Books
Excerpt

Evangelicalism Is Far Deeper, Wider, and Greater Than the Foibles of the Moment

An excerpt from ‘Still Evangelical?’

Colton Williams

Editor’s note: This excerpt is taken from Karen Swallow Prior’s chapter, “Why I Am an Evangelical.”

Still Evangelical?: Insiders Reconsider Political, Social, and Theological Meaning

Still Evangelical?: Insiders Reconsider Political, Social, and Theological Meaning

IVP

222 pages

$6.93

I came to Christian faith at a very young age and never wavered in my faith or in my trust in Jesus as my Savior. Sadly, the message from my evangelical tradition was that while trusting in Jesus ensured I would go to heaven instead of hell, but there didn’t seem to be much else to it —other than avoiding sin in order to get more jewels in my heavenly crown—and, of course, telling as many other people as I could about Jesus so they could go to heaven and wear a jeweled crown.

But a more mature, robust evangelicalism eventually taught me how to think and love like a Christian. Evangelical writers and thinkers helped me face, understand, and challenge the movement’s tendency toward anti-intellectualism and its undervaluation of beauty. Evangelicalism eventually taught me that “being saved” was not just about the afterlife but also the abundant life, not just for me as an individual but for all of humankind.

And so evangelicalism created an activist spirit within me, molding and refining a passion to do right politically, socially, personally. The evangelical leaders of the later 20th century taught and led me in my efforts to promote human life at every stage. And the evangelicals of the 18th and 19th centuries inspired me to knit those efforts into a holistic pursuit of the flourishing of all human life and God’s creation.

I find something powerfully humanizing about facing honestly the weaknesses of my tradition and working to overcome those weaknesses from within. Evangelicalism is far deeper, wider, and greater than its particular foibles born of particular times. Like all human works and movements, evangelicalism is far from perfect. In both its history and its present state, there is perhaps too much of the taint of entrepreneurialism, progressivism, and individualism. That some leading evangelicals supported slavery while others didn’t demonstrates that uniformity, unity, and infallibility are not characteristics of evangelicalism.

In times of disagreement and injustice, and especially when I have been maligned and attacked by a brother, I have wished for a pope to step in like a father to referee and set things right. Then I remember I have our Father, who will set all things right in his good time.

Soul freedom is hard. It exacts a great price. Instead of one human authority over all, we choose instead the individual conscience submitted to the Word and to the Holy Spirit, guided by a community of saints. But I believe this is exactly what the call of Christ is for each of us as we work out our salvation in fear and trembling. And, ultimately, that is why I am an evangelical.

Taken from Still Evangelical? Edited by Mark Labberton. Copyright © 2018. Used by permission of InterVarsity Press, P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515.

Have something to say about this topic? Let us know here.

Also in this issue

This issue's cover story is a paean to solitude, as experienced in one of the most unique environments on earth: the South Pole. Brett Baddorf reflects on finding God in the darkness while serving as a missionary among the scientists and support staff who populate Antarctica's remote research outposts during its long winter months.

Cover Story

Lord of the Night

Editorial

One Does Not Simply Leave Evangelicalism

A Member of the โ€˜Little Rock Nineโ€™ Counts Her Blessings, One by One

Reply All

The Rise of Reformed Charismatics

News

To Defend Mideast Christians, Can Advocates Critique Islam?

News

Why the US Thinks Restricting International Adoptions Will Save Them

News

Gleanings: January/February 2018

The Case for a No-Filter Prayer Life

Our January/February Issue: Fighting FOMO

Is Filling That โ€˜God-Shaped Holeโ€™ Godโ€™s Plan for Our Lives?

Understanding Godโ€™s Control When Youโ€™re a Climate Scientist

Review

Kate Bowler: I Reject the Prosperity Gospel but I Still Crave What It Promises

Review

A Wall of Security or a Table of Fellowship?

New & Noteworthy Books

The Radical Christian Faith of Frederick Douglass

News

As a New Age Enthusiast, I Fancied Myself a Free Spirit and a Good Person

Baptism Doesnโ€™t Have to Be Divisive

When the Gift of Intelligence Becomes the Burden of Alzheimerโ€™s

Christianity Todayโ€™s 2018 Book of the Year

Excerpt

Lost Keys and Lost Illusions

Christianity Todayโ€™s 2018 Book Awards

View issue

Our Latest

News

Back at Shooting Site, Trump Supporters Pray for His Protection

Still shaken by the tragic attack, Butler, Pennsylvania, welcomed the former president back with cheers of triumph and a memorial for the previous rallyโ€™s victim.

News

JD Vance Says Trump White House Will โ€˜Fight for Israelโ€™

The candidateโ€™s message at an October 7 memorial rally was popular among Christian supporters.

Review

The Internetโ€™s Sins Are Our Sins. But It Shouldnโ€™t Escape All Blame.

A critic of tech panic forgets that our tools shape us just as we shape them.

Heaven Is A Homeplace

Hurricane Helene devastated the land I love. My pain points me toward what’s to come.

Review

We Have Never Been Deplorable

A new book critiques elitesโ€™ incurious accounts of the American right and illuminates their complicity in our social breakdown.

You Are the Light of the Public Square

American Christians can illuminate our countryโ€™s politicsโ€”if we engage with moral imagination, neighborliness, boldness, and humility.

Where Ya From?

From Pain to Empowerment with Orsika Fejer-Baas

Orsika Fejer-Baas shares her story of resilience and overcoming domestic abuse.

The Bulletin

October 7, 2023 Remembrance with Yossi Halevi

The Bulletin remembers the tragic events in Israel on October 7, 2023 and the year of turmoil that has followed.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube