A Declaration of Evangelical Identity and Public Commitment
Perhaps there is still hope, but I am not that optimistic. I had just about given the Evangelical Christian identity up for an irreparably co-opted and corrupted lost cause. In fact, I had ceased some years ago to openly identify with what has become a pejorative qualifying adjective, preferring to be known simply as a Christian or follower after Jesus, a seeker after God. And then I read on my pastor's blog about a new Evangelical declaration by some of the most respected Evangelical writers and thought leaders. Better late than never, I suppose, for this is a wonderful and welcome declaration of evangelical Christian identity--or Christian identity, period, I'd say.
It proclaims and embraces the historical "evangelical" identity based on the Jesus of the Gospels: His identity, teaching and example revealed there. And it decries those self-anointed and unrepresentative public voices and their contentious conduct and divisive public politics, which too often have muted the teaching and obviated the example of Jesus--and alienated far too many non-Christians that God would have us better relate to and serve. The statement is also clear in asserting that the evangelical Christian is not antagonistic to the work and findings of science, but embraces all knowledge that better informs us of the world God is continually creating, and of His people who are in it. But it says much more that is important, so much more that all Christians would or should embrace joyfully, gratefully, and with relief.
Self-identified Evangelicals are such a fragmented, disorderly, infiltrated and co-opted lot. The truth is they represent a considerable range of Christian theological, cultural, and political views. And there is no functioning Evangelical Christian hierarchy, no overseeing or governing organization that passes on the soundness of theology or the appropriateness of public conduct based on the identity and teaching of Jesus. Whoever claims the identity gets to share it with all others who do, regardless of what they really believe, what their priorities are, or how they conduct themselves in the public arena.
Some denominations call themselves Evangelicals, some arms or factions of other denominations do, too, and so do some individual churches, both denominational and nondenominational. There are also many individuals who consider themselves Evangelicals within denominations or churches that decidedly do not. But given the identity portrayed by those most visible and vocal spokespersons for Evangelical Christianity--and the public perception most often created--it's a wonder that very many Christian people would still want to claim the identity at all.
As the signatories of the "manifesto" suggest, those self-proclaimed spokespersons have created a clearly distorted perception of the evangelical identity. That perception now held by a great many in the general public--non-Christians and many Christians, too--is that Evangelicals are legalistic, judgmental, witless Fundamentalists and, more often, political operatives and culture warriors who claim Christianity as cover for their political agendas. They have indeed expropriated the good name and hijacked the identity of evangelical Christians, providing that cover and legitimacy for their real agendas--but they have corrupted that good name in the process, as it has now become most associated with them.
Although it was announced in Washington DC, and carried by some outlets, on the whole there has been spare and muted coverage of this pronouncement. And so far, I have heard of little from the Evangelical or broader Christian world in support of it. This kind of clarification statement for the Christian world and the public at large is decades overdue. And unfortunately, its support and authority appear to stand only on the signatures of a handful of honorable and responsible Christian reformers. It requires broad support by Evangelicals and their churches. Their voices must be heard and their signatures must testify to their support. This will be a difficult job and an improbable result in the fragmented world of evangelical Christians.
And therefore, I fear that the public perception and definition of Evangelicals cannot be changed. Allow me to share these two points of pragmatic realism:
(1) Words and language take on the meaning that people say they do, simply by the prevalence of their everyday usage. That's how the best dictionaries are compiled, and where they find their direction. The word "Fundamentalism" did not always mean to Christians and the public at large what it means today. In its origins and early usage it was much like the earlier use of Evangelicalism, at least so far as its adherents aspired to live in faithful adherence to the fundamental truth of the Scriptures. But it has long had an unfortunate, unchanging meaning and irredeemable identity to the world at large. And my sense is that the word Evangelical has already been relegated to the same place in the perceptions of the general public and most other Christians. In each case, it is the portrayed public identity and conduct of the adherents' most vocal spokespersons--their de facto leaders--that defined their identity for the public at large.
(2) Another noteworthy point: without a credible and broadly supported authoritative body to publicize, clarify, and defend this statement's view of the evangelical identity, it remains just one view among others. The prevailing public view will therefore remain intact and the further public failure of the Evangelical identity becomes inevitable. But because Evangelicals are such a varied, fragmented, and disorganized group, the probability of finding this broad agreement and support is unlikely. And those who agree and support it will be a smaller group who will eventually have to qualify their identifying name and distinguish their evangelical identity in Christ.
But isn't it clear that no matter what other name might ever be chosen, if the behavior of Christians and their perception by the world brings discredit upon them, theirs too will become an unwelcome and shunned identity. And then a faithful remnant will have to re-establish that identity again. That's a significant, predictable strand that runs through the history of protestant and reformed Christian churches: renewing, falling short, disagreeing, dividing or re-identifying, reforming, and renewing again. But thank God that there is the freedom to reform and refocus ourselves on Jesus, to "Keep the Main Thing the main thing," as my pastor so often says.
My pragmatism and human disappointments aside, Christians are called always to be God's people of Hope, to continually seek and live in Christ and God's Love, and to be His forgiving resurrection people. Evangelical pastors and church leaders need to take ownership of this fledgling movement and its statement of authentic evangelical Christian identity--or, Christian identity, period, I'd say--and publicly approve it, publish it, preach it, teach it, defend it and--most importantly--live it!
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