tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post259839522478067593..comments2024-03-24T11:30:08.199-07:00Comments on Can you believe?: That "evangelical" labelJohan Maurerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13771067774042071617noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post-46196463450553511202017-08-27T04:32:23.402-07:002017-08-27T04:32:23.402-07:00Johan, you wrote,
“I don't care about fitting...Johan, you wrote,<br /><br />“I don't care about fitting into the patterns of those who've already made their minds up but I do care about the Gospel's reputation among those who are "tender," who want a word of honest testimony.”<br /><br />That is an insightful distinction, or at least it seems so to me.<br /><br />On your earlier comment to me — I have known a few ELCA ministers, and I had a conversation with one of them about that word “Evangelical” in the name. He said that it was intended to mean exactly what it said — that the denomination felt itself called to preach the gospel to the world. So it was not, in his mind at least, a mere synonym for “Protestant” — but it was not a way of identifying with the right-wing branch of Protestantism, either.Marshall Masseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18371519122299607819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post-39091812978444635342017-08-26T18:56:39.983-07:002017-08-26T18:56:39.983-07:00Thanks Johan, for that response. I don't think...Thanks Johan, for that response. I don't think all of us in our different situations are called to exactly the same response. We each have to discern how we are called, hopefully with the help of other believers.<br />Bill Samuelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00752443575410023776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post-18859284761543239122017-08-26T18:42:30.867-07:002017-08-26T18:42:30.867-07:00Bill, thank you, but I do take audiences into acco...Bill, thank you, but I do take audiences into account. I don't care about fitting into the patterns of those who've already made their minds up but I do care about the Gospel's reputation among those who are "tender," who want a word of honest testimony.<br /><br />It occurs to me that, as an adult convert who became a convinced Friend, I have more often encountered anti-Jesus attitudes among some groups of Friends than the kind of authoritarianism that repels others away from evangelicalism. After all, I started out as a naive evangelical (that is, I was reading the New Testament with all the joy and receptivity of a new convert) in a yearly meeting (Canadian) that was predominantly liberal. Thank goodness for wonderful mentors! <br /><br />Despite my occasional discontent with Quakers, both among evangelicals and among liberals, I also have to say that I've lived a sort of sheltered life compared to many who've become disillusioned with the evangelical label. Given my inherited distrust of organized religion and my rejection of my family's cult of obedience, Friends' rejection of violence and false social distinctions was crucial. I've not had to put up with some of the shattering power plays that have disillusioned many former evangelicals. (Of course there are places among Friends where such stuff has also happened -- some of which I've witnessed personally.) Undoubtedly, race and class factors have also helped me in ways, even within our idealistic little denomination.<br /><br />Finally, I cling to the evangelical label in part to woo other evangelicals into a wider perspective on discipleship, a greater ability to connect the dots between faith and practice, a greater sensitivity to the captivity of the religion industry. Maybe this is a fruitless conceit, in which case I hope I'll be ready to abandon it. Nevertheless, in my heart of hearts I'll cling to my "sweet private definitions."Johan Maurerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13771067774042071617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post-84344391402840629222017-08-25T04:45:07.099-07:002017-08-25T04:45:07.099-07:00Johan: To thine own self be true, and don't wo...Johan: To thine own self be true, and don't worry about what the PC folks misunderstand or dislike! Don't let them take charge of your persona! They have their own brand of extremism.Bill Rushbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00579099372065932809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post-82660994705562854022017-08-24T18:25:26.298-07:002017-08-24T18:25:26.298-07:00My academic research into the variety of Quaker id...My academic research into the variety of Quaker identities indicates that we will not come to agreement about the word Christian or Evangelical anytime soon. As a linguist, my observation is that Americans, and Quaker especially,<br /> just keep redefining their terms. I,myself, cling the name of Christian even though I am mostly resisted among the post-Christians in meetings to which I have belonged.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17194630932723452234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post-46406770704893651852017-08-24T18:23:12.917-07:002017-08-24T18:23:12.917-07:00In 2008, I wrestled with the term evangelical in a...In 2008, I wrestled with the term evangelical in a blog post entitled <a href="http://billsamuel.net/blog/?p=18" rel="nofollow"><i>Why I am evangelical but not an Evangelical</i></a>. These terminology questions can be difficult.Bill Samuelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00752443575410023776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post-55244005716337405002017-08-24T15:07:35.476-07:002017-08-24T15:07:35.476-07:00Capital "E" Evangelicals have discredite...Capital "E" Evangelicals have discredited themselves so much, I can't see much value in holding onto the term. On the contrary, I tend to think that the only way to preserve the integrity of the Christian faith in general is to name Evangelicalism (as a movement) as being an unfaithful branch.<br /><br />From a public relations perspective, I believe that Christianity is salvageable. I'm not sure Evangelicalism is at this point.Micah Baleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06849915973708989620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post-47285086929308714232017-08-24T08:07:14.389-07:002017-08-24T08:07:14.389-07:00Thanks, Marshall. You've reminded me that in s...Thanks, Marshall. You've reminded me that in some parts of the world, the word "evangelical" simply means "protestant."Johan Maurerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13771067774042071617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217199.post-31918227580116904132017-08-24T07:59:41.604-07:002017-08-24T07:59:41.604-07:00Most certainly, words like “evangelical” and “Chri...Most certainly, words like “evangelical” and “Christian” are worth retaining. We just need to live them in the way that we ourselves are called to, and make it clear that others do not define us.<br /><br />As regards the use of “evangelical”, the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America), a broad-minded and liberal-friendly body, is an example worth keeping in mind.Marshall Masseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18371519122299607819noreply@blogger.com