What is an evangelical Christian? Basically it is one who believes the gospel must be shared and that each person must decide to follow Jesus! Evangelical Christians are most likely biblically conservative and identify as being born again. (Jesus said we cannot see the kingdom of God unless we are born again. John 3:3-5) Evangelicals are committed to the Bible as God’s Word. A recent Pew Research Poll showed that the number of evangelicals has increased over the last four to five years. This includes a few biblical denominations and many independent churches. In 2016 these folks made up 25% of the country. In 2020 the number increased to 29% (or stayed the same among the non-white population.)
This is good news and in stark contrast to the steep decline among some traditional Protestant denominations. It is also good news for biblically minded Christians. There remains the challenge that a smaller number of believers actually have a biblical worldview, but we can still be encouraged.
Leaders like Franklin Graham, James Dobson and Al Mohler (Southern Baptist) and many other Christian leaders have held the line against theological liberalism, which has led to the decline among so many denominations. So, standing by the Bible and Inspiration of Scripture is good for the Church. It is vital if we are not to be just another human organization.
This is not good news for secular liberals who see evangelicals as a thorn in their flesh. Many politicians see evangelicals as a stumbling block for many humanistic programs and the utopia they want to create. Some thought evangelical support for a flawed but conservative leader would hurt the churches. It has done the opposite. Do they really think that we’re going to abandon our deeply held convictions over a personality? Our faith is not in any human leader, but we should support those whose policies are closest to our beliefs! Our beliefs are 2,000 years old (older when you count the Old Testament) and they don’t change with elections! To us, the right to life and religious freedom are the highest values.
The only personality we revere is Jesus. We are all measured by our likeness to him. Nor does our faith rest on a poll. We should still be faithful to godly principles no matter what the polls show. There are no perfect Christians, only a perfect Christ.
Here are the words to a song based on Psalm 63:
O God, you are my God, and I will seek you earnestly,
My soul thirsts for you in a dry and barren land.
I have seen you in the sanctuary, nothing else could ever satisfy.
But for a taste of living water, Lord, your love is better than life!
Oh God, you are our God. Thank you for your living water. Thank you that Jesus is the bread of life. You alone can satisfy our deepest longings. Thank you for the renewing power we experience in worshiping you.
Lord, the church at large is in need of renewal. But help us to see that only our adherence to “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” in the New Testament will help the church stay faithful to Jesus. (Jude 3)
Let us never lose our conviction that the Bible is true and that every person needs to make a decision for Christ and be born again.
May your Spirit be poured out so that we can see many come to faith and be born again. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.