CELEBRATING EVANGELCALISM

Some in our culture nowadays would think this blog will be about politics since the word evangelical has been hijacked to mean a far right-wing Republican using the Bible as a weapon. How sad is that definition and so closed-minded? But no I am going to look at this from its original meaning. Just know that not all evangelicals are political nuts nor are we showy TV preachers faking holiness to get easy money.

I took a test some years ago that was quite lengthy and at the end, it evaluated that I was evangelical in my beliefs. An evangelical believes in four major foundations to qualify them into this category. I will not go into deep detail but give a cliff note summary so let us begin.

The first belief is that a person must be born-again meaning repent of one's sins and acknowledge that Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead three days later. This is also called being converted and one changes the way one lives. You live for Jesus and not for the world or one's self. Acts 3:19

Secondly, the belief in the Holy Bible as the high authority and is indeed the word of God by the inspiration of men by the Holy Spirit. So there is a deep reverence for the Holy Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Now thirdly we have substitutionary atonement which is the belief that Christ died on the cross as a blood sacrifice to pay for our sins instead of us having to pay the price which we could not do ourselves. Romans 3:23-26

Discipling is the fourth basic tenant of an evangelical which is sharing the gospel message of salvation through and only through Jesus Christ. We believe there is only one way to Heaven, not many roads to Heaven, and not a god with multiple names but only one name. Mark 16:15-16

Evangelicals are considered Protestant and instead of the Eucharist being the focal point of worship it is the preaching of the Holy Bible. Each week when the Holy Communion is taken it is taken as a remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and is not transubstantiated meaning turned into the actual blood and body of Jesus. Also, the worship music is lively and very much a form of praising God and to celebrate Jesus saving us from our sins, death, and Hell. John 4:24

So what is another name for an evangelical? Simply, Christian, and that is why I am an Evangelical Christan and one without all the crazy political baggage or TV preachers' showy fake holiness. I am in good company for the great evangelist Billy Graham was an evangelical Christian and hence so am I.

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