Ask them what they believe!
As you know, well how can you miss it, primary voting was this last week. Have you ever noticed that politicians will use Christianity as an easy way to get votes? It’s because 83 percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians – yep, even those folks that have never stepped into a church, when asked, they will identify themselves as a Christian (it’s kinda like an American birthright). As for the rest of the population, 13 percent, have no religion. That leaves just 4 percent that are — Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and others.[1]
So of the 83 percent who identify themselves as Christians, do you know what flavor of Christianity has the most voters? Christian’s that, actually, are active in voting. Evangelicals… And Evangelicals make up 34 percent of Christianity all across the country. So 34 percent of Americans… describe themselves as “born again or evangelical” Christians and that! Is a whole lot of voters – somewhere over 100 million. No wonder politicians – will pointedly state: “I’m an Evangelical Christian…”
So what is an evangelical? Well... IYM identifies itself as evangelical and so does Westland. But, IYM plus Westland do not make up 34 percent all Christians in this country. So evangelicals also include different faiths; such as, Methodist, Baptist and I could go on, let’s just say that "Evangelicals" come from a Protestant background. But not everyone in those faiths are evangelical. So how do ya know?
Well, if you want to know if someone is an evangelical: Ask them what they believe!
That’s the conclusion of a two-year collaboration between the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) and the Nashville-based LifeWay research states. Their report was released last November and it was based on surveys taken just last year. Here’s the kicker, it defines an evangelical by theology rather than by self-identity or denominational affiliation.[2]
Their report identifies four key statements that define evangelical beliefs.
Those statements are:
To me that sounds like a Christian… And I guess, it classifies me as an evangelical. Who would have thought?
[1] http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=90356, Poll: Most Americans Say They're Christian.
[2] What Is an Evangelical? Four Questions Offer New Definition, Christianity Today magazine, Nov, 2015
As you know, well how can you miss it, primary voting was this last week. Have you ever noticed that politicians will use Christianity as an easy way to get votes? It’s because 83 percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians – yep, even those folks that have never stepped into a church, when asked, they will identify themselves as a Christian (it’s kinda like an American birthright). As for the rest of the population, 13 percent, have no religion. That leaves just 4 percent that are — Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and others.[1]
So of the 83 percent who identify themselves as Christians, do you know what flavor of Christianity has the most voters? Christian’s that, actually, are active in voting. Evangelicals… And Evangelicals make up 34 percent of Christianity all across the country. So 34 percent of Americans… describe themselves as “born again or evangelical” Christians and that! Is a whole lot of voters – somewhere over 100 million. No wonder politicians – will pointedly state: “I’m an Evangelical Christian…”
So what is an evangelical? Well... IYM identifies itself as evangelical and so does Westland. But, IYM plus Westland do not make up 34 percent all Christians in this country. So evangelicals also include different faiths; such as, Methodist, Baptist and I could go on, let’s just say that "Evangelicals" come from a Protestant background. But not everyone in those faiths are evangelical. So how do ya know?
Well, if you want to know if someone is an evangelical: Ask them what they believe!
That’s the conclusion of a two-year collaboration between the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) and the Nashville-based LifeWay research states. Their report was released last November and it was based on surveys taken just last year. Here’s the kicker, it defines an evangelical by theology rather than by self-identity or denominational affiliation.[2]
Their report identifies four key statements that define evangelical beliefs.
Those statements are:
- The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe.
- It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.
- Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.
- Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God's free gift of eternal salvation.
To me that sounds like a Christian… And I guess, it classifies me as an evangelical. Who would have thought?
[1] http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=90356, Poll: Most Americans Say They're Christian.
[2] What Is an Evangelical? Four Questions Offer New Definition, Christianity Today magazine, Nov, 2015
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