Are Reformed “Evangelical” or “Evangelicals”? (Ecuminic)

Heidelblog ^ | July 26, 2008 | R. Scott Clark

[PAR35]

Judged on the basis of the Reformed confessions and the classic reformed of theology of the 16th and 17th centuries, there can be no doubt that the Reformed theology, piety, and practice, is evangelical. The great difficulty in this discussion is that, in our time, the word the evangelical no longer denotes what it did in the 16th have the 17th centuries.

Since the 18th century, and particularly since the middle of the 19th century, the word of evangelical has come to denote what I call ”the quest for illegitimate religious experience” (QIRC). By that I mean to say that to be an evangelical, in the modern sense, is to be on a quest for the immediate experience of the risen Christ, apart from Word and sacrament ministry, apart from the means of grace....

Perhaps it would be helpful to distinguish between being “evangelical” and being “an evangelical”? I am the former but not the latter. I deny that much of what has become “evangelical” in the modern period is really evangelical at all. What does modern, post-canonical glossolalia have to with the the evangel? What does the health and wealth message have to do with the evangel? What does taking back America (or any form of the so-called “social gospel”) have to do with the evangel? What does the emerging movement have to do with the evangel? I haven’t even raised the specter of the appalling theology of worship and the consequent practice of most contemporary evangelicals...

[PAR35]

It ends with

"I’m evangelical, just as I’m catholic, and biblical but I’m not “an evangelical” because I still believe, preach, teach, and confess unequivocally the law and the gospel, because I confess that Christ established a visible, institutional church through which he intends to administer his kingdom and that it is to that entity that he has entrusted the ministry of the gospel and the ministry of the signs and seals of the kingdom."

[muawiyah]

Oh, !

[CaspersGh0sts]

Firestorm in a bottle...

[PAR35]

Pinging some folks who’ve engaged recently on the growing rift between the Reformed and modern Evangelical camps. Here’s a guy that’s more articulate than I on the subject.

[Lee N. Field]

We think alike. I probably would have gotten around to posting this.

Y-all go read the whole thing.

[Migraine]

I read the whole thing and was disturbed by it. He IS an elitist, but hasn’t much to commend his elitism. An evangelical, as I see it, is a born-again Christian who preaches, teaches, believes and advocates salvation, by grace, through faith, in Christ alone, always hoping to find a willing candidate for the conversion.

He never mentioned the born-again experience, which has to rank as the most important teaching Jesus ever gave us. A glaring oversight if ever there was one.

[PAR35]

Thought I might have run across a familiar name.

[Salvation]

**”I’m evangelical, just as I’m catholic,**

This will be very interesting to watch.

The four evangelists are among the most admired saints in theh Catholic Church.

[PAR35]

Note the lower case ‘c’.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Note the lower case ‘c’.

AMEN.

Pinging Harleyd and Forest Keeper to an interesting thread. We discussed the current meaning of the world last year.

IMO "evangelical" has taken on a false note in that as the article says, it implies an immediate sensory experience.

I've found it interesting that lately the word Protestant isn't used much at all, which is a shame. Instead, the press refers to Catholics and Evangelicals, as if all Protestants were Evangelicals. A better term would be Protestants.

[raynearhood]

I read the whole thing, too, and the only real problem I had was with the syntax. But, when it comes to syntax, who am I to complain? The fact is, the argument wasn’t being made for evangelism, but for identification of reformed believed as evangelists without identifying with “Evangelists.”

That being said, although I understand the author’s arguments, and I share in his frustration, I think it could be presented in a more understandable way. So, to address your reply, I’ll reply with this:

Salvation is a life changing experience, but it isn’t an “experience” in the way that it is being presented by too many Evangelical churches presently. At Rick Warren’s church, at the Lakeland revival, and at countless other venues countrywide, salvation is being presented as a fleeting thing. It’s an experience to grasp onto while the emotions are high and the show is good. Those emotions may last for (who knows?) days, weeks, months, even years. The terrible thing is, that depth and real theology is rarely, if ever being taught. Just today we have an example of Rick Warren contorting Scripture in order to fit his “social theology” and there are other examples of his “Purpose Driven Churches” missing the point of worship (glorifying God) in order to maintain their flocks through shows that are aimed at gripping the emotions of the audience. Shoot, even the church I grew up in has changed from a Bible teaching church to a church that appeals to sinners’ emotions (with social theology, rock style emotionally charged music, and little conviction with almost no depth).

So, what argument are we to make? Well, I hate “social theology,” because it has no Biblical basis and diverts from the true message of Salvation. I despise emotionally driven worship because the focus is on the worshipper instead of on the One that deserves worship. I disagree with Arminianism, because I believe it minimizes the power of God (though I do not believe that acceptance of the principles of Calvinism is required for faith). I know that too many Evangelical churches across America have turned to maintaining and growing in membership numbers at the expense of the Word of God, and the worship of the Almighty.

All that we pray for; all the we vehemently request of the Evangelical Churches is that seek God and God alone. And that they see, Him throuh the Bible,following priciples of good theology, in order to assist their members with an understanding of God's word, as well as God's character.

[Gamecock]

***never mentioned the born-again experience, which has to rank as the most important teaching Jesus ever gave us.***

It is understood, to all Reformed Christians, that we are born again, aka regeneration. Without being born again we would not be able to have faith in Christ.

[Gamecock]

While most Protestants were at one time evangelicals, the term has been distorted to the point where we must now claim that we are Reformed, period.

[Migraine]

Thank you for your considerable and considerate reply. I, too, am troubled by glitzy megaproduction malaprop church expressions. Unfortunately, that is all we are treated to on TV these days. I see an inherent flaw in “bigness” in the Church. The bigness becomes the driven purpose, raison d’etre, goal, sum and substance. To sustain it, very worldly processes creep in and begin to transform what was once a very spiritual work into a very profane one. Reminds me of Laodicea in Revelation 3.

Out in the byways and hedges, though, exist hundreds of thousands of New Testament congregations going about the business God commissioned us to pursue — the reaching of souls via the foolishness of preaching, and by Godly example and visibility. These noble and Biblical endeavors are not to be confused nor conflated with the unfortunate, often heretical, ostentation that has become so infamous these days.

[Lee N. Field]

The four evangelists are among the most admired saints in theh Catholic Church.

So. Every cult out there claims Jesus.

[Tennessee Nana]

BTTT

[PAR35]

He never mentioned the born-again experience,

I don't know what kind of 'experience' you are looking for, but as Confessional Christians, we susbscibe to and stand by the historic Confessions. We might use terms that are more familiar to Cromwell than to modern evangelicals, such as 'regeneration' or even 'quickened'.

As the English reformers said, "II. This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it."

See also Articles 3, 11 and 12 under the Third and Fourth points of doctrine of the Canons of Dort.

[wmfights]

Thanks for the ping. I have to get back to you on this.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Amen to your excellent post.

One of the greatest things about Free Republic is that it affords us the opportunity to know there are many Bible-believing Christians around the world who understand the Scriptures and know the grace of God and produce the good fruit of the Spirit, all by and for and through Jesus Christ alone, according to His will alone.

I like your homepage. Your family and their photos are beautiful. And that Piper sermon is one of his best ever. 8~)

[raynearhood]

Your family and their photos are beautiful. And that Piper sermon is one of his best ever.

Thank you for the kind words.

God Bless.