Evangelical.
It’s a word that has taken on the characteristics of a four-letter word to some. It has been used and abused to the point that the original meaning of the word is completely obscured. When you hear it, what comes to your mind? Pat Robertson? Jerry Falwell? Christian Coalition?
It has become a word that denotes a system of political beliefs.
It ought not be so.
The original meaning of the word is that it’s a person who is:
of or according to the teaching of the gospel or the Christian religion.• of or denoting a tradition within Protestant Christianity emphasizing the authority of the Bible, personal conversion, and the doctrine of salvation by faith in the Atonement.
It has come to mean something entirely different. In this election year, you hear a lot about the “evangelical voting bloc”, as if it were it’s own special interest group. And maybe it is. But I fear it’s come to mean “I’m a Republican.”
It ought not be so.
It ought to mean “I’m one who believes that Jesus Christ is God incarnate. I believe that He came to this earth, lived a perfectly sinless life, was crucified for my sins and yours, died, was buried, and rose again on a glorious Sunday morning, conquering hell and the grave forever. I believe that He reigns from the right hand of God, and that He will come again (soon!) to judge us all. I believe that the only true life possible is a life found in Him.”
Am I evangelical? Yes I am, but not in the Fox News kind of way. You want to know my politics? Yeah, I’m voting McCain. Why? Because there is no way I can support a candidate who’s convictions about human life do not line up with the Bible. “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” Life is life, from conception to the grave. Where does it end, folks? If a child with Downs is not “viable” to you, what about your senile grandfather? Or the woman who has emotional issues? Crazy to compare them? Not as crazy as you’d think. Moral relativism is just that: relative.
The only hope for real change in this nation, the only One who can fix the problems we face is not on the ballot next Tuesday. He’s not wearing a blue suit and red tie, and promising to give us all a tax cut. He’s not slinging mud on tv ads. He’s not on tv every 3.2 minutes asking for your vote.
Where is He? Where is the One that will bring the only lasting change? He’s knocking at the door of our hard hearts right now, politely asking to be let back in. You’ll recognize Him easy enough. He’s the One with the nail scars in His hands and side.
Am I evangelical? Yes I am. And proud of it.
No matter who wins this Tuesday.
It has come to mean something entirely different. In this election year, you hear a lot about the “evangelical voting bloc”, as if it were it’s own special interest group. And maybe it is. But I fear it’s come to mean “I’m a Republican.”
It ought not be so.
It ought to mean “I’m one who believes that Jesus Christ is God incarnate. I believe that He came to this earth, lived a perfectly sinless life, was crucified for my sins and yours, died, was buried, and rose again on a glorious Sunday morning, conquering hell and the grave forever. I believe that He reigns from the right hand of God, and that He will come again (soon!) to judge us all. I believe that the only true life possible is a life found in Him.”
Am I evangelical? Yes I am, but not in the Fox News kind of way. You want to know my politics? Yeah, I’m voting McCain. Why? Because there is no way I can support a candidate who’s convictions about human life do not line up with the Bible. “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” Life is life, from conception to the grave. Where does it end, folks? If a child with Downs is not “viable” to you, what about your senile grandfather? Or the woman who has emotional issues? Crazy to compare them? Not as crazy as you’d think. Moral relativism is just that: relative.
The only hope for real change in this nation, the only One who can fix the problems we face is not on the ballot next Tuesday. He’s not wearing a blue suit and red tie, and promising to give us all a tax cut. He’s not slinging mud on tv ads. He’s not on tv every 3.2 minutes asking for your vote.
Where is He? Where is the One that will bring the only lasting change? He’s knocking at the door of our hard hearts right now, politely asking to be let back in. You’ll recognize Him easy enough. He’s the One with the nail scars in His hands and side.
Am I evangelical? Yes I am. And proud of it.
No matter who wins this Tuesday.
The Wading Pool 