Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/977325
ENGAGE 21 differences, adherence to the four core tenets of evangelicalism creates a strikingly similar vocabulary for describing one's faith experience. For example, evangelicals often talk about having "a personal relationship with Jesus Christ." Yet for those outside the movement, the word evangelical carries a different—and often negative—set of meanings. Many define the word politically, with little regard for its theological meaning or the religious experience of those who use the term to describe themselves. Others define the word in the framework of the "culture wars," associating it with particular social and moral issues like abortion and same-sex marriage. To some, evangelical implies a negative posture toward academia and science, while to others, it connotes apathy toward entrenched racism and indifference toward the plight of the poor. In each of these cases and more, evangelicalism is perceived negatively by those outside the movement. It would be easy to blame others for changing the meaning of evangelical from primarily theological to primarily political. But that would be naive. Sadly, many evangelicals have elevated partisan political and cultural positions to a level of importance that rivals, or even eclipses, our theological convictions. Whether we want to admit it or not, evangelicalism is now seen by the broader culture as more of a political brand than a gospel movement. We have created for ourselves an identity crisis whose consequences will linger for decades. As I wrote in the recently released book, Still Evangelical? Ten Insiders Consider Political, Social, and Theological Meaning, The evangelical identity crisis is a self- inflicted wound. We have chosen to make our political identity more important than our gospel identity. And we have chosen to pour our resources and our reputation into a mission of far less importance than the one for which we were created: making the gospel of Jesus Christ a compelling presence in our society. And that is to our shame. We cannot be indifferent to the way others define us as evangelicals, because that determines the way they hear the gospel. When our family lived in southern Poland as missionaries, we discovered the word Christian identified us as Roman Catholic. Evangelical, on the other hand, was used to refer to the Lutheran church. In that context, both labels created more misunderstanding than clarity about our identity and message. I wonder if evangelical doesn't do the same in the United States today. If so, we must either fight to redefine the term publically (not just among ourselves) to recast it in the light of our core beliefs, or we must abandon it. The clarity of our beliefs and gospel witness are too important to mask with an inaccurate label. Whether we want to admit it or not, evangelicalism is now seen by the broader culture as more of a political brand than a gospel movement. To the degree that evangelicalism continues to be understood as a conservative political brand more than a compelling gospel presence, those of us who care how the broader culture hears the gospel may not be able to continue using a label that misrepresents our identity and distorts our message. It is up to us, as evangelicals, to reclaim our true identity as the people of the gospel and to set aside any other identities or activities that detract from that mission. To hear more about the state of evangelicalism in America, visit denverseminary.edu/workshop. Mark Young, PhD PRESIDENT Dr. Mark Young has served as President of Denver Seminary since 2009. As a theological educator and pastoral leader with over 35 years of global ministry experience, his life passion is to align all that he is and all that he does with the eternal purpose of God—that all people in all places worship Him alone.