Some years ago, a long-time friend of mine was asked, at the last minute, to take part in a radio debate. At the end of the programme the producer thanked her for her contribution, and then made a memorable comment, \u201cIf you\u2019d not been able to make it, the next person on our list was one of those awful evangelical people.\u201d I grew up evangelical. I am an evangelical. That\u2019s why I find this kind of story exceptionally painful to listen to.\u00a0<\/span> Some years ago, a long-time friend of mine was asked, at the last minute, to take part in a radio debate. At the end of the programme the producer thanked her for her contribution, and then made a memorable comment, \u201cIf you\u2019d not been able to make it, the next person on our list was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-543","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
<\/span>The terms \u2018evangelical\u2019 and \u2018evangelicalism\u2019, alongside the act of \u2018evangelism\u2019, are rooted in two New Testament Greek words; the noun euangelion which means \u2018good news\u2019 and the verbeuangelizo meaning \u2018to bring or announce good news\u2019. In classical Greek an euangelos was a messenger of joyous good news (all three forms of the word were formed from the Greek \u2018eu\u2019 meaning \u2018well\u2019 and \u2018angelos\u2019 meaning \u2018messenger\u2019 (or angel)). Euangelion and euangelizo are often translated into English in the New Testament as \u2018gospel\u2019.\u00a0 <\/span>
<\/span>Any encounter with evangelicalism, therefore, should always be to experience the kind of good news that stirs your soul and pours the oil of joy into the grind of everyday life. To that end, Jesus built relationships with a vast array of ordinary people. He loved being with them and, in calling them to follow him, he constantly acknowledged the burdens of life that they struggled with and reassured them with his gentleness. \u201cCome to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest\u2026for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.\u201d (Matthew 11:28-30). That\u2019s good news! Indeed, the only groups that Jesus ever chose to seriously critique were the various religious leaders who included themselves but chose to exclude others from the always-given welcome and embrace of God.\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>In recent years, however, the term \u2018evangelical\u2019 has often become a word of revulsion in the media, and even left many of its own adherents wrestling with their allegiance to it. Andrew Walker for instance, who is an evangelical and Emeritus Professor of Theology, Culture & Education at King\u2019s College, London, writes here of his exasperation with the \u201cfad-driven, one-dimensional spirituality of modern evangelicalism\u201d.\u00a0<\/span>
<\/span>So, what has gone wrong? <\/span>
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