The words we use expresses the views we hold. However in the day that we live in the 21st Century this has not changed except in the fact that the dictionary that defined our words have either changed or the words just simply don't mean the same. Biblical terms without a Biblical dictionary confuse people, the reason being, it seems that hardy anyone can discern what is really being said. Our pulpits have become a place of philosophy and psychology instead of sound theology.
The term that I would like to discuss today is "Evangelical." I am 63 years of age, when I was saved at 22 the term "fundamentalist"was a popular term. It simply meant someone who believed the basic tents of the Christian faith. As the culture was changing in the 70's and 80's this term was associated with someone who was hateful, narrow-minded, intolerant, and mean. People identified a "fundamentalist" in a negative way so therefore the term "evangelical" replaced the term by some in order to appeal to the new generation in a more sympathetic and compassionate way.
The Identification of Biblical-believing people was the term "evangelical." An evangelical was a person who gave accent to the basic fundamentals of the faith but would not like to be called a fundamentalist but welcomed the term evangelical.
Today the evangelicals have decided to use this to identify anyone who claims to be born-again and confesses that Jesus is Savior, however giving mental agreement to theological concepts but actually deny what they say by what they do. An illustration of this is the debate among us called "conservatives" whether one can be an evangelical and simply agree to disagree on same sex marriage. As an evangelical we can disagree on some minor issues of doctrine and even some liberty concerning a few moral issues but NOT this one. The Bible is clear that marriage is between a man and a woman, anything else is unnatural and unacceptable. Our President may approve, our congress may even consent, but God declares that this is sin and will never have His acceptance.
I would simply say this to all who are shifting to the left of culture that you need to go back to the basics of the Bible. When the Bible speaks - God speaks and God has spoken through His Divine inerrant Word. Instead of agreeing to disagree and still value and respect each other, there needs to be a true recognition that you cannot be a true evangelical without adhering to the truth of scripture. Some who say they are evangelicals may simply be people who are lost who stand in need of a real born-again experience with the living God.
AMEN !! Well said.
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