January 7, 200818 yr Author What is it about Iowa Republicans where 60% of them claim to be Evangelicals vs NH where only 20% claim that?
January 7, 200818 yr I always thought an evangelical was a born-again Christian who tries to spread the gospel. At least, that's always how it's been presented to me. For example, if you were a Christian who did not believe in telling other people about the gospel, you wouldn't be evangelical. Spreading the word is the whole purpose of an evangelists. However, I don't think that's what it applies to when the media uses it. I think AL's definition is probably closer to what the media implies...simply put, conservative Christians.
January 7, 200818 yr What is it about Iowa Republicans where 60% of them claim to be Evangelicals vs NH where only 20% claim that? Ummm, I'm no geographer but I'd say there are more Republicans who claim to be evangelical living in Iowa?
January 7, 200818 yr The dictionary's best definition for evangelical as it relates to the word used so commonly is "designating Christians, esp. of the late 1970s, eschewing the designation of fundamentalist but holding to a conservative interpretation of the Bible"
January 7, 200818 yr Hey, no one is more tired of the abortion debate than me. I just didn't know you could be a pro-choice evangelical. I assume you are in the minority. There are many pro-choice evangelicals. Jimmy Carter and Barbara Bush are two of many.
January 7, 200818 yr The dictionary's best definition for evangelical as it relates to the word used so commonly is "designating Christians, esp. of the late 1970s, eschewing the designation of fundamentalist but holding to a conservative interpretation of the Bible" Webster's - e*van*gel*i*cal adj - 1. in, of, or according to the Gospels or the teaching of the New Testament 2. of those Protestant churches, as the Methodist and Baptist, that emphasize salvation by faith in the atonement of Jesus, and reject the efficacy of the sacrament and good works alone 3. of the Low Church party in the Church of England. Since it is an adjective, I cannot be an "evangelical," but I can be described as "evangelical." For me (noun) the term would be an "evangelic." According to this dictionary definition, I am an evangelic, and others might describe me as evangelical.
January 7, 200818 yr The definition I used was from Dictionary.com. It lists evangelical as both an adjective and a noun, depending on the defintion.
January 7, 200818 yr I really don't care for that definition in Webster's. The one in the American Heritage Dictionary is very similar. "Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you..." Mk 28:18-20 Those verses appear in the second paragraph of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, along with a message about the "evangelical mission" of the Church. ALL Christians are called to be evangelical and spread Christ's message. It's another word which has its true meaning completely mangled.
January 7, 200818 yr I really don't care for that definition in Webster's. The one in the American Heritage Dictionary is very similar. "Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you..." Mk 28:18-20 Those verses appear in the second paragraph of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, along with a message about the "evangelical mission" of the Church. ALL Christians are called to be evangelical and spread Christ's message. It's another word which has its true meaning completely mangled. I'm going to do something I can't recall having done with you before, and that's disagree with you. The term "evangelical," according to what I can find, was coined in approximately 1551, which would roughly coincide with Luther's Theses. Therefore, I believe the term originated with the very dispute between the Catholic Church and Protestant Movement, and has everything to do with the view of the doctrine of salvation through faith alone versus the doctrine of salvation through works, with or without faith. When it comes to "spreading the message of Christ," we are all called to do that, but the Catechism spreads a message of Jesus' works and calls us to follow his example, while Protestants feel called to spread his message of salvation through faith alone. For that reason, I believe the Webster definition is a more classical definition that remains true to the Lutherian dissent. And, I have no wish to re-start the Holy Wars we had in here this past summer.
January 7, 200818 yr Doesn't really figure into the debate here but this is the best place for it. In the Fox debate last night, I found something interesting. On the little personal blurbs running on the bottom of the screen they had the following. Thompson is a Protestant. Romney is a Mormon. Huckabee is a ordained Baptist preacher. McCain is a Christian (I thought real odd wording there. Not sure why but just seemed odd.) And Rudy had ZERO mention of his faith on the personal blurbs. I just found it interesting that they listed specific denominations for the first 3 and then labeled McCain as a Christian like it was different than the others.
January 7, 200818 yr The term "evangelical," according to what I can find, was coined in approximately 1551, which would roughly coincide with Luther's Theses. Therefore, I believe the term originated with the very dispute between the Catholic Church and Protestant Movement, and has everything to do with the view of the doctrine of salvation through faith alone versus the doctrine of salvation through works, with or without faith. When it comes to "spreading the message of Christ," we are all called to do that, but the Catechism spreads a message of Jesus' works and calls us to follow his example, while Protestants feel called to spread his message of salvation through faith alone. For that reason, I believe the Webster definition is a more classical definition that remains true to the Lutherian dissent. The development of this word is fascinating. I did a little looking around on my own after your response and found some intersting stuff. "Evangelist" only appears in the New Testament a few times. It was used to refer to preachers of the Gospel, especially with regard to travelling missionaries such as Sts. Paul and Barnabas. However, none of the early Church fathers used it in their writings. The word continued to be used in the liturgy in reference to the person reading the Scripture during Mass but by the early Middle Ages, referred only to the "Four Evangelists" that wrote the canonical Gospels. That early usage of missionary or preacher is a fascinating one, and it's easy to understand why early Protestants would have been attracted to it, creating an adjective from it in order to describe what they felt they were doing.
January 8, 200818 yr Author I really don't care for that definition in Webster's. The one in the American Heritage Dictionary is very similar. "Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you..." Mk 28:18-20 Those verses appear in the second paragraph of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, along with a message about the "evangelical mission" of the Church. ALL Christians are called to be evangelical and spread Christ's message. It's another word which has its true meaning completely mangled. WHere would Catholics fall as a % of all Evangelicals? My guess is they would be in the smallest group.
January 8, 200818 yr The development of this word is fascinating. I did a little looking around on my own after your response and found some intersting stuff. "Evangelist" only appears in the New Testament a few times. It was used to refer to preachers of the Gospel, especially with regard to travelling missionaries such as Sts. Paul and Barnabas. However, none of the early Church fathers used it in their writings. The word continued to be used in the liturgy in reference to the person reading the Scripture during Mass but by the early Middle Ages, referred only to the "Four Evangelists" that wrote the canonical Gospels. That early usage of missionary or preacher is a fascinating one, and it's easy to understand why early Protestants would have been attracted to it, creating an adjective from it in order to describe what they felt they were doing. Is the word not ever used in any of Augustine's Confessions? That would be interesting, if found.
January 8, 200818 yr During one of my debates I was told "I was not a Christian, but a Baptists". I told the Preacher..."The bible doesn't mention the Baptists Church, but it does mention the Way to become a Christian, a pattern you have to follow, and I have done that. I belong to a Baptist church because of the fellowship it offers, so I'm a Christian and a member of the Baptists Church". I believe the article is also weird by putting Huckabee as a Baptist and McClain a Christian. There is a mention of Churches in Revelation seven of them from different cities.
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