Evangelicalism is one of Christianity’s major theological movements. What makes Evangelicalism distinct is its emphasis and both right belief and right behavior. Historian David Bebbington was the first to enumerate the distinctives of Evangelical Christianity when he laid out its four primary qualities. They are: (1) Conversionism; the belief that people’s lives need to be changed; (2) Activism; the expression of the Gospel in effort; (3) Biblicism; a high regard for the Scriptures; and (4) Crucicentrism; a stress on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.[1]

Perhaps you read those four qualities and say to yourself, “Doesn’t every Christian believe those things?” The answer to that question is, “Yes and No. It depends.” In order to understand Evangelicalism better, it would be helpful to expound on what those four primary qualities mean and how they differentiate Evangelicalism from other branches of Christianity.

Conversionism

If you have ever been watching a sporting event and have seen someone holding a sign that reads “John 3:16” (or something like it) then the person you had seen was most likely an Evangelical. It almost goes without saying that in order to be an evangelical, you must have a conversion experience. No one is born an Evangelical—rather, you become one. Evangelicals echo the words of Jesus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Being born again is not something that happens to a person by happenstance, it is a conscious decision to forsake sin and follow Christ. Therefore, repentance is a major part of the conversion experience. Since every Evangelical believer must be born again, he or she should also have a personal testimony of his or her conversion experience much like the Apostle Paul did while on the road to Damascus (cf. Acts 9). Each person’s testimony will be slightly different, but each one should be able to tell of their experience when they went from darkness to light, or of their experience when God opened their eyes to spiritual things, or of their repentance from sin and their turning towards God. All these things signify that a person is born again.

Contrasted with other branches of Christianity, Evangelicalism puts an emphasis on personal experience and decision. Whereas in Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, one is amalgamated with the church in baptism and reinforces that with communion. These processes of grace are administered solely by the church. Evangelicals, however, reject the idea that an external ritual such as baptism has any power to transform the soul—that is something that only God can do. According to Evangelicals, grace comes directly from God by virtue of faith in Jesus Christ (cf. Eph 2:8-9). In fact, the ordinances of the church, i.e. sacraments, in general are only marks of obedience that the believer willingly makes by the guidance of the Holy Spirit within him. Thus, Evangelicals are distinguished from mainline Protestants, from Roman Catholics, and from Eastern Orthodox because of their particular emphasis on a personal conversion experience that marks the beginning of their spiritual lives and their direct relationship with God.  

Activism

Christian activism is not a new concept. For centuries Christians have attempted to live out the teachings and precepts of Jesus. It was Christians who founded the original hospitals. It has been Christians who have consistently resisted the powers of evil in the world throughout the centuries and it is because of the efforts of Christians that Western Culture developed as it did with a strong emphasis on doing good to others (cf. “love your neighbor as you would love yourself” [Mark 12:30-31]). This strong tradition of Christian activism takes a new twist with Evangelicals. For many Evangelicals, Christian activism is inherently tied with preaching the Gospel. Gospel-centric activism has led to the proliferation of missionary activity domestically and overseas as Christians seek to preach the Gospel and spread goodwill to all the world. In fact, this emphasis on the Gospel is what sets Evangelical activism apart from other types of activism. You will find that Christians who practice activism apart from the Gospel will often be labeled as ‘social gospel’ proponents, that is, they reduce the gospel to doing good to neighbor and leave out the spiritual aspects of man’s relationship with God.

One charge that has been leveled against many Evangelicals is that they are “so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.” This charge highlights the tension that Evangelicals have in keeping their priorities focused on Gospel-proclamation and at the same time also to love their neighbors as themselves—neither of which is exclusive of the other but each of which demands prioritization.  Nevertheless, many Evangelicals do find a right balance and find that God has blessed their service because of it.

It was Evangelical believers who pushed to end the slave trade in the 1800’s. It is largely Evangelicals who find themselves active to push for an end to abortion today. There are many other issues for which Evangelicals fight. Because some issues are inherently political, Evangelicals have also found themselves wading into politics as a means to reach their goals—although political influence is never the end goal of Evangelicals. The end goal for all Evangelical activism is to glorify God, to proclaim Christ, and to do good in the world.

Biblicism

It is perhaps Evangelicalism’s high regard for Scripture that has beget the other points of Evangelicalism. Evangelicals hold Scripture as the foremost authority in their lives. This sets them apart from groups such as Roman Catholics who hold Scripture, church tradition, and the Pope as equal authorities. Evangelicals have held such an esteemed position of Scripture that a litmus test of true evangelicalism is one’s belief in Scripture. The doctrine of inerrancy illustrates this profound regard which Evangelicals have for Scripture.

Not only is Scripture the standard of faith and conduct for believers, it is the authority for everything of which it speaks. For instance, Evangelicals are usually the most ardent supporters of a Creationist understanding of the earth’s beginnings. In fact, Evangelicals tend to view most of history through the lens of Scripture. Modern events, no less, are interpreted through the lens of Scripture.

Evangelicalism has driven literacy campaigns around the world because one cannot read the Bible if one is not able to read. Evangelicals are also behind the push to translate the Scriptures into as many languages as possible so that as many people as possible might read and know God’s word. This stands in contrast with Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy who tend to favor one language or translation of the Bible and exclude all others.

This high regard for Scripture is not Bible-idolatry, as some might claim. Rather, Evangelicals understand that Scripture alone contains God’s special revelation to us. Jesus says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4 [cited from Deut 8:3]). God’s word is essential to the vitality of our spiritual lives. Bible reading is part and parcel of the Christian life just as much as prayer and worship are. Therefore, in order to know God more and to know what God wants people to do, one must read and understand Scripture and then one must obey it.

Crucicentrism

The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:2 says, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified…” This is the same mindset that Evangelicals try to hold as they engage in ministry, in worship, in activism, and in their daily lives. Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross is preeminent in their minds. If you have ever seen the slogan, “Jesus is the answer,” that is Evangelicalism.

Not only is it at the forefront of their minds but Evangelicals also want to spread the truth about Jesus to the ends of the earth (cf. Matt 28:19-20; Mark 16:15). The modern missionary movement has been driven by Evangelicals and their desire to see that the whole world knows who Jesus Christ is and what he did. (This goal also fits nicely with the first point above, Conversionism or “you must be born again.”)

This crucicentrism, what Evangelicals might prefer today to call “Gospel-centrism,” is a hallmark of Evangelical belief and practice. It underscores the truth of Jesus, our response to that truth, and our duty to spread the truth. It highlights the difference between what Evangelicals call true, vibrant faith and dull, lifeless religion; it is belief in a Person rather than a set of doctrines. It is this adherence to the person and work of Jesus Christ that makes Evangelicals question why some social ministries do so much to help a person’s physical needs and yet do so little to answer a person’s spiritual needs. “Have they no faith?” asks the Evangelical. “Does Jesus not make a difference in their lives?” they wonder.  “How can someone be a Christian and not make Jesus a priority?” they ask themselves. So, crucicentrism, or the exultation of Christ and his work, is part and parcel of Evangelical belief and practice. 

Conclusion

The four above qualities of Evangelicals are admittedly a broad brushstroke of a very diverse movement. Within Evangelicalism, you will find varying degrees of these qualities, with some emphasizing one quality over another. Believers who are Methodists or Baptists or Anglicans might all self-identify at some point as Evangelicals yet in details and practice they may appear quite different to the outsider. But, as a movement, there is still a large degree of general agreement on the importance of these four qualities in the life and faith of an Evangelical.

There are others today who would like to misrepresent Evangelicalism as a political movement, which Evangelicals are quick to reject. Our citizenship and kingdom are in heaven. But evangelicals are, nonetheless, involved in politics because it is their belief that they must argue for what is right and good (see the second point above: Activism). Evangelicals are generally conservative in social orientation but, again, this is a fruit of their values (especially because of their high regard for Scripture) and does not reflect a value just to be conservative. Interestingly, there are groups who call themselves the “Evangelical Left” or “Progressive Evangelicals” who might strongly disagree with many Evangelical positions on political and social issues but still agree on the issues of conversion and the priority of Jesus Christ.

Is it hard to define accurately what an Evangelical is? Yes and no. Evangelicals are diverse and yet they are united in a common faith and core set of beliefs. It is good to be able to identify what constitutes Evangelical belief from what is ancillary to it.

It does not appear that Evangelicalism is going away any time soon, rather there are many indications that the movement is getting stronger and more cohesive as the world becomes darker and more corrupt. If anything, Evangelicals are proving true the words of Jesus in Matthew 16:18, when he said, “on this rock [i.e. faith in Christ] I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!” Amen, keep building, Lord Jesus!

[1] This description is now known as the “Bebbington Quadrilateral.” It was first postulated by David Bebbington in his work Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A History from the 1730’s to the 1980’s (London: Unwin Hyman, 1989), 2-3.