Evangelical Christians

Christianity

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An Evangelical Christian is a Protestant who spreads the Gospel. In recent decades it designates a conservative Protestant, usually with a belief in the inerrancy of scriptures. "Evangelical" includes Fundamentalists.

Reformation

In the Reformation of the 16th century, "Evangelical" was a favorite term especially used by Lutherans.

19th century

In the 19th century United States "evangelical" or "pietistic" denominations included Methodists, Congregationalists, most Presbyterians, Christians (Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ) and Scandinavian Lutherans. They were opposed theologically by the liturgical or "high" churches, including Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, and German Lutherans.

The 19th century evangelicals were strong supporters of moral reforms in society, using government action to promote women's rights, the abolition of slavery, and the prohibition of liquor.

Politically, the evangelicals in the North were the core of the Republican party in the Third Party System, as well as the small Prohibition party.

"Evangelical" suggests an ardent or zealous enthusiasm for a cause such as Christianity.

Evangelical missionaries have, in addition to spreading the word of God, have helped bring much needed medical and educational services to poor parts of the world, as part of their missionary activities.

Self Image

The self image of evangelical Christians include:

• generally better knowledge of the Bible compared to non-evangelicals
• view all events recorded in the Bible as historically accurate and treat it as the infallible Word of God
• emphasis on salvation by faith alone
• baptism as a recognition rather than a requirement for salvation
• communion as a symbolic sacrament instead of the literal flesh and blood of Christ
• active participation in a local church
• high levels of charity
• high mobility
• support of homeschooling, especially in Europe
• belief in the traditional family
• support of some or all forms of free enterprise
• support for democracy and the mission of bringing democracy to others^{[Citation Needed]}
• emphasize humility, as in Isaac Newton's attitude towards science

Evangelical Christians tend to vote Republican and be politically conservative.

See also

• Anti-Saloon League
• William Jennings Bryan
• Fourth Great Awakening
• Fundamentalism
• Billy Graham
• John Gresham Machen
• William Bell Riley

External links

• What is an Evangelical?
• Robert E. Brown, "Varieties of American Evangelicalism Course Syllabus" (Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture 2004), highly detailed bibliography and outline

Further reading

• Carpenter, Joel A. Revive Us Again: The Reawakening of American Fundamentalism (1999), major scholarly history of post 1925 era excerpt and text search
• Hankins, Barry. American evangelicals: a contemporary history of a mainstream religious movement‎ (2008) 205 pages excerpt and text search
• Larsen, Timothy and Daniel J. Treier, eds. The Cambridge companion to evangelical theology‎ (2007) 303 pages; 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 scholarexcerpt and text search
• Marsden, George M. Understanding Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism