What does it mean to be Evangelical?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE EVANGELICAL?

This English word evangelical is a Biblical term. It's Greek transliterated into English (Latin) letters. The verb form: <εὐαγγελίζω> translates to "I am telling the good news." This verb occurs about 53 times in various forms (for example: <εὐαγγελίζομαι> is the same word in the infinitive form) in the New Testament. The basic meaning is to proclaim, to address, or to announce good news. There is also a noun form: <εὐαγγέλιον> which is the substance of the announcement -- the gospel; the good news. These words directly translate the Hebrew word < בָּשַׂר > which also simply means good news (and in various form/usages the one who brings good news; to gladden the heart with good news; to announce good news, etc.).

We hear the words evangel, evangelism, evangelical (a basic meaning of these three words is evangel=the proclaimer of good news; evangelism=the act of proclaiming the good new, and thus an evangelical=one whose life is centered around the act of proclaiming that good news. We hear these so often that we don't stop to think about the meaning.

Romans 1:16-17- For I am not ashamed of the gospel <εὐαγγέλιον>; it is God’s saving power for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings < מְבַשֵּׂר >* , who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of joy, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” (*Note: In this instance < בָּשַׂר > simply has a preposition attached to the front of the word adding the meaning "brings").

Romans 10:14-15 - But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!”

Nahum 1:15 - Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows, for never again shall the worthless pass through you; he is utterly cut off.

Isaiah 52:7 - How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns."

WHAT IS GOOD NEWS?
I will attempt to explain why the usual definition is correct so far as it goes, but it fails in that it is incomplete.

The usual evangelical definition is that although we are sinners in need and stand condemned, Jesus at the cross has taken our punishment. Through faith we can receive the gift of salvation. This is a definition of salvation — important to the Gospel; vital to the Gospel — but not the Gospel. In Greek, it’s <σωτηρίαν > (salvation) rather than Gospel <εὐαγγέλιον>. Salvation is the bull’s eye in the center of the target. It is not wrong, of course, to hit the bullseye when you aim. But in defining terms, when the broader target is being explained, one should distinguish the wide target and the bullseye. The Gospel is the whole target and salvation by faith is the center of the message.

A BROADER DEFINITION OF GOSPEL

The good news is that the person Jesus Christ who was God in the flesh is the crucified and risen Messiah (Christ). He is the fulfillment of all that was promised to Israel (beginning with Abraham before Israel existed). Jesus the Messiah (Christ) of Israel has been enthroned as the true Lord of the World. God's Kingdom has been inaugurated in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. God's long-promised project of putting the world right through his chosen people, Israel, has begun (a side note here is that Gentiles have been incorporated into Israel). And all are invited to join him. This invitation begins with an invitation to personal salvation through faith in him, and it is an invitation to join him in his work.

The good new is justification by faith AND an invitation to join Him in His work. Here are three books that say all of this better than me:

(1) Scot McKnight - THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM. Here, Dr. McKnight presents the gospel as not just salvation, but salvation is the beginning place of citizenship in Jesus' Kingdom. His Kingdom, which is the fulfillment of the story of Israel, began at His resurrection. He came according to the scriptures. He died according to the scriptures. He rose according to the scriptures. He reigns according to the scriptures.

(2) By N.T. Wright - THE DAY THE REVOLUTION BEGAN and (3) HOW GOD BECAME KING. In these two books, Dr. Wright emphasizes that Christians misinterpret the Gospel by focusing on Jesus' birth and Jesus' death/resurrection while neglecting his life and teaching about the Kingdom of God. Jesus is the fulfillment of the plan God started (to set the world right) in Israel. Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises to Israel. Jesus' life and ministry led up to his crucifixion and resurrection, but He spent much time telling us about His Kingdom. We need more than an oversimplified Penal Substitution (he has been accused of denying Penal Substitution, but that is not true). Wright adamantly affirms Penal Substitution, but he says that there is more to atonement . It is like a beginning place. Other explanations of atonement (Christus Victor especially) tell the parts of the story we leave out.

McKnight’s book asserts that by defining Gospel more broadly and salvation as a part of or subset of Gospel, the church may become better at making disciples rather than making converts who then do not become disciples. Wright would agree with McKnight by explaining that a salvation focus without the wider target makes us preach a “go to heaven when you die” message when the eschatological end of scripture points to a united heaven with a restored earth. Jesus has begun this earth restoration project now although we understand it will not be fully completed until it is consummated at Jesus’ return.

ANOTHER METAPHOR

Find the following metaphor in NT Wright's foreword to McKnight's book above, THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM. If you explain to someone what a helicopter is (supposing they don't have any idea what it is) then you might spend a lot of time talking about the rotor and the blades (because without these, the helicopter cannot fly). But if you only explain the rotor and the blades, yet fail to actually explain what a helicopter actually is and how it flies in unique ways that allow it to be used as a hovering, flying craft, then you have not adequately explained a helicopter. This is true even though the rotor/blades are what make the helicopter unique among flying crafts. Evangelicals who only talk of substitutionary atonement fail to talk about how that atonement makes the new convert a citizen of the One True Kingdom in the world (with Christ as the One True King). Christ came to save us now, not just to give us a "ticket to heaven" when we die.

Christ came and lived in accordance with the scriptures. Christ died, and he was buried according to the scriptures. Christ arose according to the scriptures. Christ appeared to his disciples after his resurrection and established the Kingdom. We are invited to live as citizens by believing in faith and ultimate allegiance. Thus, there is another True and Eternal King. Caesar’s place is usurped. Implication: Caesar is a fraud. Jesus is Lord means Caesar is not.

The Kingdom of God is a revolutionary message. The full message is that since the Fall (the entry of humanity's sin into the world, which marred his creation), God has been working to make the world right once again (His plan is to restore the harmony of Eden prior to the entry of sin. In other words, heaven is not the ultimate end. Revelation 21 shows heaven and earth reunited). God's plan led to Jesus. Jesus is the fulfillment of the plan (we see God's purpose in election). God began this purpose in Abraham and continued His plan through Israel. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's work to bring us to Himself and fix the problem of sin separating man from God.

(Note: I have more to say on this subject. I plan a follow up post about how THE GOSPEL IS SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD NEWS).