BenL
12-13-2008, 04:00 PM
Steven's thread on the Evangelical who resigned got me thinking about what the "e" word means to me and what it doesn't.
I consider myself an evangelical with a small "e." To me evangelical means rooted in the "good news" of the gospels, heavily informed by scriptures but not blinded by them. Another way of looking at is "kingdom"-based and imbued with God's redeeming love through Jesus Christ.
What being an evangelical in my sense of the word does NOT mean is being hardened and legalistic about how God loves us. God's heart is, I believe, far bigger than any of us can imagine. God may have a sternness about certain things, but the heart of God harbors a tender love for all of us as the unique creations we are. After all, didn't God create us all in the divine image?
"Fundamental" is another perfectly good English word that has been coopted by an agenda. That agenda is a fingerpointing exclusivity that says "You're not good enough." God, on the other hand, has open arms that call us all home -- not because we are sinful, which we may be, but because God is good.
Now, those of you who consider yourselves evangelical are probably shaking you head by now. I don't mean disprespect to your upbringing or belief systems. I need to free the word for myself from a rigid definition that tends to exclude so many people
.
I consider myself an evangelical with a small "e." To me evangelical means rooted in the "good news" of the gospels, heavily informed by scriptures but not blinded by them. Another way of looking at is "kingdom"-based and imbued with God's redeeming love through Jesus Christ.
What being an evangelical in my sense of the word does NOT mean is being hardened and legalistic about how God loves us. God's heart is, I believe, far bigger than any of us can imagine. God may have a sternness about certain things, but the heart of God harbors a tender love for all of us as the unique creations we are. After all, didn't God create us all in the divine image?
"Fundamental" is another perfectly good English word that has been coopted by an agenda. That agenda is a fingerpointing exclusivity that says "You're not good enough." God, on the other hand, has open arms that call us all home -- not because we are sinful, which we may be, but because God is good.
Now, those of you who consider yourselves evangelical are probably shaking you head by now. I don't mean disprespect to your upbringing or belief systems. I need to free the word for myself from a rigid definition that tends to exclude so many people
.