Today, in our common discourse, “Evangelical” is usually used to refer to a conservative political voting block. In that sense the group is made up of many people of various Christian denominations. In Christian conversation, an Evangelical usually refers to a group of loosely associated congregations that claim belief in the Bible, Jesus as Savior, and are usually non-sacramental. This group contains many independent mega-churches and often can include those who push “prosperity theology”. Since it is a negative term, I doubt that many “prosperity theology” churches embrace the term, but it is what it is.
Historically in Germany and German speaking lands Evangelical (evangelisch) was a term that referred to Lutherans.
What does it or should it mean to be “evangelical”? The word comes from biblical Greek. Even in English you can see the word “angel”. An angel was a messenger. The “ev” part comes from the Greek prefix “eu” which means “good”. In English we use this in such words as “eu-thanasia” (good death), “eu-logy” (good words), and a few more. The “good message” is the message of God’s plan to save people from the eternal consequences of their sins through Jesus. The term “Gospel” actually comes from Old English and is a translation of this Greek word.
So at its core, an evangelical is to be a person who sees the importance to share the message of Jesus Christ with others. It is to acknowledge that Jesus isn’t an option and that the one working plan that leads to an eternal life with God is through Jesus. Many people, who might fall under the umbrella of “evangelical” by the definitions given above, don’t embrace that Jesus is necessary in direct contradiction of Jesus.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6 (ESV)
This is an unequivocal statement. You can’t spin it. It makes sense, too. Why would God bother to have the Son of God become human, suffer life, suffer death, be forsaken, temporarily dissolve the Trinity, if there were other paths to God? If being good or religious in some way were enough, then just forget all the Jesus stuff.
The same can be said to those who claim that God will never condemn anyone because “God is love”. His love is expressed in Jesus because His law would condemn every one of us.
If needing to abandon your worldview, possibly modifying your culture, probably alienating yourself from some people is not good news; then the “good-message” definitely isn’t very good. If having a way to escape eternal suffering and hopelessness and getting instead a glorious existence, knowing God face-to-face, and being a part of a huge group of people who love each other is good news, then the Gospel is for you. These things go together. It is the situation that we have.
Being really evangelical is not always popular but it is love. People naturally resist God’s message, whatever it is; but sharing God’s message gives the Holy Spirit a chance to break through and for a connection to be made. It is a part of making eternal life possible.
Giving Christ 