What is an ‘Evangelical’?
Admittedly, the word ‘evangelical’ gets applied to a very wide range of different churches with widely differing beliefs or practises. It would be best to assess us on our own stated beliefs and practises, rather than any stereotype that may be associated with this word. It is certainly not intended to describe our political viewpoints (as it sometimes is in America) – it is a word that describes our Christian beliefs (or theology)
The word evangelical comes from a Greek word (‘evangel‘) which means ‘good news’, and is closely related in that sense to the word ‘Gospel’, which Christians often use to describe the message of forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ, our God. To be ‘evangelical’ then, means we are ‘good news people’; but not just any good news, it is the good news in particular of forgiveness in Christ.
A summary of the Evangelical ‘good news’ that we find in the Bible is provided at the bottom of this page.
Why an ‘Evangelical church’?
the word EVANGELICAL is used to signify that we are an independent church which teaches and believes the ‘good news’ – about forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus – just as we find it taught in the Bible.
Yet, many churches are teaching the same gospel truth who are not called ‘evangelical’. Someone might ask “What makes you specifically an evangelical church?” Well, many of the churches who teach and believe the same things would often have other names they might use to describe themselves, perhaps linked to their denomination. For example, a Baptist Church, or Church of England, or Methodist Church, and so on. Any of those churches might hold evangelical beliefs, but they are not all described as ‘evangelical’ because they have other distinguishing features, e.g. their denomination.
Parbold Evangelical Church is not part of a denomination; we are independent. That means that all of our church oversight and leadership comes from within our local congregation (there is no outside heirarchy), and the church’s beliefs are held as common agreement of the members of the church (not dictated by an organisation or outside council). It also means our funding is entirely independent, we don’t receive grants or subsidies from any national organisation, nor from the government.
However, just because we are independent doesn’t mean we have a radically different understanding of what the Bible teaches, or what it means to be a Christian. So the word evangelical is used to signify that we are a church which sticks to the historically accepted truth of the ‘good news’ about forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus, just as we find it taught in the Bible.
Also, being independent doesn’t mean we have no concern for other churches or Christians. All true Christians, from whatever point in history, whatever nation, whatever language, and whatever differences in the way we practise our beliefs, are all united in Jesus Christ, our saviour who is the head of His Church. So we try and reflect that by knowing, working with, and supporting other Churches – either locally, nationally, or internationally. We are also part of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, a charity that seeks to provide for and facilitate the mutual support of independent churches like ours from across the whole of the UK.
Evangelical beliefs
Evangelical churches may vary in different points of practise, but typically all agree on several fundamental points that make up the ‘good news’ that we believe and teach.
- Evangelicals believe the Bible is God’s written word to all of mankind; that the Bible is not wrong or misguided, and that it remains relevant for all people throughout all of history because it shows us the only way to be made right with God
- Evangelicals believe that to be a Christian, a person must be saved, or converted, and that we do not become Christians by virtue of our nationality, or parenthood, or culture. They believe that human nature is inherently broken (sinful), and that sin needs to be dealt with, which requires an inner transformation, a work of God’s Spirit in our hearts
- Evangelicals also believe that there is no other way for a person to be saved other than to be born again by the Holy Spirit, and therefore evangelicals are committed to sharing their faith with others (also called ‘evangelising’)
- Evangelicals believe that when Jesus died on the cross, he died as the representative of those who believe in him. By dying on their behalf, he paid the penalty that they deserve for their sin. Evangelicals stress the importance of teaching about Jesus’ death and resurrection, because his death is the reason we can be forgiven, and his resurrection forms the promise of eternal life that is the hope of every Evangelical Christian.