeks man.
So "evangelical" is not first a label for a party. Another writer warns against letting it shrink into a system:
J. N. DarbyWe commonly say, "to preach the gospel" — "this or that is not the gospel"; and by "gospel" is understood a certain system of doctrine. The word, however, means simply "glad tidings," "good news" brought by someone.
Where the name "Christian" came from
The other half of the phrase has its own history. It began as an outsider's label and ended up as God's own word for believers:
F. B. HoleHere we have the Spirit of God accepting and sanctioning the name Christian as applied to believers. It was first used as a descriptive nickname at Antioch (Acts 11:26). It had come into general use later (see Acts 26:28) and now is formally accepted by the Spirit of God. We may accept it therefore, and as Christians we glorify God even as Christ Himself did.
What the evangelical body holds
One writer sorts people who answer "yes" to "are you a Christian?" into three groups — those who mean their religion is Christianity, those who mean they keep religious duties, and a third group:
The Christian's FriendTo the first of these classes, it is a mere matter of profession; to the second, a point of observances or religiousness after the flesh; to the third, a question of forgiveness of sins, through faith and sound doctrine… With the third, a Christian is one who, having exercised faith, will, by final perseverance, be saved at last.
That third group is named plainly as "the great evangelical body," who reject both empty profession and a religion of ceremonies, and insist above all on justification by faith.
A real foundation that can still be too narrow
Commentators value that foundation highly and still call it incomplete:
William KellyEvangelicalism (whether in national or dissenting bodies) takes its stand on the truth of Christ dying for our sins. This is most true, and a capital truth; without which there is no bringing of the soul to God, no divine judgment of our iniquities, no possible sense of pardon. But it is very far from being the truth even of the Saviour's death… Hence evangelicalism, as such, having no real apprehension of our death in Christ… is apt to take the comfort of forgiveness by the blood of Christ so as to mix with the world.
The practical symptom is a conversation that never gets past results and activity:
The Bible TreasuryThere are multitudes of persons, to whom we should not deny the Christian name, who reach only to this state… With this class of persons, you will find it difficult to maintain a spiritual conversation. They can talk with real earnestness of the results of Christianity, such as schools and reformatories and sermons; but how can they talk of Christ Himself, since they only know of what He has done, rather than of what He is in Himself?
The fuller definition
Against that, one writer defines a Christian by two facts — the ruin of the first man, Adam, and the exaltation of Christ:
The Christian's FriendA Christian is the marvellous outcome, by divine grace, of those two momentous facts; one who, deriving everything naturally from the first man, has morally broken with him, and finished with his world for ever, being now united to the second Man, and last Adam, and is thus positionally before God "a man in Christ."
Evangelical in life, not only in speech
The word also describes a way of living, not just a message preached:
J. T. MawsonThere is such a thing as living evangelical lives as well as delivering evangelical addresses, lives in which the power of the gospel is seen, because subject to Christ, and through which the music of the gospel is heard, because walking in the Spirit.
Summary
- Word. "Evangelical" comes from the word for good news — a herald's shout that the battle is won, not a party name or a system of doctrine.
- Name. "Christian" started as a nickname at Antioch and was later taken up by the Spirit of God as the believer's honour.
- Foundation. The evangelical stand — forgiveness through faith in Christ who died for our sins — is called a capital truth, without which no soul is brought to God.
- Fullness. Commentators warn that stopping there leaves people who can discuss what Christ has done but not who He is; the fuller word is that a Christian is united to the risen Man and stands before God "in Christ."
- Life. The test is whether the gospel is only spoken or also lived — a life where its power is seen because it is subject to Christ.