Over the past few decades, the term “evangelical” has become primarily a political label in America. It’s become a group of people who are defined by what they are against: abortion, LGBTQ rights, immigration, environmentalism, and in the past few years, masks and vaccines.
While some of those positions have biblical support, social issues are not what “evangelicals” have historically been defined by. The term comes from the biblical word euangelion; which means “good news” or “gospel.” Evangelical is supposed to define what we’re for more than what we’re against.
That’s why our denomination has its name: The Evangelical Free Church. We’re for the gospel! And historically, evangelicals have been for four big things:
We love the Bible.
We cling to God’s word because it reveals God’s heart and God’s will. As our statement of faith says, “The Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged.” Even when the Bible teaches unpopular things on issues like sexuality or the roles of men and women in the home and the church.
We depend on the cross.
We know the death and resurrection of Jesus is the only way for us to receive God’s righteousness, escape our shame, and gain God’s power. As our statement says, “We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins.” We are nothing and we have nothing if we don’t have Jesus!
We strive to reflect Christ.
Jesus isn’t just a savior to rely on, he’s also a perfect king to emulate. As our statement says, “God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed.” Faith without works is dead!
We want others to be saved.
We can’t imagine life without the joy and peace of Jesus, so we want our aunties, uncles, neighbors, cousins, and coworkers to have what we have. As our statement says, “In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.” We want the people we know to have eternal life, and we want Jesus to have more worshipers giving him more glory.
There are millions of people around the world who are for the same things. I’m writing this from Southeast Asia, where I’m encouraged by bold leaders who are faithfully displaying and proclaiming the truth of God’s word and the love of Jesus in the face of intense persecution.
Evangelicals are passionately for Jesus, because Jesus has sacrificially and permanently made himself for us.