Changes

An '''Evangelical Christian''' is a Protestant who is [[Gospel]]-centered. During the [[Reformation]] of the 16th century, "Evangelical" was a favorite term, especially as used by [[Lutherans]]. Evangelical Christians are often zealous when it comes to evangelism and evangelical Christianity has seen rapid growth in the world (see: [[Growth of evangelical Christianity]]).  

An '''Evangelical Christian''' is a Protestant who is [[Gospel]]-centered. During the [[Reformation]] of the 16th century, "Evangelical" was a favorite term, especially as used by [[Lutherans]]. Evangelical Christians are often zealous when it comes to evangelism and evangelical Christianity has seen rapid growth in the world (see: [[Growth of evangelical Christianity]]).  

==Colonial America==

==Colonial America==

The [[First Great Awakening]] was a spontaneous outburst of religious enthusiasm in the American colonies, with a decisive long-term impact on setting the stage for Evangelicalism in Congregational, Baptist, Methodist and presbyterian denominations, among others.  It did not add new members so much as to change the religious consciousness of church members to a greater awareness of sin and redemption, and a downplaying of ritual, liturgy and theology.  The Great Awakening heavily emphasized the individual’s experience of salvation and the Holy Spirit’s work in revivals. By giving many evangelicals radical notions of the spiritual equality of all people, the revivals helped form the democratic style came to characterize the American people.<ref>Thomas S. Kidd, ''The Great Awakening: The Roots of Evangelical Christianity in Colonial America'' (2007)</ref>

The [[First Great Awakening]] was a spontaneous outburst of religious enthusiasm in the American colonies, with a decisive long-term impact on setting the stage for Evangelicalism in Congregational, Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian denominations, among others.  It did not add new members so much as to change the religious consciousness of church members to a greater awareness of sin and redemption, and a downplaying of ritual, liturgy and theology.  The Great Awakening heavily emphasized the individual’s experience of salvation and the Holy Spirit’s work in revivals. By giving many evangelicals radical notions of the spiritual equality of all people, the revivals helped form the democratic style came to characterize the American people.<ref>Thomas S. Kidd, ''The Great Awakening: The Roots of Evangelical Christianity in Colonial America'' (2007)</ref>

==19th century==

==19th century==

==20th century==

==20th century==

By the end of the 20th century there were nearly 100 million Americans who identified themselves as "Evangelical Christians," according to a [[Gallup Poll]] in 1995.

By the end of the 20th century, there were nearly 100 million Americans who identified themselves as "Evangelical Christians," according to a [[Gallup Poll]] in 1995.

== Growth of evangelical Protestantism ==

== Growth of evangelical Protestantism ==

===In the United States===

===In the United States===

While nominal Chrisitans and mainline denominations, which tend to be [[Liberal Theology|theologically liberal]] and compromised, have been in strong decline, evangelical Christianity has actually increased and become three times larger than mainline denominations based on church attendance.<ref>Stetzer, Ed (May 16, 2015). [http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/16/living/christianity-american-dead/?utm_source=Cultural+Commentary&utm_campaign=36e55c71c7-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2016_11_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_51f776a552-36e55c71c7-273780261&mc_cid=36e55c71c7&mc_eid=067f1df51b No, American Christianity is not dead]. ''CNN''. Retrieved Janaury 17, 2017.</ref>

While nominal Christians and mainline denominations, which tend to be [[Liberal Theology|theologically liberal]] and compromised, have been in strong decline, evangelical Christianity has actually increased and become three times larger than mainline denominations based on church attendance.<ref>Stetzer, Ed (May 16, 2015). [http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/16/living/christianity-american-dead/?utm_source=Cultural+Commentary&utm_campaign=36e55c71c7-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2016_11_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_51f776a552-36e55c71c7-273780261&mc_cid=36e55c71c7&mc_eid=067f1df51b No, American Christianity is not dead]. ''CNN''. Retrieved January 17, 2017.</ref>

==Self Image==

==Self Image==

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Balmer, Randall. ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism'' (2nd ed.  2004), 655pp [http://www.questia.com/library/book/encyclopedia-of-evangelicalism-by-randall-balmer.jsp ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism''  online edition], by a leading historian

* Balmer, Randall. ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism'' (2nd ed.  2004), 655pp [http://www.questia.com/library/book/encyclopedia-of-evangelicalism-by-randall-balmer.jsp ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism''  online edition], by a leading historian

* Balmer, Randall. ''Blessed Assurance Cl: A History Of Evangelicalism In America'' (2000), 144pp [http://www.amazon.com/BLESSED-ASSURANCE-HISTORY-EVANGELICALISM-AMERICA/dp/0807077119/ref=sr_1_28?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242466742&sr=1-28 excerpt and text search], topical essays but not a systematic history  

* Balmer, Randall. ''Blessed Assurance Cl: A History Of Evangelicalism In America'' (2000), 144pp [http://www.amazon.com/BLESSED-ASSURANCE-HISTORY-EVANGELICALISM-AMERICA/dp/0807077119/ref=sr_1_28?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242466742&sr=1-28 excerpt and text search], topical essays but not a systematic history  

* Carpenter, Joel A. ''Revive Us Again: The Reawakening of American Fundamentalism'' (1999), major scholarly history of post 1925 era [http://www.amazon.com/Revive-Us-Again-Reawakening-Fundamentalism/dp/0195129075/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242033102&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

* Carpenter, Joel A. ''Revive Us Again: The Reawakening of American Fundamentalism'' (1999), major scholarly history of post-1925 era [http://www.amazon.com/Revive-Us-Again-Reawakening-Fundamentalism/dp/0195129075/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242033102&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

*  Hankins, Barry. ''American evangelicals: a contemporary history of a mainstream religious movement‎'' (2008) 205 pages [http://books.google.com/books?id=TZ-bwSDb5KcC&pg=PA47&dq=%22Revive+Us+Again:+The+Reawakening+of+American+%22&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES excerpt and text search]

*  Hankins, Barry. ''American evangelicals: a contemporary history of a mainstream religious movement‎'' (2008) 205 pages [http://books.google.com/books?id=TZ-bwSDb5KcC&pg=PA47&dq=%22Revive+Us+Again:+The+Reawakening+of+American+%22&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES excerpt and text search]

* Kidd, Thomas S. ''The Great Awakening: The Roots of Evangelical Christianity in Colonial America'' (2007) [http://www.amazon.com/Great-Awakening-Evangelical-Christianity-Colonial/dp/0300118872/ref=ed_oe_h exxcerpt and text search]

* Kidd, Thomas S. ''The Great Awakening: The Roots of Evangelical Christianity in Colonial America'' (2007) [http://www.amazon.com/Great-Awakening-Evangelical-Christianity-Colonial/dp/0300118872/ref=ed_oe_h excerpt and text search]

* Krapohl, Robert H., and Charles H. Lippy. ''The Evangelicals: A Historical, Thematic, and Biographical Guide'' (1999). 338 pgs. [https://www.questia-online-library.com/read/111701129?title=Abbreviations online edition]

* Krapohl, Robert H., and Charles H. Lippy. ''The Evangelicals: A Historical, Thematic, and Biographical Guide'' (1999). 338 pgs. [https://www.questia-online-library.com/read/111701129?title=Abbreviations online edition]

* Larsen, Timothy and Daniel J. Treier, eds. ''The Cambridge companion to evangelical theology‎'' (2007) 303 pages; [http://books.google.com/books?id=vlmXBe0RPxYC&pg=PA158&dq=%22Revive+Us+Again:+The+Reawakening+of+American+%22&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES excerpt and text search]

* Larsen, Timothy and Daniel J. Treier, eds. ''The Cambridge companion to evangelical theology‎'' (2007) 303 pages; [http://books.google.com/books?id=vlmXBe0RPxYC&pg=PA158&dq=%22Revive+Us+Again:+The+Reawakening+of+American+%22&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES excerpt and text search]

* Marsden, George M. ''Fundamentalism and American Culture: The Shaping of Twenteth Century Evangelicalism, 1870-1925'' (2nd ed. 2006). standard scholarly history by leading Evangelical scholar [http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentalism-American-Culture-George-Marsden/dp/0195300475/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242033450&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Marsden, George M. ''Fundamentalism and American Culture: The Shaping of Twentieth Century Evangelicalism, 1870-1925'' (2nd ed. 2006). standard scholarly history by leading Evangelical scholar [http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentalism-American-Culture-George-Marsden/dp/0195300475/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242033450&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Marsden, George M.  ''Understanding Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism''

* Marsden, George M.  ''Understanding Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism''

* Noll, Mark. ''A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada'' (1992) by leading Evangelical scholar [http://www.amazon.com/History-Christianity-United-States-Canada/dp/0802806511/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242457929&sr=1-4 excerpt and text search]

* Noll, Mark. ''A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada'' (1992) by leading Evangelical scholar [http://www.amazon.com/History-Christianity-United-States-Canada/dp/0802806511/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242457929&sr=1-4 excerpt and text search]

===Historiography===

===Historiography===

* Burch, Maxine. ''The Evangelical Historians: The Historiography of George Marsden, Nathan Hatch, and Mark Noll.'' (1996). 130 pp.

* Burch, Maxine. ''The Evangelical Historians: The Historiography of George Marsden, Nathan Hatch, and Mark Noll.'' (1996). 130 pp.

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Christian Denominations]]

[[Category:Christian Denominations]]