S5:E1 What is an Evangelical?

Donate to support the Truce Podcast!

Who is an evangelical?

Who is an evangelical? If you go by the news today, you probably think evangelicals are all American middle-class white men. Nope! Evangelical Christians come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. They can be men or women from anywhere in the world. They can speak any language. And they can have a lot of variety in their beliefs.

This season on the Truce Podcast we are examining the history of Christian fundamentalism. How did fundamentalism begin? What is Christian fundamentalism? Is Christian fundamentalism a good thing, a bad thing, or somewhere in between?

In this episode, we’re joined by author and professor George Marsden. He’s the author of Fundamentalism and American Culture, which is THE book everyone else refers to when they talk about fundamentalism. According to Marsden, fundamentalism is “militantly anti-modernism protestant evangelicalism”. That is a lot of big words! By the end of the season, you should understand all of that. One important part of that definition is the word “evangelicalism”. It is one of those words that has been used so much in so many different ways that it can be difficult to define it. There are whole movements to create new definitions these days. But in order to move forward this season, we need to pick some frame of reference. I chose David Beggington’s definition of what defines an evangelical:

Bebbington’s Quadrilateral

Biblicism (a focus on the Bible)
Conversionism (an emphasis on evangelism)
Crucicentrism (the centrality of the cross)
Activism

Those four things, according to Bebbington, are what make up an evangelical. Again, it is a hotly debated subject.

So when did evangelicalism begin? Many of the sources that I found pointed to the revivals in the decades leading up to the American Revolution. Evangelists like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield spread the gospel using a post-millennialist vision of the end times mixed with Calvinism. This was part of the First Great Awakening. Then there were others after the revolution who spread an Arminian view of salvation. Guys like Finney. Belief in God became more personal, without the direct oversight of a priest or minister. It became an individual’s responsibility to look after their spiritual growth.

Welcome to season 5! God willing, I’ll be releasing new episodes every other week.

Discussion Questions:

What is an evangelical?
What is a fundamentalist?
If fundamentalists are evangelicals who are angry at something, what are they angry at? Are you one of those people?
Do you believe in the Calvinist view of salvation or the Arminian one? Does it matter? Why?
The Great Awakening movements established a sense that belief in God was not something that needed to be handed down by a priest or minister. Do you think that was a positive move? What are some potential drawbacks (if any)?

Helpful Links and Sources:

“Fundamentalism and American Culture” by George Marsden (book)
“The Evangelicals” by Frances Fitzerald (book)
“Who is an Evangelical?” by Thomas S. Kidd (book)
“A Godly Hero” by Michael Kazin (book)
Transcript of the Scopes trial (book, though you can find it free online)

Correction: The original version of this episode incorrectly represented Arminian belief. It involves the belief that once grace is offered by God that a sinner can reject the offer. The original version stated that the sinner made the first move to initiate a relationship. That is incorrect. Arminians believe that God makes the first move, but His offer can be rejected. The error has been corrected in this version, My apologies for any confusion.

Liked it? Take a second to support Chris Staron on Patreon!

Brian Roden on February 1, 2022 at 2:10 pm

Around the 21 minute mark, you say that in Arminianism, the person has to initiate the relationship. That is not an accurate assessment of Arminian belief. Under Arminianism, God takes the first step in salvation, primarily by sending Jesus as the Christ who offers himself to die on the cross for our sins, but also through providing prevenient grace, which enables a fallen, sinful human being to respond to God’s call.

The major difference between Arminianism and Calvinism when it comes to the topic of grace is whether it is enabling (Arminian view) or irresistible (Calvinist view).

I would refer you to http://evangelicalarminians.org/the-facts-of-salvation-a-summary-of-arminian-theologythe-biblical-doctrines-of-grace/, which says:

As we have noted, because human beings are fallen and sinful, they are not able to think, will, nor do anything good in and of themselves, including believe the gospel of Christ (see the description of Total Depravity above). Therefore, desiring the salvation of all and having provided atonement for all people (see “Atonement for All” above), God continues to take the initiative for the purpose of bringing all people to salvation by calling all people everywhere to repent and believe the gospel (Acts 17:30; cf. Matt 28:18-20), and by enabling those who hear the gospel to respond to it positively in faith. Unaided by grace, man cannot even choose to please God or to believe the promise of salvation held out in the gospel. As Jesus said in John 6:44, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” But thanks be to God, Jesus also promised, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32). Thus, the Father and the Son draw all people to Jesus, enabling them to come to Jesus in faith. Even though sinful people are blind to the truth of the gospel (2 Cor 4:4), Jesus came into the world of sinful humanity as “the true light, which enlightens everyone” (John 1:9; cf. 12:36), the light about which John the Baptist came to bear witness, “that all might believe through him” (John 1:7).

Brian Roden on February 1, 2022 at 2:10 pm

Around the 21 minute mark, you say that in Arminianism, the person has to initiate the relationship. That is not an accurate assessment of Arminian belief. Under Arminianism, God takes the first step in salvation, primarily by sending Jesus as the Christ who offers himself to die on the cross for our sins, but also through providing prevenient grace, which enables a fallen, sinful human being to respond to God’s call.

The major difference between Arminianism and Calvinism when it comes to the topic of grace is whether it is enabling (Arminian view) or irresistible (Calvinist view).

I would refer you to http://evangelicalarminians.org/the-facts-of-salvation-a-summary-of-arminian-theologythe-biblical-doctrines-of-grace/, which says:

As we have noted, because human beings are fallen and sinful, they are not able to think, will, nor do anything good in and of themselves, including believe the gospel of Christ (see the description of Total Depravity above). Therefore, desiring the salvation of all and having provided atonement for all people (see “Atonement for All” above), God continues to take the initiative for the purpose of bringing all people to salvation by calling all people everywhere to repent and believe the gospel (Acts 17:30; cf. Matt 28:18-20), and by enabling those who hear the gospel to respond to it positively in faith. Unaided by grace, man cannot even choose to please God or to believe the promise of salvation held out in the gospel. As Jesus said in John 6:44, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” But thanks be to God, Jesus also promised, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32). Thus, the Father and the Son draw all people to Jesus, enabling them to come to Jesus in faith. Even though sinful people are blind to the truth of the gospel (2 Cor 4:4), Jesus came into the world of sinful humanity as “the true light, which enlightens everyone” (John 1:9; cf. 12:36), the light about which John the Baptist came to bear witness, “that all might believe through him” (John 1:7).
- Chris Staron on February 1, 2022 at 8:14 pm
  
  Your feedback was invaluable. I’m sorry that this mistake made it through my screening process. I quickly made the changes and have uploaded a new version of the episode. I’ll also post a blub on the website and in the show notes to note the change for listeners. Thanks so much for your help. I’m sorry for my mistake but very glad for your kind correction.
Kelly Hamilton on June 8, 2022 at 7:21 am

Just a note about pronunciation. The word “versus” is pronounced as it is spelled and has two syllables. It is not pronounced “verse” which is a word with a completely different meaning. I understand that this is a current trend in pronouncing this word but it is incorrect. I don’t mean to be a “Karen” but words have meaning and the way you are pronouncing this word changes it’s meaning making your podcast confusing to those whose 1st language is not American English.