We recently began to trace the roots of our Anglican heritage. I wrote that there are three vital aspects to Anglicanism (i.e. protestant, reformed and evangelical) that make it very relevant to our current practice of church and mission.
In this post, we’ll look at the last of these: evangelicalism.
WHAT IS EVANGELICALISM?
While evangelical simply means ‘of the gospel’ it’s important to spell out what we mean by it, as the word has come to mean different things to different people.
A British historian, David Bebbington, has a widely regarded description of the distinctives of evangelicalism. He notes a ‘quadrilateral of priorities’. That’s academic talk for four important things: conversionism, activism, biblicism and crucicentrism.
1. Conversionism
Evangelicals believe in the necessity for conversion. This is because of certain theological assumptions. For example, evangelicals take seriously the Christian belief in universal sin and the presence of evil at work in the world. Because of this, there is an assumption that people need to repent of their participation in sin and to turn back to God through Christ. This turning back highlights another assumption—that there is something unique about Jesus that makes him the only way by which humans can find salvation.
2. Activism
Bebbington noted that as a result of this focus on conversion, evangelicals have historically been activists. That is, they expect to see an outworking of the transformed life in individuals and in society at large.
Throughout history evangelicals have established mission agencies like the Church Missionary Society and they have hosted large-scale evangelistic missions—think of the Billy Graham crusades where millions of people came to faith in Jesus Christ through the clear preaching of his gospel.
Activism, however, meant more than this. Historically, evangelicals were also noted for their desire to see society transformed. Evangelical Christians like William Wilberforce were key figures in the abolition of slavery in Britain.
3. Biblicism
Evangelical Christians have always had a high value on the Bible as the Word of God. Following in the footsteps of the Reformers, evangelicals submit themselves to God’s Word as the one authority for how we think about God, and how we live and minister in the world that he has created. This biblicism is obvious in the 39 Articles:
Article 6: Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation
Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.
4. Crucicentrism
As ‘people of the gospel’ an evangelical biblicism has a particular shape to it. That is, we read the Bible differently; in a way that is centred on the cross of Christ. His death is much more than an example of sacrifice and selfless love. It is that, but ultimately it is the culmination of the whole storyline of the Bible.
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. (Gal 4.4–5)
And
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. (Eph 1.7–10)
This crucicentrism has its own assumptions. It is only through encountering the cross of Christ that conversion takes place and that cultures are transformed.
These four evangelical priorities are evident in the roots of Anglicanism and continue to shape evangelical worship and mission today.
The next couple of posts will be much lighter (and a little fun) as I share some results from our recent congregational survey and some of the comments made during our recent workshop.
I’m hoping that we can see the ways in which our Anglican and evangelical heritage continue to give shape to our expression of church today, but also allow ourselves to be challenged in the areas where we may need to grow.