Evangelical Identity

Since coming to Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, I’ve been thinking about this issue a lot. I know that I am, first and foremost, a Christian. Jesus Christ is my purpose and the reason that I live, and I can’t say with any honesty that I’ve ever seriously considered the possibility of abandoning Christianity. The only question I could ever ask myself on this issue is, what type of Christian am I going to be?
I’m not completely sure of all the reasons for why the answer to that is currently “evangelical Christian.” I’m sure the people who dislike me will turn this statement back against me someday, but I feel like my close relationship with Mormonism has sometimes left me with a case of religious identity crisis, to the point that I question which parts of my way of thinking came from evangelical Christianity and which parts came from or in reaction to Mormonism.
I thought I would make a list of what I do know for sure: the things that I like about evangelical Christianity and the things that I don’t like about it. Let’s start with the positive list.
Things I Love About Being An Evangelical Christian
The priesthood of all believers – Sometimes our critics act as if this was just an afterthought since we had no way of claiming linear authority from the Catholic church, but I don’t see it as an afterthought. For me it has been a profoundly moving, empowering concept that includes me in the kingdom of God, not just as a participant or an observer, but as a priest unto God under our high priest, Jesus Christ. There are days when I think about it and it just takes my breath away.
The power of the Holy Spirit – I closely identify this with the priesthood of believers. I think it’s the anointing of the baptism by fire that endows us with power and makes us priests unto God. When it comes to my life, I feel like this power is still largely untapped, but I still feel it there, waiting for me to learn to be meek enough and loving enough to use it.
The Bible – I love the Bible, and I love how inerrancy forces me to view the Bible. I love wrestling with problems in the text and embracing them instead of dismissing them as “too weird” or “obviously the errors of men.” Sex with angels? Sounds hot! A couple of she-bears mauling young men for making fun of a prophet’s bald head? If that story isn’t true, it should be. And who’s bright idea was it to throw out the Song of Solomon because it’s about sex? I mean, an entire book in the Bible about sex? I’m in favor of it.
On a more serious note, the Gospel of John, all three little Johns, Hebrews, Ecclesiastes, Esther, and the Song of Solomon (for real!) are all among my favorite books in the Bible.
Variety in Bible Translations – Sorry all you King James Only-ists, but I gots to have me some multiple translations to look at. Lately I’ve been favoring the TNIV and the NRSV, but I still enjoy comparing other translations. And when push comes to shove, all things are better in koiné!
Freedom – If there’s one thing evangelical Christianity has a lot of, it’s the freedom to study the Bible and follow it’s message according to the dictates of the Spirit and your own conscience. Calvinists, Arminians, open theists, Molinists, credobaptists, paedobaptists, charismatics, cessationists, and the adherents of various protologies and eschatologies, there’s room for us all under one big tent. The soft complementarians? Yeah, okay, I guess you guys can stay too, even if you’re wrong.
(Some would object to the inclusion of open theists, but I’m in favor of letting them stay.)
Worship Music – It varies from church to church, but our praise and worship music is generally very good. Worship is one of my favorite things about being evangelical.
Frank Peretti Novels – They’re my guilty pleasure because they’re so bad they’re good. He usually writes Christian horror wherein you get all kinds of great lines such as, “We only found half of him” and “I got what I wanted . . . Not to get nailed to anything again.” YES! Only you, Frank. There’s this pride that just wells up inside me every time I read him, because he’s ours.
On that note, I learned today that Wes Craven is a graduate of Wheaton College who was raised evangelical, though he does not seem to identify as evangelical now. How crazy is that?
Our Work for the Persecuted Church – Visit Voice of Martyrs to find out more. I’ve never journeyed to a country where the Gospel was illegal, but I take such great pride in being part of a movement where people are risking their lives every day to bring God’s truth to the world. It just amazes me and humbles me and makes all of my present concerns seem so petty.
Rockin’ Women Preachers – You knew I’d bring this up eventually, but I’ll keep it brief. There’s only two major forms of Christianity that allow women to serve as overseers of both men and women: evangelical Christianity through the egalitarian movement, and mainline Protestantism. Evangelicals still have a lot of work to do in this department, but it lifts my spirits to know that I can attend a church where no woman has restrictions put on the exercise of her gifts.
Church History – I’m not sure why it took me so long to see that church history was my calling. In high school I always loved history as a subject and found it fascinating to study the lives of those who had gone before me. Mormon church history and women’s history are both side-interests to me, but I am falling deeply in love with the history of evangelicalism and the broad tapestry of Christian movements that came before it. I’m proud to be part of a movement that honors and cherishes these voices in human history.
I’m sure I’m probably forgetting some things, but that’s my list for now.

Comments

Evangelical Identity — 21 Comments

  1. With the exception of Frank Peretti (whose work is not only just bad but also largely responsible for the rather deplorable excesses of the “spiritual warfare” movement), the things on your list mostly are/were my favorite things about evangelicalism, as well. Although I’d say “the Gospel of Matthew” rather than “the Bible”…
  2. Beautiful! Those are all incredibly admirable qualities. I don’t feel like I love my church that much and it makes me so happy to see someone that has found where she belongs.
  3. I loved reading this list, Jack. It should be interesting to read your next list, too. But I would love for you to include a third. You mentioned there are parts of your thinking which come as a reaction to Mormonism, and I’d be fascinated to hear about those, too! :)
  4. Kew said:
    it makes me so happy to see someone that has found where she belongs
    I agree with that sentiment.
    This whole idea of self-identification is an interesting one. I could write an essay on that subject, but suffice it to say here that I find it interesting how often we do things because of what we identify ourselves as (which is why advertisers spend so much money getting people to identify with their products).
    Jack, I like the things on your list (except that Peretti sucks, but so does some of the LDS cinema I like). But for some reason, I never really did embrace my evangelical identity when I was one. And if you had told me 20 years ago that I would embrace Mormonism as a huge part of who I am, I would have thought you were wacko. We never know what life will bring us.
    Anyway, here are the things that come to mind about the Church that not only do I like, but that I identify with:
    The mythology — I’m using the term here in a literary sense to refer to an overarching story, a narrative that explains things, rather than to suggest falsehood. The story of a young boy who come out of nowhere to found a new religion, an upstart religious leader who upsets the established order of things, pioneers who give up all to establish themselves in an unknown land, etc., is compelling. It’s a rich tradition, and it’s mostly true.
    The semi-universalism and willingness to see good in other religions — In the LDS scheme of things, we’re all going to make it, if we choose to. We don’t have a God who punishes people simply because they haven’t heard the news or because they get the details wrong, but one who gives us every chance possible, even after we die, to become everything he created us to be.
    The Holy Spirit — In Mormonism, we all have the right to approach God and to seek guidance through the Holy Spirit. Even when we think church leaders are wrong, we have both the right and the ability — even the obligation — to go to God directly.
    Temples — There’s much to like about the temple, but the part I like the best is that those who enter get whatever help they need to symbolically enter the celestial kingdom. It’s grace symbolized in a profound way.
    Opportunities for service — This isn’t the kind of church where you can sit in your pew every Sunday and go home. Instead, we’re called to do all sorts of great things. I’ve loved my callings, even the ones that had me doing mundane things.
    Help with people’s temporal needs — I’ve seen firsthand the many ways that the Church has helped people get food, rent, medical care and so on that they need, often in a behind-the-scenes way. I’m glad to be a part of that.
    Emphasis on learning and education — We probably spend more per capita on education than any other major religious denomination, and again I’m glad to be a part of that.
    Families are forever — It’s a cliche in LDS circles, but I’m grateful for this teaching.
  5. My list would include all the ones Eric mentioned.
    This morning, I listened again to “Love and Law” by Dallin Oaks from this last Conference. I would include its principles at the top of my list of things I like about being a Mormon. I love the logic and balance of the doctrine of Christ as taught in the LDS church. It matches the natural consequences and blessings I have seen in the lives of those around me.
  6. I do think Peretti’s fiction books are awful. They’re just an enjoyable kind of awful for me. It’s like when I read them I have a little MST3K commentary going on in my head.
    I had always thought they were a rather harmless kind of awful. Hadn’t thought much of their role in the silliness exhibited by some in the spiritual warfare movement.
    Chris ~ Where are you going to church now? Your blog used to say that you identify as a Christian pluralist in the sidebar, but it doesn’t say that anymore. Change in status?
    If anybody else wants to follow Eric’s cue and talk about what they love in their religion, be my guest. There’s been a lot of crankiness around the LDS-Evangelical blogging network lately and I think we could all use a more positive thread.
  7. I love wrestling with problems in the text and embracing them instead of dismissing them as “too weird” or “obviously the errors of men.”
    Have you had a look at the new illustrated Book of Genesis by Robert Crumb? From what I understand, he has made a careful effort to illustrate what is written — neither whitewash nor satirize/exaggerate it.
    I gather that a lot of Christians are dismissing this book out of hand, but if you’re enthusiastic about facing the challenges of a straight-forward reading of the text, you may have a different perspective.
  8. Jack, interesting point about the way you read the Bible. As one who is still wrestling with how to approach the Bible and what it is exactly, your perspective gives me a lot to think about. Thank you.
  9. I am sorry that I am so less active on your blog! (grin)
    Unlike Katie L., to me your comments about inerrancy make no sense at all. In fact, your original point is supposed to be about the Bible, but that quickly becomes a discussion of the issue of inerrancy. Moreover, it sounds like your saying that regardless of any evidence or issue, inerrancy is still to be believed and utilized as a lens for reading the text, and I can only assume this is the case because inerrancy isn’t a conclusion arrived at from an analysis of the text, but because it is an a priori belief that already governs your interpretations and limits of discussion. At any rate, it at least sounds as though in your system of thought it is an unfalsifiable position, but I think inerrancy is a theological claim that can easily be tested using various methods of inquiry. Your position just kind of strikes me as backwards.
    Maybe the biblical “warts” are their for a reason, as you suggest, but that doesn’t entail inerrancy by a long shot.
    TYD
  12. No problem…and they aren’t angels! (grin)
    Oh, and my favorite thing about being an LDS Christian is my close personal relationship with my Savior Jesus Christ. :)
    TYD
  14. chanson ~ Have you had a look at the new illustrated Book of Genesis by Robert Crumb?
    I haven’t. How does it compare to The Brick Testament?
    TYD ~ I’m sorry I’m less active on my blog too, which is probably apparent from how long I took to get back to this thread. Got a lot of reading to do this week.
    I probably should have labeled that section “biblical inerrancy” instead of just “the Bible,” and/or been more distinctive. I was trying to stick to features of evangelical Christianity that are largely distinctive of the movement, and I guess simply “the Bible” doesn’t qualify, though inerrancy mostly does.
    I don’t believe the Bible teaches its own inerrancy or infallibility, that’s a construct I accept from the evangelical Christian tradition. I don’t really have a problem saying it’s an a priori assumption.
    I haven’t really had time to conduct a serious study of henotheism/polytheism and the Old Testament, so Genesis 6 is angels for now. Look on the bright side though: at least I’m not trying to argue that they’re the righteous descendants of Seth marrying the unrighteous descendants of Cain.
    Oh, and my favorite thing about being an LDS Christian is my close personal relationship with my Savior Jesus Christ.
    Glad to hear it, but what’s your favorite thing that’s actually distinctive of Mormonism? ;)
  15. Yeah, school is overwhelming me as well right now.
    “I don’t believe the Bible teaches its own inerrancy or infallibility, that’s a construct I accept from the evangelical Christian tradition.”
    Where does the tradition get the idea, do you think, and how has it become so pervasive? And on what grounds is the view substantiated for the tradition if not from the Bible?
    TYD
  16. I think there’s an assumption that if a perfect God is going to inspire something, why would he do an imperfect job of it?
    I suspect it’s something like that for all practical purposes we LDS treat our prophets as infallible, even though they don’t explicitly make that claim.
  19. OK, Jack, I mentioned before those who feel the KJV dropped out of Heaven. Here’s one of them:
    ““We are burning books that we believe to be Satanic,” Pastor Grizzard said.
    “I believe the King James version is God’s preserved, inspired, inerrant, infallible word of God… for English-speaking people.”
    All other religious or Christian texts are sacrilegious, the pastor insists. The list of books being burned will include works written by “a lot of different authors who we consider heretics, such as Billy Graham, Rick Warren… the list goes on and on,” Pastor Grizzard said.
    Also on the pastor’s list of heretical authors — Mother Teresa, according to a full list that was previously available at the Amazing Grace Baptist Church’s Web site. The Church’s Web site — which is no longer available — calls the event ‘Burning Perversions of God’s Word,’ and urges parishioners to “come celebrate Halloween by burning Satan’s bibles.” Calls to the Amazing Grace Church were not returned Thursday.”
    Myself, I’ve seen some translations that are much clearer than the KJV on some issues.
  20. Hey Jack,
    I have been thinking about this post today, and was wondering if you could respond sometime to my number 15 and the discussion we were having above. Thanks!
    TYD
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