"So What Do You Mean By 'Evangelical'?"

I am ordained in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, so when people use the term “evangelical” I listen up and get a bit particular.  Depending on the circles you run in, the word “evangelical” can have a variety of associations and meanings.  Let’s dig into that a bit.

National Association of Evangelicals

Who should know better what “evangelical” means than the National Association of Evangelicals?  CLICK HERE for their website.  This organization, founded in 1942, now represents 45,000 local churches in the United States from nearly 40 different denomination, including the Christian Reformed Church of North America to which Harderwyk belongs, and the EPC where I am ordained.

From the NAE website:

Historian David Bebbington also provides a helpful summary of evangelical distinctives, identifying four primary characteristics of evangelicalism:

• Conversionism: the belief that lives need to be transformed through a “born-again” experience and a life long process of following Jesus
• Activism: the expression and demonstration of the gospel in missionary and social reform efforts
• Biblicism: a high regard for and obedience to the Bible as the ultimate authority
• Crucicentrism: a stress on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as making possible the redemption of humanity

For more information:

CLICK HERE for a 2 minute NAE video

CLICK HERE for the NAE webpage “What Is An Evangelical?”

Historically, these convictions can be seen as a distinct segment within in many denominations and traditions through centuries: Charles Spurgeon – a 19th century English Baptist, John Newton, William Wilberforce and the Wesley brothers in the 18th century.

Our Current Confusion

I call them “Political Evangelicals.”  As it turns out, there are people who identify their religious conviction as “evangelical” when they are surveyed in an exit poll during an election.  Unfortunately, it is well-known though rarely talked about that upwards of 40-60% - actual research is fairly rare and varies in findings – of people who choose “evangelical” in an exit poll have not been to a church gathering of any sort in over one year – and this is pre-COVID!  If pressed to respond to Bebbington’s “Four Points,” these people will not hold to one OR MORE of those core convictions.  

Suffice it to say that conclusions about “evangelicals” based on exit polls are worth doubting if you want to know what people who regularly worship in churches with those four convictions are thinking.

There is A LOT of background on this question of "political evangelicals" and the confusion with exit polls.  As always, I'm happy to talk more with anyone about this.  Simple contact me through Harderwyk Ministries and we can make arrangements.  As a start, here are three resources:

• "What Is An Evangelical?" - Christianity Today, Nov 2015 - CLICK HERE
• "Defining Evangelical" - The Atlantic, Nov 2015 - CLICK HERE
• "Where is Trump's Evangelical Base?  Not in Church" - The Washington Post, March 2016 - CLICK HERE

Look at the dates and sources and you will see why said this question has been around for a while.  It continues.